76ers Rookie Makes Playoff History In Game 2 Win Over Celtics
· Yahoo Sports
76ers Rookie Makes Playoff History In Game 2 Win Over Celtics originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
A rising young star sent the Boston Celtics to a stunning Game 2 loss on Tuesday night.
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The Philadelphia 76ers responded to a series-opening rout with a 111-97 victory at TD Garden. While Joel Embiid remained sidelined, VJ Edgecombe seized the spotlight.
Edgecombe fueled Philadelphia's upset with 30 points and 10 rebounds. As noted by ESPN's Tim Bontemps, he became the youngest player ever to hit those benchmarks in a postseason game.
At 20 years and 265 days old, Edgecomb is 11 days younger than the previous record-holder. Magic Johnson cemented himself as a superstar by leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a series-clinching 1980 NBA Finals win over the 76ers with 42 points and 15 boards.
Per ESPN Insights, Edgecombe was the first rookie to record 30 points and 10 rebounds in a playoff game since Tim Duncan in 1998. He's also the first rookie to ever tally double-digit boards and five three-pointers in a postseason contest.
That's elite company for the No. 3 pick, who settled for 13 points in Game 1. It's not the first time Edgecombe made history at Boston's expense, as he started his career by scoring the most points in an NBA debut (34) since Wilt Chamberlain at Boston on Oct. 22.
"I've been saying it all year long: He's far surpassed being a rookie," 76ers veteran Paul George said of Edgecombe.
The 76ers will need more big moments from Edgecombe to knock off the Celtics. Game 3 starts Friday at 7 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
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