An injury scare is the last thing the Philadelphia 76ers need during the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Facing the Boston Celtics, the Sixers had two from VJ Edgecombe in one night.
A hard fall on his back sent him to the locker room, but it wasn’t long before Edgecombe managed to return to the court.
Losing Edgecombe would’ve put the 76ers in a world of hurt, as they trailed 0-1 heading into the game. Fortunately, the rookie was able to finish the game, and he ended up making a statement.
In 35 minutes, Edgecombe shot 12-20 from the field and went 6-10 from three. He wrapped up the game with a double-double by scoring 30 points and coming down with 10 rebounds.
The rookie led the way for the Sixers, who defeated the Celtics 111-97. Now, the 76ers head back to Philadelphia with the series tied 1-1.
As the Sixers head back home, do they have any reason to feel worried about the status of their rookie?
VJ Edgecombe Addresses The Setback
“I just landed on my back, but I’m good,” Edgecombe told reporters, according to Sixers Wire’s Ky Carlin. “I was able to finish the game. So, I’m good.”
As for the 76ers head coach, Nick Nurse, he noted that while the in-game setback offered a scare momentarily, it all ended up working in the 76ers’ favor in the end.
“In the end, as long as he’s OK, he comes out of this OK. It actually helped us, because you look, he ended up playing what is it? 35 minutes, little, probably five less than he would have played,” Nurse explained.
“We had some good moments, hung in there, whatever we did when he was out, it gave him some chance to get off the floor a little bit. We were able to maintain what we were doing.”
The 76ers will get the next couple of days off before taking the court for Game 3. They are set to return to the floor to face the Celtics on Friday, April 25.