ON April 21 2026 the Philadelphia 76ers pulled off a massive upset by defeating the Boston Celtics 111–97 at TD Garden. Entering the game as 14.5-point underdogs and playing without star center Joel Embiid, the 76ers managed to weather an early scoring blitz from Boston to even the first-round playoff series at 1–1.
The star of the evening was rookie VJ Edgecombe, who delivered a historic performance with 30 points and 10 rebounds. At just 20 years and 265 days old, Edgecombe became the youngest player in NBA history to record those postseason numbers, surpassing a record previously held by Magic Johnson. His poise was especially notable as he returned to the game twice after sustaining hard falls in the second and third quarters.
Philadelphia’s victory was fueled by a dramatic turnaround in their perimeter shooting. After a dismal 4-for-23 showing from deep in Game 1, the 76ers exploded for 19-for-39 from 3-point range in Game 2. Edgecombe led the way with six triples, while teammate Tyrese Maxey added five of his own, taking advantage of a Boston defensive scheme that repeatedly dropped its big men into the paint.
While the Celtics managed to cut the lead to 91–89 with 6:25 left in the fourth quarter, Tyrese Maxey took control of the closing minutes. Maxey finished with 29 points, hitting back-to-back pull-up threes to silence the Boston crowd and secure the double-digit win. Despite Jaylen Brown’s 36 points and Jayson Tatum’s near triple-double, Boston’s poor 13-for-50 shooting from beyond the arc proved insurmountable.
The series now shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 this Friday night. The 76ers return home with significant momentum and the potential return of Joel Embiid looming, as the MVP center has recently begun a strength and conditioning program following his appendectomy. After stealing a game on the road, the 76ers have turned a projected blowout series into a highly competitive battle.
