BOSTON — When all hope seemed lost, Neemias Queta was there to save the day. Dreadful offensive production plagued the Boston Celtics in the first quarter, and the Philadelphia 76ers looked primed for a run. Queta’s second-quarter heroics lifted the Celtics back up onto their feet.
But it was more than that.
Queta’s career night was the story of Sunday. He was the main event. And yet, under the noses of everyone giving Queta MVP chants at TD Garden, the Celtics’ commitment to their core principles kept them in front.
So, how did it all break down?
1. Neemias Queta, the scorer
Queta had 27 points, 17 rebounds (10 offensive), two assists, one steal, and three blocks against the Sixers. A career-high in points for the Portuguese big man.
TD Garden knew how special his performance was. When Queta took a seat with 5:39 to go in the second quarter, he already had a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double. As he walked to the bench, he got a standing ovation from the Celtics fans in attendance.
“Just trying to have fun out there,” Queta said. “When stuff like that really goes well, and you’re able to capitalize on stuff like that, it’s really, really cool to see, and you just want to keep on getting better. Keep your bread and butter, your bread and butter, and once the opportunity allows itself, go out there and just have fun. I think I can expand my game with that type of stuff, and it will only make us better.”
Philadelphia wanted to pressure Boston’s ball-handlers. They didn’t want Jaylen Brown and Derrick White to be comfortable running the offense. So, they sent extra pressure. But that left pockets of the floor open, and Queta found the space beautifully.
Queta runs the pick-and-roll with White, but Andre Drummond steps up to take away White’s drive. He wants to make him uncomfortable.
So, instead of just sprinting toward the basket, Queta waits for a moment. He bides his time until White has completely occupied two defenders, then, before Cam Payne can help over from the corner, he dashes to the basket.
Then here, in another pick-and-roll with White, Queta makes the right read again.
Since the action is higher up the floor, Drummond helped up to the three-point line to take away White’s drive. Again, Philadelphia wanted to put extra pressure on Boston’s ball-handlers.
So, Queta rolled immediately. He got behind the pick-and-roll, White found him, and from there, the big man got to show off some of his lesser-known skills.
He put the ball on the ground, two-stepped to the hoop, and finished with a nice layup.
Queta’s progression as a pick-and-roll big has been incredible this season.
“It’s so much easier for me right now,” he said. “I think just the amount of repetitions I’ve been having with these guys every day, kind of understanding what they like, what they don’t like. The game is just slowing down for me, too. And once stuff like that happens, when they got two guys on the ball, just me being able to go out there and be a threat for defenses makes us so much more dangerous. So, whenever that stuff happens, I’m just trying to capitalize.”
2. Neemias Queta, the rebounder
Queta did more than just score on Sunday night. He was a monster on the glass. And he did it against Drummond, one of the best rebounders of the 2010s.
He nabbed 10 offensive rebounds and seven defensive rebounds, constantly keeping his nose to the ball.
There’s always some luck involved in rebounding, but Queta created his own luck. He refused to let the Sixers get the best of him. He refused to be beaten.
And on the offensive end, his undying desire to fight helped keep the Celtics’ offense afloat, especially when shots weren’t falling.
Queta has worked tirelessly to become the player he is today. And from Joe Mazzulla’s standpoint, the effort he’s put in hasn’t wavered.
“You gotta put your head down, you gotta chip away, you gotta have a level of professionalism, work ethic, [and] understanding,” Mazzulla said. “He’s brought all that on. I [think] he’s had great ownership and responsibility to what it calls for to be a starting center for the Celtics, and he’s got to continue to get better. And he works at it. He cares. So, it’s to credit to him.”
3. Neemias Queta gets MVP chants
Queta’s MVP chants rang throughout TD Garden when he was at the free-throw line. Unfortunately, the end result was a couple of misses.
“It wasn’t great,” Queta said with a smile when asked about the MVP chants. “I kind of got distracted, [and] missed a couple of free throws, so got to work on that.”
Some MVP chants breaking out for Neemias Queta at the line — would imagine those are the first of his NBA career
19 point, 14 rebounds tonight pic.twitter.com/U8sq1Lk447
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) March 2, 2026
4. How the Celtics pushed through bad offense
Boston couldn’t make anything at the beginning of this game. In the first quarter, they shot 8-of-26 (30.8%) from the field and 3-of-13 (23.1%) from three-point range.
As the night went on, their shooting luck fluctuated. Philadelphia’s ball pressure forced a few offensive ruts.
So, how did the Celtics battle through those pockets of the game? And how did they reignite their own momentum?
“The momentum comes from
