The Boston Celtics were left stunned on Tuesday night, following their Game 2 battle against the Philadelphia 76ers. A major part of Philly’s success was due to the star rookie, VJ Edgecombe.
After getting his first taste of NBA Playoff action over the weekend, Edgecombe had a massive bounce-back effort in Game 2. It’s one that unsurprisingly caught the attention of Jaylen Brown.
The Celtics’ All-Star singled out the rookie, following Tuesday night’s loss for Boston.
Jaylen Brown Credits 76ers Rookie VJ Edgecombe
“He’s a capable shooter,” Brown told reporters regarding Edgecombe. “We just got to be able to adjust and be ready to guard him. He’s a ball player. He’s a rookie but he can play, so we got to be better on him.”
In 35 minutes of action, Edgecombe shot 12-20 from the field. He lit up Boston from three by making 6-10 shots from deep. Edgecombe finished the game with 30 points. He produced a double-double with 10 rebounds.
While the Celtics know Edgecombe well already, considering they face the Sixers four times per season, they understand the rookie requires more attention in Game 3.
After working through the growing pains that were on display in Game 1, Edgecombe proved to be a serious threat to the Celtics in the second outing of the series.
The Sixers Head Home With The Series Tied
At 1-1, the 76ers are getting back to the home court for the first time in the NBA Playoffs.
During the regular season, the Sixers posted a 45-37 record. When they were playing at home, they won 23 games and lost 18 of them.
In matchups against the Celtics in Philadelphia, the 76ers split those games. The October 31 meeting resulted in a 109-108 win for the Celtics.
When the Celtics returned to South Philly on November 11, the Sixers defeated them 102-100. Game 3 is set to take place on Friday, April 24, at 7 PM ET.