BOSTON — After the Philadelphia 76ers ended up on the wrong end of the largest blowout of the preseason against the Boston Celtics, head coach Nick Nurse focused on the bright side of things during his postgame media availability. After LeBron James' 76ers debut against the Brooklyn Nets, he took the night off in Boston. Jaylen Brown and a handful of others did the same before a 144-106 rout against the Celtics. However, it is the preseason, and Nurse is ironing out his 76ers player rotation ahead of 2026-27.

With All-Star Tyrese Maxey and second-year guard VJ Edgecombe leading the charge, Nurse pointed out the growth he's seen in Edgecombe, thus far, as he's expected to be a vital piece to the 76ers' supporting cast.

“I just like the way he's getting up the floor in general. He's running the floor really well,” Nurse said. “If he gets a throw ahead, getting in front of the rim, I'd like to see that more and more. But I also think he was getting up the floor and being super active in the actions, making some good drives and pull-ups. I just thought he played a really solid, solid game. He's first and foremost a transition scorer, a 3-point shooter, and then he's also got the mid-range game as well. He wanted the minutes, and he had some good minutes.”

VJ Edgecombe's 19 points on 6-for-11 shooting led the 76ers in scoring. He also finished with four assists, four steals, and three rebounds. Sixers rookie guard Labaron Philon carried the bench production with 14 points, seven assists, and one steal.

“This is preseason and what do you take away? Well, we're getting a pretty good look at a couple of guys,” Nurse added. “We're getting a couple of other guys in shape. We're getting a long look at the rookie, Philon. He's getting a lot of minutes in these games as well. I think that will certainly help him. He's battled and runs the team pretty good. Really commands the game's physicality, which has been excellent.”

With Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Anfernee Simons, and Dominick Barlow all ruled out, 76ers' veteran Dean Wade played extended minutes, starting at the wing position for Philly, which impressed Nick Nurse.

“Dean's one of our main guys,” Nurse said. “He'll be one of our main guys. Just getting him into the fold. I think he makes really intelligent reads. He's a cutter. He's a shooter. I thought he did a great job early, defensively on Tatum, George, when he got switched off of them. Just really aggressive and solid out there. Certainly some things to pick and learn from some guys we don't know. Then, with guys we do, we just try to get them into rhythm, and get them into shape.”

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Wade finished with five points, three rebounds, and one assist. With six days off between their preseason rematch against the Celtics, 76ers coach Nick Nurse is looking forward to the extended practice time following training camp.

“I think we've had a good couple of weeks of practice, and just some other off-court things that have been really good for the team,” Nurse said. “I can't ask for much more on the practice floor. The energy, the pace, the focus; all that kind of stuff. There's a big week of working coming at us on Monday.”

The 76ers will host the Celtics in their preseason finale on Friday.