Edgecombe, Maxey have big scoring nights, 76ers beat Celtics 111-97 to tie first-round series

BOSTON (AP) — V.J. Edgecombe had 30 points and 10 rebounds while playing through pain after taking a hard fall on his back early in the game, Tyrese Maxey scored 29 points and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Boston Celtics 111-97 on Tuesday night to tie their playoff series at one game apiece.

Edgecombe made six of the 76ers' 19 3-pointers. Maxey also had nine assists as Philadelphia bounced back after getting blown out 123-91 in Game 1. Edgecombe is the first rookie to record at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in a playoff game since Tim Duncan on May 5, 1998.

The series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Friday.

“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 Celtics cut a seven-point deficit at the start of the fourth quarter to 91-89 before an 11-0 run put the 76ers back in front 102-89 with just over four minutes to play. The Celtics pulled their starters with a little more than a minute remaining.

Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 36 points. Jayson Tatum added 19 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists.

“I thought Edgecombe was just too comfortable,” Brown said. “He's a rookie, but he can play. We've got to be better on him.”

After struggling from the field in Game 1, the 76ers needed much more from Maxey and Edgecombe. They got it, with the pair carrying the load for a team that shot 47.8% from the field, including 19 of 39 from the 3-point line.

“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 keep shooting no matter what.”

Boston was only 13 of 47 from the 3-point line and shot 39.3% from the field overall, while committing 13 turnovers leading to 16 points by the 76ers.

Philadelphia, which was again without center Joel Embiid for Game 2 as he continues to go through a strength and conditioning program following an appendectomy on April 9, was twice without Edgecombe for brief stretches Tuesday.

Edgecombe limped off in noticeable pain and went straight to the locker room for treatment in both the first and third quarters.

He returned each time and kept scoring to help the 76ers build as much as a 13-point lead in the third.

The intensity was high throughout the game.

It hit a high point in the opening minutes when Brown was assessed a technical foul after his emphatic one-handed dunk over Adem Bona that sent the 76ers big man to the floor.

Replays appeared to show that Brown’s momentum after the jam carried him into contact with Bona, who fell to the floor and left Brown in a hovering position over him.

But referee Marc Davis didn’t see it that way and called Brown for the tech.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Philadelphia 76ers guard Quentin Grimes (5) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics center Nikola Vucevic (4) during the first half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Philadelphia 76ers guard Vj Edgecombe takes a shot against Boston Celtics guard Baylor Scheierman (55) and forward Sam Hauser (30) during the first half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives to the basket past Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona (30) during the first half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) slams a dunk against Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona (30) during the first half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball game, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning played to a 2-2 tie through regulation on Tuesday night and are headed to overtime in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.

Lane Hutson and Josh Anderson scored for the Canadiens, who lead the best-of-seven series 1-0 after a 4-3 overtime win in the series opener on Sunday.

Brandon Hagel became the first Tampa Bay player to have a “Gordie Howe hat trick” in the playoffs, with a goal, an assist and a fight. Nikita Kucherov scored at 12:33 of the third period to tie the game at 2.

Sunday's loss was the Lightning’s 10th in 11 games at home in the postseason, dating to Games 4 and 6 in the 2022 Stanley Cup Final against Colorado. The Lightning have been knocked out of the playoffs in the first round three straight years since the Avalanche prevented them from a three-peat four years ago.

The series shifts to Montreal for two games, with Game 3 set for Friday night. Game 4 is Sunday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Montréal Canadiens left wing Alexandre Texier (85) gets tripped up by Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (71) during the first period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Lightning center Jake Guentzel (59) chases the puck after a save by Montréal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) during the second period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Montréal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki (14) deflects the puck on Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) during the first period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)