76ers overcome Celtics to tie playoff series at 1-1

Philadelphia 76ers beat the Boston Celtics 111-97 on Tuesday night to even their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series at one game apiece. The victory came after a 123-91 loss in Game 1, with the 76ers responding with a much-improved performance on both ends of the floor.

V.J. Edgecombe led all scorers with 30 points and added 10 rebounds whereas playing through discomfort after taking a hard fall on his back early in the contest. Tyrese Maxey contributed 29 points and nine assists, forming a dynamic backcourt duo that powered Philadelphia’s offensive resurgence.

“I think we knew where the shots were going to come from,” Edgecombe said. “We kept trusting each other. Everyone can make a play on the court. … They wanted me to shoot the ball.”

The 76ers shot 47.8% from the field, including 19 of 39 from beyond the arc, a significant improvement from their struggles in Game 1. Maxey and Edgecombe combined for 59 points, addressing the scoring void that plagued Philadelphia in the opener.

Jaylen Brown led Boston with 36 points, while Jayson Tatum added 19 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists. Despite their efforts, the Celtics shot just 39.3% from the field and were only 13 of 47 from three-point range, committing 13 turnovers that led to 16 points for Philadelphia.

The Celtics erased a seven-point deficit early in the fourth quarter to trail 91-89 before the 76ers responded with an 11-0 run to stretch their lead to 102-89 with just over four minutes remaining. Boston pulled its starters with slightly more than a minute left as the outcome was no longer in doubt.

Edgecombe became the first rookie to record at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in a playoff game since Tim Duncan accomplished the feat on May 5, 1998. His performance came despite playing through pain after an early fall that left him favoring his back for much of the contest.

“I grab (Edgecombe) and Tyrese together a lot and remind them to be super aggressive,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse said. “Fire it up there, like retain shooting no matter what.”

The series now shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Friday, with both teams looking to gain an edge in the best-of-seven matchup. Philadelphia will aim to capitalize on home-court advantage after splitting the first two games in Boston.

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