The Boston Celtics entered the 2025-2026 NBA season with a looming question mark at the center position: without Kristaps Porzingis or Al Horford, could Neemias Queta anchor the frontcourt effectively? Wednesday night’s 117-116 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers provided a surprising glimpse into the answer, but it also raised concerns that could haunt Boston’s championship aspirations.
In a head-to-head matchup that few anticipated would be so lopsided, Neemias Queta outplayed former MVP Joel Embiid. As highlighted by StatMuse, Queta was highly efficient, shooting 7-for-8 from the field to score 17 points while grabbing eight rebounds. Embiid, by contrast, struggled mightily, making just one of nine shots for a mere four points and six rebounds, finishing with a minus-17 in 20 minutes of play.
This stark contrast was unexpected, especially given Embiid’s strong showing in his preseason finale against the Minnesota Timberwolves just days earlier, where he recorded 14 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, and three steals in 19 minutes. The 76ers, aware of Embiid’s recovery from injury, placed him on a minutes restriction, as noted by head coach Nick Nurse. However, no one foresaw such a lackluster performance from the star center, and Queta capitalized on the opportunity.
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For Boston, Queta’s performance was a silver lining in an otherwise disappointing loss. The 26-year-old big man, who has been a journeyman in the NBA, showed he could hold his own. In his first two seasons with the Sacramento Kings, Queta appeared in just 20 games. After joining the Celtics in 2023, he played sparingly off the bench, appearing in 28 games. Last season, he saw action in 62 games but averaged only 13.9 minutes, contributing 5.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
This season, with Porzingis and Horford unavailable, Queta has been thrust into the starting role. His performance against Philadelphia suggests he could be a reliable option, but one game is too small a sample to draw definitive conclusions. The question remains: can Queta sustain this level of production over an 82-game season and into the playoffs?
While Queta’s breakout game is encouraging, the Celtics cannot afford to overreact. Embiid’s poor showing may be attributed to rust or his minutes restriction, and he remains one of the league’s most dominant big men when healthy. Boston’s loss, though close, exposed vulnerabilities that could become problematic if their center position falters. With Queta’s leash likely to be short, the Celtics need consistency from their frontcourt to compete with the NBA’s elite.
As Boston looks ahead to their next game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Friday, the focus will remain on Queta and the center position. Can he replicate his performance against another tough opponent? Or will the lack of depth at center become a recurring issue that derails Boston’s season? For now, Queta has provided a glimmer of hope, but the haunting question of whether he can anchor the frontcourt long-term looms large.