Tatum, Brown lead Celtics to win in season opener

BOSTON (AP) — An off-the-field scandal has cast a shadow over the Celtics’ preseason offseason.

But on the floor, they began the regular season looking like a team much more capable of contending for the title.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each scored 35 points, and Boston beat the Philadelphia 76ers 126-117 Tuesday in the first game of the NBA regular season.

Malcolm Brogdon added 16 points, while Grant Williams finished with 15 for defending Eastern Conference champion Boston, whose interim coach Joe Mazzulla made a winning debut on a night the team honored the legacy of late player Bill Russell.

“It was something unique and special,” said Brown. “It feels a little better who we were playing against and who we were playing for.”

Mazzulla was tasked with managing the team after Ime Udoka was suspended for the entire season following a law firm investigation that found he had committed multiple violations of team policies.

Under Mazzulla, the Celtics closely resembled the team that surprisingly advanced to the NBA Finals last season.

“It was a proud moment,” Mazzulla said. “I think at the end of the game, with the chants of ‘Go Celtics,’ we start this season the way we finished the last one… when the crowd cheers you on like that, it’s because you’re doing something special.”

Boston took a 110-97 lead with 8 minutes left and never trailed again.

James Harden scored 35 points, his most since joining the 76ers last season. He made all 12 of his free throws and made five 3-pointers.

“We gave them 20-plus points in transition,” Harden said.

Joel Embiid added 26 points and 15 rebounds. Tyrese Maxey finished with 21 points.

Mazzulla has promised to continue the philosophy that Udoka established last season, his first in the NBA.

He insists that the base will be defensive. However, the offense was the Celtics’ main weapon on Tuesday, shooting 56% from the field.