VJ Edgecombe delivered one of the greatest debuts in NBA history as the Philadelphia 76ers edged the Boston Celtics 117-116 at TD Garden on Wednesday night.
VJ Edgecombe makes historic 76ers debut
The 19-year-old rookie scored 34 points, the third-highest total ever by a player in his first NBA game, surpassing the debut marks of LeBron James and Allen Iverson.
Only Wilt Chamberlain, who scored 43 in 1959, and John Drew’s 32 in 1974, have come close to such a feat in more than half a century. Edgecombe’s performance also broke the franchise record of 30 points set by Iverson on his Sixers debut in 1996.
Record-breaking start for the rookie
Edgecombe, the third overall pick in this year’s draft out of Baylor, added seven rebounds and three assists while shooting 13-for-26 from the field and 5-for-13 from three-point range.
He scored 14 points in the opening quarter alone, eclipsing the previous debut-quarter record of 12 held by LeBron James from 2003.
Tyrese Maxey led all scorers with 40 points, hitting seven of nine three-pointers as Philadelphia overturned an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit.
Kelly Oubre Jr.’s three-pointer with 1:16 remaining gave the Sixers their first lead of the final period, and Boston’s Payton Pritchard missed two late chances to reclaim it.
Joel Embiid, returning from April knee surgery, was restricted to 20 minutes and finished with four points and six rebounds.
Despite his limited involvement, the Sixers’ energy and outside shooting proved enough to hold off a Boston lineup that struggled from deep, converting just 11 of 43 attempts from beyond the arc.
Sixers rally to stun Boston Celtics
Derrick White and Jaylen Brown each scored 25 points for the Celtics, who led 86-75 heading into the final quarter but faltered late as Philadelphia closed on a 42-30 run.
Boston had earlier seized momentum with a 16-0 third-quarter stretch capped by a Sam Hauser three, but Maxey and Edgecombe’s combined scoring swung the game back.
Edgecombe’s night capped a dream start to his professional career and gave Philadelphia its first opening-night win in three seasons.
The Sixers return home on Saturday to face the Charlotte Hornets, where all eyes will again be on the rookie who turned back the clock to 1959.
