Edgecombe, Maxey have big scoring
nights, 76ers beat Celtics 111-97 to tie first-round series
[April 22, 2026]
By KYLE HIGHTOWER
BOSTON (AP) — V.J. Edgecombe had 30 points and 10 rebounds while
playing through pain after taking a hard fall on his back early in
the game, Tyrese Maxey scored 29 points and the Philadelphia 76ers
beat the Boston Celtics 111-97 on Tuesday night to tie their playoff
series at one game apiece.
Edgecombe made six of the 76ers' 19 3-pointers. Maxey also had nine
assists as Philadelphia bounced back after getting blown out 123-91
in Game 1. Edgecombe is the first rookie to record at least 30
points and 10 rebounds in a playoff game since Tim Duncan on May 5,
1998.
The series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Friday.
“I think we knew where the shots were going to come from," Edgecombe
said. "We kept trusting each other. Everyone can make a play on the
court. ... They wanted me to shoot the ball.”
The Celtics cut a seven-point deficit at the start of the fourth
quarter to 91-89 before an 11-0 run put the 76ers back in front
102-89 with just over four minutes to play. The Celtics pulled their
starters with a little more than a minute remaining.
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 36 points. Jayson Tatum added 19
points, 14 rebounds and nine assists.
“I thought Edgecombe was just too comfortable,” Brown said. “He's a
rookie, but he can play. We've got to be better on him.”
After struggling from the field in Game 1, the 76ers needed much
more from Maxey and Edgecombe. They got it, with the pair carrying
the load for a team that shot 47.8% from the field, including 19 of
39 from the 3-point line.
“I grab (Edgecombe) and Tyrese together a lot and remind them to be
super aggressive,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse said. "Fire it up there,
like keep shooting no matter what.”
Boston was only 13 of 47 from the 3-point line and shot 39.3% from
the field overall, while committing 13 turnovers leading to 16
points by the 76ers.
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Philadelphia 76ers guard Vj Edgecombe takes a shot against Boston
Celtics guard Baylor Scheierman (55) and forward Sam Hauser (30)
during the first half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoffs
basketball series, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Boston. (AP
Photo/Charles Krupa)
Philadelphia, which was again without center Joel
Embiid for Game 2 as he continues to go through a strength and
conditioning program following an appendectomy on April 9, was twice
without Edgecombe for brief stretches Tuesday.
Edgecombe limped off in noticeable pain and went straight to the
locker room for treatment in both the first and third quarters.
He returned each time and kept scoring to help the 76ers build as
much as a 13-point lead in the third.
The intensity was high throughout the game.
It hit a high point in the opening minutes when Brown was assessed a
technical foul after his emphatic one-handed dunk over Adem Bona
that sent the 76ers big man to the floor.
Replays appeared to show that Brown’s momentum after the jam carried
him into contact with Bona, who fell to the floor and left Brown in
a hovering position over him.
But referee Marc Davis didn’t see it that way and called Brown for
the tech.
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