76ers' VJ Edgecombe makes history with 30-10 to stun Celtics - ESPN

BOSTON — Back in October, the Philadelphia 76ers opened up their season at TD Garden against their Eastern Conference rivals, the Boston Celtics, and rookie VJ Edgecombe had a performance for the ages.

Tuesday night, with Philadelphia's season on the line, Edgecombe did it again.

His spectacular 30-point, 10-rebound performance was the first by a rookie since Tim Duncan accomplished the feat in 1998. Edgecombe is also the youngest player to put up those numbers in NBA postseason history, surpassing previous record holder Magic Johnson.

Along with the help of 29 points and key late shotmaking from Tyrese Maxey, the 76ers rode Edgecombe's game to a stunning 111-97 victory over the Celtics to even the first round series at one game apiece.

«I mean, [Edgecombe has] been impressive all season long,» said Paul George, who added 19 points. «When you think about it, how he started his first NBA game here in this building, and I'm sure he was in a small percentage, or a small group of players that did what he did on opening night, and then to put a whole season together and get to this point where he's showcasing who he is and his abilities ...

»I've been saying it all year long: He's far surpassed being a rookie."

The 76ers, who got absolutely demolished in the opening game of this series and remain without star Joel Embiid (appendectomy), entered Game 2 as staggering 14.5-point underdogs but handled everything the Celtics threw at them. That included both a 16-0 first-quarter run that gave Boston a 26-13 lead and another late push by the Celtics that made it 91-89 and got the crowd roaring in the fourth quarter.

«I thought they were spectacular to start,» 76ers coach Nick Nurse said. «I mean, they were flying. They were making