Jaylen Brown scored 32 points and the Boston Celtics knocked Philadelphia from the ranks of the unbeaten 109-108 on Friday as the NBA Cup in-season tournament began.

The Celtics avenged a 117-116 loss to the 76ers in their opener at Boston and improved to 3-3 while dropping the host Sixers to 4-1.

"Just grit. I think we just slugged it out," said Brown, whose 13-of-19 shooting including 4-of-7 from three-point range.

"We made a bunch of mistakes but we found a way to win in the end."

Tyrese Maxey, who led Philadelphia with 26 points and 14 assists, and VJ Edgecombe sank three-pointers to lift the 76ers within 108-106 with 51 seconds remaining.

Brown added what turned out to be the deciding free throw with 32.9 seconds remaining but Maxey sank a layup with 20.8 to play to lift the 76er

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