BOSTON – Playing in his NBA debut as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, and being the third overall pick of this year's draft, Jahlil Okafor did not disappoint.
The rookie's efforts ultimately were not enough, however, as the Sixers dropped their season opener to the Boston Celtics, 112-95, despite being nearly even in every major offensive category.
Okafor, a six-foot-eleven center out of Duke University, was perfect from the floor over his first five shot attempts to give the Sixers an early, 17-11 lead midway through the first quarter.
Nerlens Noel, taking the court for the first time as a NBA sophomore, would follow by making the team's next three field goals to go up 23-17 with just under three minutes remaining in the opening quarter.
The Sixers would make just one field goal over the first seven minutes of the second quarter, an 11-foot jumper by Okafor to raise his point total on the night to 12.
Philadelphia's lead was erased when Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas hit an and-one shot, making the subsequent free throw with 8:22 left to play in the first half, to give Boston a 31-28 advantage.
Brett Brown's team pulled within five points with approximately four minutes through the third quarter, but they would never get closer to come out victorious at the TD Garden.
Okafor would finish his debut with 26 points and seven rebounds, four of which coming from the offensive side of the glass.
Per @bball_ref: Most Points by Center in NBA Debut since 1963-64
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 29
Jahlil Okafor – 26
Hakeem Olajuwon – 24— Alex J. Yoh (@alexjyoh) October 29, 2015
Noel earned his 19th career double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Thomas led the way for Boston with 27 points over 19 shot and seven free-throw attempts. Former Sixers guard Evan Turner scored six points in 22 minutes of game action.
Sixers forward Robert Covington (knee), along with guards Kendall Marshall (knee) and Nik Stauskas (back spasms), did not see action in the season opener.
Game Notes:
- Final Score: Sixers 95, Celtics 112
- Halftime Score: Sixers 40, Celtics 51
- Shooting: Sixers 34-84 (40.5%), Celtics 39-85 (45.9%)
- Free Throws: Sixers 20-23 (87.0%), Celtics 26-27 (96.3%)
- Three Pointers: Sixers 7-22 (31.8%), Celtics 8-24 (33.3%)
- Turnovers: Sixers 22, Celtics 17
- Rebounds: Sixers 47, Celtics 41
- Steals: Sixers 11, Celtics 10
- Blocks: Sixers 6, Celtics 7
Sixers Starting Five:
- Isaiah Canaan | PG | 38 min, 6-14 FGM-A, 7 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 18 pts
- Hollis Thompson | SG | 36 min, 3-15 FGM-A, 5 reb, 3 ast, 9 pts
- JaKarr Sampson | SG | 27 min, 5-9 FGM-A, 4 reb, 1 stl, 13 pts
- Nerlens Noel | C | 35 min, 5-13 FGM-A, 12 reb, 2 ast, 3 stl, 2 blk, 14 pts
- Jahlil Okafor | C | 38 min, 10-16 FGM-A, 7 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 2 blk, 26 pts
Celtics Starting Five:
- Avery Bradley | PG | 33 min, 2-6 FGM-A, 1 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, 4 pts
- Marcus Smart | PG | 32 min, 3-8 FGM-A, 2 reb, 5 ast, 2 stl, 1 blk, 13 pts
- Jae Crowder | SF | 31 min, 4-7 FGM-A, 6 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl, 14 pts
- David Lee | PF | 22 min, 2-8 FGM-A, 5 reb, 5 ast, 1 blk, 8 pts
- Tyler Zeller | C | 11 min, 2-4 FGM-A, 1 reb, 1 blk, 6 pts
Atlantic Division Standings:
- Boston Celtics (1-0)
- Toronto Raptors (1-0)
- Brooklyn Nets (0-1); 1 GB
- Philadelphia 76ers (0-1); 1 GB
- New York Knicks (0-0); 0.5 GB
What's Next:
- Friday, Oct. 30, 2015: vs. Utah Jazz, 7 p.m. EST
- TV: CSN; Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
- Monday, Nov. 2, 2015: vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 7 p.m. EST
- TV: CSN; Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
- Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2015: at Milwaukee Bucks, 8 p.m. EST
- TV: CSN; Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Matt Rappa (@mattrappasports) is a contributor to Sixerdelphia.com.
