PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers took their first loss of the season to the Boston Celtics on Friday by a score of 109-108 at home. The Sixers are now 4-1 on the season and 0-1 in Group B play in the NBA Cup.

A big issue for the Sixers was on the defensive end. For the first 19 or so minutes on Friday, the Celtics got whatever they wanted. They got layups, open 3s, fastbreak points, open midrange looks, and it led to them opening up a 24-point lead. The Sixers entered the contest ranked 24th in defensive rating so that has been an issue all season, and Joel Embiid knows it.

“I think defense,” Embiid said after the loss. “I mean, we did a much better job towards the end of the half and the second half, but that’s where it starts. Got to get into your man, got to get stops, got to be aggressive. Got to take pride in guarding your man. I think as much as everybody has been so excited about the good start, I feel like my mentality is all about, how can we get better? Are we going to compete against some of the best things in the NBA? And I felt like the first couple of games, our defense just hasn’t been there.”

That was a big issue all throughout Friday’s loss. The Celtics were shaking off the perimeter defenders of the Sixers and were able to work their way into the paint for open looks. It then led to easy 3s, and it opened up everything else within their offense. Embiid and the Sixers buckled down, but it wasn’t enough in the end due to the slow start.

The Sixers will undoubtedly get better on the defensive end once Paul George returns from injury and once Embiid gets his legs underneath of him. The big fella has struggled a bit on that end of the floor, but once he gets back to his usual self, then the Sixers should be OK. It is going to take some time, but Embiid is confident that once Philadelphia gets healthy again and he gets his legs back, then the Sixers will be fine.

“Obviously, we’re missing some guys that can help, but as I’m getting back to myself, and tonight–I felt it was also step towards getting there,” Embiid continued. “I was much better defensively than I’ve been the first couple of games. So, me offering the presence I usually offer in the past, it hasn’t been there, and I know it and I’m getting there.”

Embiid was part of the slow start on the defensive end on Friday. He wasn’t able to move his feet quick enough to make plays on that end of the floor, but he made a difference down the stretch. He was able to help the Sixers rally and that’s something he can hang his hat on.

“Tonight was a start, like I said, but that’s where we got to make sure we take more pride into guarding our own man, making sure that no one blows by us,” Embiid added. “Because a lot of times, I think a lot of people early on, they’ve been able to get to the rim pretty easily. I think tonight, we saw that we can’t do it. We got to build on it.”

A team isn’t going to win all 82 games. Embiid knows that. There are lessons to be learned after losses that can’t be learned after wins. This loss to the Celtics is something that they can learn from and move forward.

“I like the effort that we played with,” Embiid finished. “We weren’t gonna go 82-0. It sucks to lose, but I’m actually much, really happy. I’m excited about this loss. I think we learned a lot, and we got lot to get better at.”

The Sixers will begin a 3-game road trip on Sunday when they pay a visit to the Brooklyn Nets.