Rookie Fuels Sixers Upset
- The 76ers upset the Celtics 111-97 to even their playoff series at 1-1. ( ) - Rookie Vijay (VJ) Edgecombe posted 30 points and 10 rebounds, and he and Maxey combined for 59 points. ( ) - Commentators noted Edgecombe's 30-10 line as historically rare for a rookie in the playoffs, energizing Philadelphia's narrative. ( )
Philadelphia evened its first-round series with Boston on Tuesday, beating the Celtics 111-97 behind 30 points and 10 rebounds from rookie V.J. Edgecombe. (apnews.com) Tyrese Maxey added 29 points and nine assists, giving the 76ers 59 points from their backcourt duo two nights after a 123-91 loss in Game 1. Philadelphia hit 19 three-pointers in the win. (apnews.com) The series is now 1-1, with Game 3 scheduled for Friday, April 24, in Philadelphia. The matchup is the Eastern Conference first-round series between the No. 2 Celtics and No. 7 76ers. (nba.com) Edgecombe’s line stood out beyond the box score. NBA.com said he joined Magic Johnson as the only players to record 30 points and 10 rebounds in a playoff game before turning 21. (nba.com) That performance landed in only Edgecombe’s second career playoff game. The 76ers’ team site said the No. 3 overall pick made playoff history while helping Philadelphia recover after Boston controlled the opener. (nba.com) He also did it while playing through pain. The Associated Press reported that Edgecombe took a hard fall on his back early in Game 2, went to the locker room twice, and still finished with six three-pointers and two steals. (apnews.com) For Philadelphia, the result changed the tone of the series after a lopsided opener and shifted attention to how quickly Edgecombe has moved into a central playoff role next to Maxey. For Boston, it means a first-round matchup that looked one-sided after Game 1 is heading south tied. (nba.com, apnews.com) Game 3 now opens the next test: whether Edgecombe’s breakout was a single-night jolt or the start of a rookie postseason run that has already forced Boston to adjust. (apnews.com, nba.com)
