{"id":647004,"date":"2026-05-03T13:45:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-03T13:45:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/647004\/"},"modified":"2026-05-03T13:45:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-03T13:45:20","slug":"vj-edgecombe-shines-again-at-td-garden-in-game-7-win-over-celtics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/647004\/","title":{"rendered":"VJ Edgecombe shines again at TD Garden in Game 7 win over Celtics"},"content":{"rendered":"

Listen to article \u2022\u00a00:00 min<\/p>\n

BOSTON \u2014 TD Garden is where VJ Edgecombe<\/a> introduced himself to the NBA world. <\/p>\n

And where he winked at a television camera in the midst of a historic playoff performance. <\/p>\n

And, now, where he helped the 76ers<\/a> finish off their comeback from down three games to one \u2014 and vanquish their Celtics playoff demons \u2014 to stunningly catapult themselves into the second round. <\/p>\n

\u00bb READ MORE: Hayes: Tyrese Maxey \u2018slayed the dragon\u2019 as Sixers win first road Game 7 in 44 years<\/a><\/p>\n

Egdecombe totaled 23 points, six rebounds, and four assists in Saturday night\u2019s thrilling Game 7 victory, as a fantastic complement to stars Joel Embiid<\/a> and Tyrese Maxey<\/a>. It was the most points by a Sixers rookie in a Game 7, the electric guard\u2019s latest on-court accomplishment in a debut season full of them. And Edgecombe continues to ooze the combination of poise and confidence \u2014 even in a frenzied, high-pressure road environment \u2014 that impresses even his most veteran teammates. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s special, and he\u2019s been special,\u201d standout wing Paul George<\/a> said. \u201cAnd he\u2019s shown it since Day 1.\u201d <\/p>\n

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid reacts to the crowd in the fourth quarter of Game 7 at TD Garden Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Boston. The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Boston Celtics 109-100.Read more<\/a>Monica Herndon \/ Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe, center Joel Embiid, and guard Tyrese Maxey celebrate after winning Game 7 against the Boston Celtics. Read more<\/a>Monica Herndon \/ Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey and guard VJ Edgecombe celebrate after winning Game 7 against the Boston Celtics.Read more<\/a>Monica Herndon \/ Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia 76ers Head Coach Nick Nurse watches the fourth quarter during Game 7.Read more<\/a>Monica Herndon \/ Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey scores in the fourth quarter.Read more<\/a>Monica Herndon \/ Staff PhotographerBoston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown grabs at Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid in the fourth quarter of Game 7.Read more<\/a>Monica Herndon \/ Staff PhotographerBoston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown blocks Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George in the fourth quarter.Read more<\/a>Monica Herndon \/ Staff PhotographerBoston Celtics center Neemias Queta blocks Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid in the fourth quarter.Read more<\/a>Monica Herndon \/ Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia 76ers gather on the court after a foul is reviewed during the fourth quarter.Read more<\/a>Monica Herndon \/ Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia 76ers forward Paul George and Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser in the third quarter.Read more<\/a>Monica Herndon \/ Staff PhotographerThe Philadelphia 76ers go crazy after a three-pointer during Game 7.Read more<\/a>Monica Herndon \/ Staff PhotographerBoston Celtics guard Derrick White slaps the ball in Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid’s hands during Game 7.Read more<\/a>Monica Herndon \/ Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey drives for the basket late in the fourth quarter.Read more<\/a>Monica Herndon \/ Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid shoots a free-throw in the third quarter.Read more<\/a>Monica Herndon \/ Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey misses the shot in the third quarter Game 7 against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Boston.Read more<\/a>Monica Herndon \/ Staff PhotographerBoston Celtics center Neemias Queta scores in the second quarter with a dunk during Game 7 at TD Garden Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Boston.Read more<\/a>Monica Herndon \/ Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia 76ers forward Paul George tries to get around Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown and Boston Celtics guard John Tonje with Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey coming from the side during the second quarter.Read more<\/a>Monica Herndon \/ Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid falls after shooting and missing in the second quarter.Read more<\/a>Monica Herndon \/ Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid passes Boston Celtics guard Hugo Gonz\u00e1lez in the second quarter.Read more<\/a>Monica Herndon \/ Staff PhotographerBoston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard is defended by Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid in the second quarter of Game 7.Read more<\/a>Monica Herndon \/ Staff PhotographerBoston Celtics guard Derrick White tries to block Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe during the first quarter.Read more<\/a>Monica Herndon \/ Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey calls for an offensive foul during the first quarter.Read more<\/a>Monica Herndon \/ Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia 76ers forward Paul George and Boston Celtics guard Baylor Scheierman go after the ball in the first quarter.Read more<\/a>Monica Herndon \/ Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe flies over Boston Celtics guard Derrick White in the first quarter.Read more<\/a>Monica Herndon \/ Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia 76ers forward Paul George celebrates after scoring in the first quarter.Read more<\/a>Monica Herndon \/ Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia 76ers forward Paul George scores against Boston Celtics guard Ron Harper Jr. in the first quarter.
\nRead more<\/a>Monica Herndon \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n

While sitting courtside prior to the Sixers\u2019 morning shootaround, Edgecombe was asked to reminisce about playing his first NBA game in this building \u2014 a 34-point outburst \u2014 and the successful path since then. The 20-year-old acknowledged it was \u201ccrazy to think about\u201d the full-circle nature of it all, but that all previous visits to TD Garden should go \u201cout the window.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI just have to just step up my game and be aggressive,\u201d Edgecombe said then of his expectations for Game 7. <\/p>\n

He got that opportunity early, when the Celtics\u2019 defenders helped off him and left him open to shoot. Scoring nine first-quarter points on 4-of-5 from the floor \u201chelped with my confidence and helped with the flow,\u201d he said. He did not hesitate in firing 11 three-pointers, making five, including one late in the third that gave the Sixers their largest lead at 85-66. <\/p>\n

That let-it-fly mindset stood out to Maxey, after Edgecombe went 10-of-38 from deep in the series\u2019 previous six games. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe shot the ball every time he was open,\u201d Maxey said. \u201cThat\u2019s special, because people get gun shy and they stop shooting, and he didn\u2019t stop shooting. He even shot some in the fourth quarter, I was like, \u2018Whoo, OK, cool. Pullup three. Good shot.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00bb READ MORE: Joel Embiid implores Sixers fans not to sell tickets to Knicks fans<\/a><\/p>\n

Perhaps more impressive to coach Nick Nurse<\/a> was when Edgecombe called for the defensive assignment on Celtics guard Derrick White coming out of halftime. White, who had struggled with his shot throughout this series, had gone off for 19 first-half points for a Boston team missing star Jayson Tatum. In the third, White only scored two points on 1-of-7 shooting (0-of-5 from beyond the arc) and \u201ca lot of that was VJ,\u201d Nurse said. <\/p>\n

\u201cThose are the things that make a huge difference in games like this,\u201d Nurse said. <\/p>\n

Perhaps it is unsurprising that Edgecombe met the moment, given how his rookie season has unfolded. <\/p>\n

After being drafted third overall last summer, Edgecombe earned Nurse\u2019s trust to become an immediate starter. He was an impact player on both ends, finishing the regular season averaging 16 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.4 steals and placing third in voting on an exceptional ballot for the NBA\u2019s Rookie of the Year. Edgecombe also gained quick respect from teammates, as evidenced by the obvious camaraderie with Maxey and the one-on-one individual on-court sessions with George. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a good thing when your veteran guys expect so much out of a rookie,\u201d George said. \u201c \u2026 When he does make a mistake, he makes 10 plays that kind of counter the mistake. He\u2019s very coachable. He stays in the game. And he\u2019s just learning.\u201d <\/p>\n

The postseason has already delivered a new set of teaching moments. <\/p>\n

After Nurse called Edgecombe\u2019s Play-In Tournament performance \u201ca little wild,\u201d the rookie echoed that he was \u201ctweaking a little bit.\u201d His \u201cWelcome to the Playoffs\u201d moment, Edgecombe said candidly, was when the Sixers got smacked by 32 points in Game 1 in Boston. But Edgecombe kept peppering teammates with questions \u2014 \u201cThey\u2019re probably annoyed, but I don\u2019t care,\u201d he said \u2014 and vowed to learn every day leading up to Game 7. <\/p>\n

\u201cHis demeanor and him being so calm in the moment,\u201d Maxey said of what Edgecombe did best Saturday. \u201cThat was big-time, too.\u201d <\/p>\n

Asked late Saturday what he will ultimately take away from his first playoff series and Game 7, Edgecombe acknowledged, \u201cI\u2019m going to be so honest, I don\u2019t know right now.\u201d His turnaround is tight \u2014 Game 1 of their second-round series against the New York Knicks is Monday \u2014 which also represents another full-circle moment. <\/p>\n

\u00bb READ MORE: Joel Embiid and the Sixers finally have their signature playoff moment. What a story.<\/a><\/p>\n

While playing his final two high school seasons at nearby Long Island Lutheran, Edgecombe was inside Madison Square Garden for Game 2 of the 2024 first-round series between the Sixers and Knicks. He remembers when former Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo\u2019s game-winning three-pointer shook the building. <\/p>\n

Edgecombe also thrived in his first two regular-season games in the historic arena, playing lockdown defense on All-Star Jalen Brunson, surpassing 20 points in both outings, and regularly unleashing his athleticism. Now to be a part of a playoff series against these rivals? <\/p>\n

\u201cKnowing the intensity and all that,\u201d Edgecombe said, \u201cI\u2019m just super excited to get out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Advancing to that series, however, required another beyond-his-years performance in Boston by Edgecombe. Entering Saturday, it was possible that his final visit to TD Garden this season would serve as a fitting bookend to his terrific rookie campaign. <\/p>\n

Instead, it marked another significant checkpoint along the way. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just happy to play basketball,\u201d he said, \u201cto still be playing basketball.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Listen to article \u2022\u00a00:00 min BOSTON \u2014 TD Garden is where VJ Edgecombe introduced himself to the NBA…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":647005,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[574],"tags":[64,63,726,313098,85],"class_list":["post-647004","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-basketball","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-basketball","tag-sixers-celtics-nba-playoffs-vj-edgecombe-knicks","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/647004","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=647004"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/647004\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/647005"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=647004"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=647004"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=647004"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}