Boston, Apr. 21, 2026 — First-year guard VJ Edgecombe delivered 30 points and 10 rebounds at TD Garden on Tuesday night, steering the Philadelphia 76ers to a 111-97 win over the Boston Celtics and knotting their Eastern Conference first-round matchup at 1-1.
Edgecombe, 19, became the first rookie to reach 30 points and 10 boards in a postseason game since Tim Duncan in 1998 and, at the same time, surpassed Magic Johnson as the youngest player to post those numbers in playoff history.
Philadelphia entered Game 2 as a 14.5-point underdog and was again without All-Star center Joel Embiid, who is recovering from an April 9 appendectomy. Even so, the visitors overturned an early 16-0 Celtics burst and withstood a fourth-quarter push that trimmed the margin to 91-89 with 6:25 remaining.
Sharp shooting reverses Game 1 fortunes
After hitting just 4-for-23 from deep in Sunday’s opener, the 76ers torched Boston’s drop coverage by sinking 19-of-39 three-pointers. Edgecombe was 6-for-10 from long range, and Tyrese Maxey added 5-for-12 on the way to 29 points, including back-to-back pull-up threes that rebuilt an eight-point cushion late.
“We all knew where our shots were coming from,” Edgecombe said, crediting ball movement for his open looks. Head coach Nick Nurse praised his team for “hanging in” after Boston’s fast start.
Celtics’ cold night from outside
Boston finished 13-for-50 from beyond the arc. Jaylen Brown scored 36 points, while Jayson Tatum recorded 19 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists but went 2-for-8 from three. Derrick White also shot 2-for-10 from distance.
“It’s going to be a journey,” Brown noted, urging calm as the series shifts venues.
Looking ahead
Game 3 is set for Friday at Wells Fargo Center. Embiid began a strength-and-conditioning program Monday in Philadelphia but has not been cleared to play.
Source: ESPN
