VJ Edgecombe’s electrifying debut powers 76ers past Celtics as Tyrese Maxey drops 40 in opening-night classic

Bassyonni

ago 5 hours

VJ Edgecombe

The first marquee game of the season delivered a thriller in Boston, with the 76ers edging the Celtics 117–116 behind a career night from Tyrese Maxey (40 points) and a record-setting introduction from rookie VJ Edgecombe (34 points). Philadelphia erased a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit to steal a rivalry win that immediately reshapes early-season storylines.

Celtics vs 76ers: a wild finish and a rivalry reset

Boston seized control with a 16–0 third-quarter run and led by as many as 13 early in the fourth, but Philadelphia’s backcourt punched back. A late three nudged the visitors ahead, and the final possession turned chaotic: Boston had two looks to win it in the last seconds, both off the mark, sealing the Sixers’ one-point escape.

Key snapshots:

Maxey’s takeover: Seven made threes, relentless rim pressure, and poise in closing time.
Edgecombe’s emergence: Confident shot-making at all three levels, plus timely boards and run-stopping buckets.
Celtics’ cold arc night: 11-for-43 from deep undermined otherwise solid half-court execution.

VJ Edgecombe makes history in his first NBA game

For months, the conversation around VJ Edgecombe centered on upside. On opening night, it became production. The No. 3 pick debuted with 34 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists, one of the best scoring outputs ever by a player in his first NBA game, and the new franchise rookie mark for a debut. Beyond the box score, he showcased NBA-ready pace: clean footwork into pull-ups, smart relocation threes, and fearless attacks when defenders overplayed passing lanes.

Why it matters: The 76ers envisioned Edgecombe as an immediate spacer and secondary creator around their stars. If this level holds—even in scaled-back form—Philadelphia’s offense gains a two-way wing scorer who can swing playoff matchups.

Tyrese Maxey looks like an All-NBA engine again

Tyrese Maxey didn’t just score; he controlled the game’s rhythm. His blend of seven triples, hang-time finishes, and pocket passes forced Boston to toggle coverages all night. The 40-piece arrives with added context: after navigating injuries and heavy attention last season, Maxey’s quick triggers and decisive reads suggest a return to the high-efficiency star form that made him a franchise cornerstone.

Hidden value plays:

Early-clock threes that prevented Boston from setting its preferred shell.
Two-on-the-ball reads that freed weak-side shooters and short-roll options.
Late-game calm, managing clock and spacing through the last two minutes.

76ers outlook: integrating Joel Embiid while the guards cook

Joel Embiid logged limited minutes (about 20) as he ramps back from knee surgery, finishing with a light scoring line but offering key defensive possessions. Philadelphia leaned into pace-and-space looks, toggling five-out around Maxey/Edgecombe bursts, then sprinkling in post touches as Embiid builds conditioning.

What to watch next:

Minute ramp for Embiid: The on-ball gravity he provides will amplify the guards’ efficiency.
Rotation balance: Wing defense and defensive glass behind the stars remain the week-to-week swing factors.
Crunch-time hierarchy: Early returns point to Maxey as primary closer, with Edgecombe’s self-creation easing pressure.

Celtics takeaways: effort there, shooting variance stings

Boston generated quality shots but couldn’t buy perimeter rhythm. Derrick White and Jaylen Brown paced the scoring (25 each), drives carved pockets in the lane, and a disciplined third quarter nearly broke the game open. But the late-game half-court stalled just enough for Philadelphia to flip the script. The silver lining: the defensive shell limited rim attempts for long stretches; the concern: closing execution and shot profile under pressure.

Next steps for Boston:

Re-center the three-point diet toward cleaner catch-and-shoot looks.
Late-clock plan to reduce tough pull-ups and isolate mismatches more deliberately.
Bench staggering to maintain on-ball punch when a starter sits.

The bigger picture: Celtics vs 76ers just found a new subplot

This rivalry already had elite stakes; now it has a rookie disruptor. If VJ Edgecombe sustains even a portion of his debut aggression, opponents must guard Philadelphia higher and wider, creating lanes for Tyrese Maxey and easier reads for Joel Embiid as his minutes climb. For Boston, the loss is a teaching tape rather than a referendum—but it underscores how small margins define these meetings.

Box-score highlights (select)

76ers: Maxey 40 (7 3PT), Edgecombe 34/7/3; team 117.
Celtics: Brown 25, White 25; team 11-of-43 3PT; final shot attempts in last 2 seconds—no conversion.

Opening night delivered a statement from Philadelphia’s backcourt—Maxey as the engine, Edgecombe as the accelerant—and a reminder that Celtics–Sixers will again hinge on closing-time execution. If this is the baseline, the rematch can’t come soon enough.