One of many greatest questions heading into the 2025-2026 NBA season for the Boston Celtics was targeted on the middle place. With out Kristaps Porzingis or Al Horford, might a Neemias Queta-led entrance court docket get the job finished?
The Celtics took a loss on Wednesday evening towards the Philadelphia 76ers, however there was one silver lining. The comparability of facilities favored by the Celtics by loads, and there was a former MVP on the opposite aspect of that.
As StatMuse pointed out, the middle battle between Joel Embiid and Queta was lopsided. The manufacturing closely favored the Celtics’ huge man, as Queta went 7-8 from the sphere, scoring 17 factors. He had eight boards to go together with his stat line.
Embiid, alternatively, confirmed main indicators of wrestle. He made simply one in every of his 9 photographs from the sphere, scoring 4 factors and coming down with six rebounds. He was a minus-17 throughout his 20 minutes of motion.
Heart battle tonight:
Embiid — Queta —
4 PTS 17 PTS
6 REB 8 REB
1-9 FG 7-8 FG
-17 +2 pic.twitter.com/GSF8eExE3G— StatMuse (@statmuse) October 23, 2025
However Queta and Boston ought to be ok with the outcomes on Wednesday evening. Embiid is likely to be shaking rust nonetheless, however he simply had a powerful preseason debut/finale final Friday towards the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Final Friday, Embiid recorded 14 factors, seven rebounds, eight assists, and three steals in 19 minutes of motion.
After getting just a few days off from sport motion, the Sixers anticipated a refreshed star huge man. Sadly for them, the rust was there. Heading into the matchup, 76ers head coach Nick Nurse famous that Embiid could be on a minutes restriction for apparent causes. He’s returning to the court docket after getting a second knee surgical procedure late final season.
It’s uncertain that anyone anticipated that efficiency, although. Queta and the Celtics actually took benefit.
All through his first two seasons within the NBA with the Sacramento Kings, Queta appeared in simply 20 video games. When he obtained to Boston in 2023, he performed in 28 video games off the bench. Final season, the Celtics rolled out Queta for 62 video games, averaging simply 13.9 minutes of motion. He averaged 5.0 factors and three.8 rebounds.
This 12 months, Queta will get the beginning for the Celtics. Whereas his leash is likely to be brief, Boston has to be ok with him via one sport of motion. After arising brief in a 117-116 thriller, Queta and the Celtics will stay up for Friday’s motion, which is able to happen towards the New York Knicks at Madison Sq. Backyard.
