Embiid downplays 76ers-Celtics rivalry: 'They always kick our ass'

Joel Embiid isn't ready to declare a rivalry in the increasingly one-sided matchup between his Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics.

"This is not a rivalry. I don't know our record against them, but it's pretty bad. They always kick our ass," Embiid said following Philadelphia's 105-87 loss in the season opener at TD Garden on Tuesday, according to Sporting News' Sean Deveney.

The Sixers own a 2-8 record in their last 10 meetings with Boston, including a 4-1 series loss in the second round of the 2017-18 playoffs. Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving wasn't in the lineup during either of his side's losses.

Embiid ended Tuesday with a team-high 23 points on 9-of-21 shooting in 37 minutes of action, adding 10 rebounds, two assists, and a pair of rejections. While he posted solid numbers, the 7-footer's performance will perhaps best be remembered for being on the wrong end of a pair of highlights courtesy of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum:

"We talked about it and then I was like, 'That's a tough shot.' It's good defense as long as I got my hand up and I contest it and they just made a couple of tough ones," Embiid said. "(Tatum's) a special one and he's going to be great for years and the Celtics are lucky to have him."

Philadelphia returns home Thursday to host the visiting Chicago Bulls at the Wells Fargo Center.