VJ Edgecombe gave the Philadelphia 76ers some much-needed edge to neutralize the Boston Celtics' homecourt advantage in the first round of the series. The rookie bounced back from his poor shooting night in Game 1 to push Philly to a 111-97 victory.
The Baylor product was all over the hardwood for the Sixers, ending the night with an impressive stat line of 30 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals in 35 minutes of play. More impressively, he shot 60% on floor as well as from beyond the three-point line.
He led a strong Philadelphia performance that also saw Tyrese Maxey put up 29 points, nine assists and two steals. Paul George, Kelly Oubre and Andre Drummond also scored double digits to put Boston away.
Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
The league adds to the 2026 Rookie of Year finalist's stellar show by noting him as the youngest player to bag 30+ points and 10+ rebounds in a postseason game at 20 years and 266 days old.
While his performance tonight won't have any impact on his chances to win ROTY, it's clear how Edgecombe transformed the Sixers from a team stuck in a rut to a position where they can vie for a deep postseason run.
On the other hand, Jaylen Brown's 36 points was the only bright spot in a Boston Celtics squad that failed to make their shots. The hosts only made 39.3% of their shot attempts, with their 26% shooting clip from beyond the arc hurting their chances of securing the win.
Game 3 will be held at the Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 24 at 7 PM ET. Fans can watch the action on Prime Video.
