76ers’ VJ Edgecombe drops defiant truth bomb on losing playoff debut by 32 points to Celtics

The Philadelphia 76ers dropped Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series, falling 123-91 to the Boston Celtics on Sunday afternoon. Boston led by 15 after the first quarter and never trailed, eventually building a 35-point advantage in what became the franchise’s largest opening-game playoff win.

One silver lining was that rookie VJ Edgecombe gained valuable postseason experience, but his performance left much to be desired. He finished with 13 points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals in 34 minutes, shooting 6-of-16 from the field and missing all five three-point attempts.

“I’m gonna be honest, intensity,” Edgecombe said of his first playoff game. “They’re a good team. I just think for us, it’s just that we weren’t making shots. Wide open shots. I’m gonna say wide-open. I mean, butt naked open. Just shots, ball going in and out. Like, it’s deflating. Especially against a really good team that’s also shooting the ball really well. I mean, my takeaway is they got to win three more. It’s on to the next game. My takeaway is that just we gotta be ready to match their intensity. Make it feel more of a playoff game than a regular game.”

VJ Edgecombe’s main takeaway from his playoff debut: “I mean, my takeaway is they got to win three more. It's on to the next game. My takeaway is that just we gotta be ready to match their intensity. Make it feel more of a playoff game.” #Sixers pic.twitter.com/TpDLRzUfNk

— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) April 19, 2026

The numbers validate his assessment. The 76ers shot just 38.9% from the field and 4-of-23 (17%) from three-point range, while the Celtics were far more efficient, hitting 50% of their shots and draining 16 threes. Turnovers also hurt Philadelphia, which committed 14 compared to Boston’s eight.

The Celtics controlled the game from the outset, outscoring the Sixers 33-18 in the first quarter and taking a 64-46 lead into halftime, the Sixers’ largest playoff halftime deficit against Boston since 1982. Jayson Tatum led the charge, with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists, in his 17th game of the season following Achilles surgery. Jaylen Brown scored 26 points, while Neemias Queta contributed 13.

For Philadelphia, Tyrese Maxey posted 21 points and eight assists but shot 8-of-20 under heavy defensive pressure, and Paul George added 17 points. The absence of Joel Embiid, who is recovering from an appendectomy, was clearly felt, particularly inside, where foul trouble limited the effectiveness of backup bigs.

The Sixers must improve shooting efficiency and defensive containment to remain competitive in the series. Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday in Boston.

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