Sixers steal Game 2

Philadelphia went into Boston without Joel Embiid and left with a 111-97 win that evened its first-round series with the Celtics at 1-1. (nba.com) (espn.com) Tyrese Maxey scored 29 points and nine assists, and VJ Edgecombe added 30 points and 10 rebounds in 35 minutes. Edgecombe made 6 of 10 three-pointers, and Maxey scored 12 points in the final six minutes. (espn.com) (nba.com) The Sixers also got 19 points from Paul George and hit 19 three-pointers, one game after losing 123-91 in Game 1. Boston shot 13-for-47 from deep and 39.3% from the field. (espn.com) (cbssports.com) The result flipped home-court advantage in a series that opened with Boston, the No. 2 seed in the East, hosting Philadelphia, the No. 7 seed. Game 3 is set for Friday, April 24, in Philadelphia. (nba.com) (cbssports.com) Embiid’s absence sharpened the upset. Philadelphia had already opened the playoffs without him after his April 9 appendectomy, and CBS Sports reported before Game 2 that he remained out while working through a strength-and-conditioning program. (cbssports.com 1) (cbssports.com 2) Edgecombe’s night added a second layer to the win. The Sixers said the rookie became the youngest player to post 30 points and 10 rebounds in a playoff game, after scoring 20 points in the first half and returning from an early hard fall on his back. (nba.com) (espn.com) Boston still got 36 points from Jaylen Brown, but the Celtics could not turn a 28-25 first-quarter lead into a second straight rout. Jayson Tatum is averaging 22.0 points, 12.5 rebounds and 8.0 assists through two games, but the series is back on even terms. (espn.com) (nba.com) What looked lopsided on Sunday now heads to Philadelphia as a best-of-five. The Sixers needed one road win to change the series, and they got it Tuesday night. (espn.com) (nba.com)