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The Philadelphia 76ers responded in emphatic fashion in Game 2, riding standout performances from V.J. Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey to secure a 111-97 win over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night, evening their first-round playoff series at one game apiece.
Edgecombe delivered a gutsy performance, finishing with 30 points and 10 rebounds despite playing through visible discomfort after taking a hard fall early in the game. The rookie showed resilience, knocking down six 3-pointers as part of Philadelphia’s strong perimeter attack. Maxey complemented him with 29 points and nine assists, orchestrating the offense with pace and precision.
After a lopsided 123-91 loss in Game 1, the 76ers needed a response—and they got one. Philadelphia shot an efficient 47.8% from the field and connected on 19 of 39 attempts from beyond the arc, a stark contrast from their earlier struggles.
Boston threatened to make things interesting late. The Celtics trimmed a seven-point deficit entering the fourth quarter down to just 91-89, fueled by strong play from Jaylen Brown, who led all scorers with 36 points. Jayson Tatum added a near triple-double with 19 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists.
76ers surge past Boston Celtics late to even series despite absence of Joel Embiid
But Philadelphia answered with authority. An 11-0 run midway through the fourth quarter pushed the lead to 102-89, effectively putting the game out of reach. Boston eventually pulled its starters in the final minute.
The Celtics struggled offensively, shooting just 39.3% from the field and 13 of 47 from 3-point range. Turnovers also proved costly, with 13 miscues leading to 16 points for the 76ers.
Notably, Philadelphia remained without Joel Embiid, who continues his recovery following an appendectomy earlier this month. Even so, the 76ers showed depth and resilience.
With the series now tied, the focus shifts to Philadelphia for a pivotal Game 3 on Friday, where momentum will be up for grabs.
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