Edgecombe makes NBA playoff history as 76ers stun Celtics

VJ Edgecombe introduced himself on the largest stage with a 30-point, 10-rebound masterclass because the Philadelphia 76ers shocked the Boston Celtics 111-97 in Recreation 2 to stage their first-round sequence at 1-1.

It was the primary time a rookie had posted these numbers in a playoff sport since Tim Duncan in 1998, and it made Edgecombe the youngest participant in NBA postseason historical past to realize the feat, surpassing Magic Johnson.

The efficiency was all of the extra outstanding given the circumstances. The 76ers entered as 14.5-point underdogs with out Joel Embiid, who continues to recuperate from an emergency appendectomy, and had been obliterated in Recreation 1.

Boston led 26-13 after a 16-0 first-quarter run and nonetheless reduce the deficit to 2 factors within the fourth quarter earlier than Tyrese Maxey ended the competition with back-to-back pull-up threes.

Edgecombe completed 6-of-10 from three, and Maxey added 29 factors, with the pair combining for 59. The 76ers shot 19-of-39 from deep as a workforce after going 4-of-23 in Recreation 1.

Paul George, who added 19 factors, couldn’t cover his admiration for his younger team-mate.

“When you concentrate on it, how he began his first NBA sport right here on this constructing, and I’m positive he was in a small proportion, or a small group of gamers that did what he did on opening night time, after which to place an entire season collectively and get so far the place he’s showcasing who he’s and his talents. I’ve been saying all of it 12 months lengthy: He’s far surpassed being a rookie.”

Edgecombe, when reflecting on the efficiency, added: “We knew the place we had been going to get the pictures from, the place the assistance was going to be at. So simply credit score my teammates for simply, we stored trusting one another. Everybody could make a play on the court docket, so we stored trusting one another and I used to be within the spot and so they needed me to shoot the ball. It wouldn’t have been proper if I didn’t shoot the ball.”

Jaylen Brown led Boston with 36 factors and Tatum posted 19 factors, 14 rebounds and 9 assists, however the Celtics completed 13-of-50 from three. Recreation 3 is Friday night time in Philadelphia.

Lakers take 2-0 lead as Good stifles Durant

The Los Angeles Lakers moved 2-0 up towards the Houston Rockets with a 101-94 victory, a sport outlined by Marcus Good’s all-round brilliance on the returning Kevin Durant.

Durant, who had missed Recreation 1 with a proper knee damage, scored 23 factors on his return however struggled with 9 turnovers – a playoff profession worst – and went 1-of-3 with three turnovers throughout the 18 possessions by which Good was his major defender.

Good completed with 25 factors on 8-of-13 capturing, together with 5 three-pointers, and grabbed 5 steals.

LeBron James led the Lakers with 28 factors, eight rebounds and 7 assists, and was unstinting in his reward of Good’s influence, each on this sport and on the group as an entire.

“He’s not afraid of the second. He’s all the time been assigned a few of the greatest gamers which have ever performed this sport in his profession. So, to have somebody like that, it simply brings a variety of composure to our workforce. Particularly after we’re lacking – I hate to beat a lifeless horse, nevertheless it’s two huge horses – with AR [Austin Reaves] and Luka [Doncic] out. So, to have that, it means rather a lot to our ballclub.”

Luke Kennard added 23 factors after his 27 in Recreation 1. Houston reduce a 15-point deficit to 5 with underneath three minutes left earlier than Good hit a fifth three of the night time to settle the result.

Wembanyama enters concussion protocol

The most important concern of the night time got here in San Antonio, the place Victor Wembanyama was taken out of Recreation 2 within the second quarter after a tough fall whereas driving to the basket, with Jrue Vacation defending. The Spurs confirmed he had entered concussion protocol and wouldn’t return.

Portland Path Blazers took full benefit of his absence. Scoot Henderson posted a playoff career-high 31 factors to guide the Blazers to a 106-103 comeback win, erasing a 14-point deficit to stage the sequence at 1-1.