PHILADELPHIA — Jaylen Brown scored 32 points, Anfernee Simons added 19, and the Boston Celtics never trailed in a 109-108 win against the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night.

Payton Pritchard and Derrick White had 15 points apiece for the Celtics, who evened their record at .500 by winning their third straight. Boston suffered a 117-116 season-opening defeat to the 76ers on Oct. 22.

Tyrese Maxey scored 26 points to lead Philadelphia, which entered as one of four unbeaten teams in the league.

It was the first NBA Cup game of the season for both teams.

Maxey’s drive with 20.8 seconds to play cut the Celtics’ lead to one. After a Boston turnover on its ensuing possession, Maxey missed an underhand scoop shot from the lane with 4 seconds left.

Boston’s Josh Minott was fouled and missed both free throws with 3.8 seconds left, but Joel Embiid was long on a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Boston led by 20 points in a dominating first half. Maxey’s drive with 6 1/2 minutes left in the third tied it at 72-all, but Philadelphia never was able to go in front.

Embiid, playing on a minutes restriction after offseason knee surgery, had 20 points in 25 minutes, 4 seconds. Rookie VJ Edgecombe had 17 points after scoring 34 against the Celtics in his NBA debut.

Philadelphia came back from a 16-point, fourth-quarter deficit against Washington on Tuesday in a 139-134 overtime win, and nearly rallied again against the Celtics.

Up next

Celtics: Host Miami on Saturday night

76ers: At Brooklyn on Sunday night