VJ Edgecombe makes history, Maxey drops 40, as the Sixers stun the Celtics on Opening Night
What a night in Boston. The Sixers opened the 2025-26 season with a 117-116 win over the Celtics, and it was one of those games that makes you stop and realize the future might already be here.
VJ Edgecombe scored 34 points, setting the franchise record for points in a rookie debut and posting the third-highest debut scoring performance in NBA history. The only two ahead of him debuted before color television existed.
What’s arguably the craziest part about VJ Edgecombe’s performace is the fact that it completely overshadowed Tyrese Maxey, who posted a casual 40-piece himself.
VJ Edgecombe makes history, Maxey drops 40, as the Sixers stun the Celtics
Just Like That, The Sixers Backcourt Takes Over
If you witnessed what happened last night from the comfort of your own home, there’s really not much more you can say about Maxey and Edgecombe other than they cooked.
From the opening tip, the Sixers’ guards looked fearless. Nick Nurse clearly built the game plan around giving them space to attack downhill. Joel Embiid set high screens to get things rolling. It opened up massive runways for Edgecombe to explode through.
It was beautiful to watch. Once he realized no one in green could stay in front of him, it was over. Edgecombe started with dunks and layups, then began drilling threes like he’d been doing this for years. His confidence never wavered.
Boston threw doubles at him but that didn’t work. When the offense stalled, he kept the motor running. When the Celtics tried to rattle him, he shrugged it off like no moment was too big. and not when.
VJ Edgecombe Highlights:
Literally every time Philly needed a bucket, the ball found its way to VJ Edgecombe and he delivered. Meanwhile, Tyrese Maxey did what stars do. After a quiet first quarter, he caught fire in the second, torching Boston for 22 points before halftime.
Step-backs, pull-ups, floaters. Maxey hit everything. When the Sixers fell behind late, his shooting brought them back, burying three after three to silence TD Garden.
A Tyrese Maxey Masterclass
Together, Maxey and Edgecombe looked like a backcourt built for the future. One’s a proven All-Star, the other just put up a historic debut.
VJ Edgecombe is making me Trust The Process again
Joel Embiid: Rusty and Out of Sync
On the flip side, this was a rough night for Joel Embiid. He looked slow, off-balance, and completely out of rhythm on both ends. Offensively, he stopped the flow whenever he touched the ball. Defensively, he was a step late on closeouts and transition coverage.
The offense actually looked smoother without him. That’s not a sentence you ever want to write about the reigning MVP, but it’s the truth. When Embiid exited due to his minute restriction, the Sixers’ pace exploded, and suddenly the Celtics couldn’t keep up.
It’s too early to panic, but Embiid didn’t look physically right. Nurse kept him around the 20-minute mark, and it might take him a few games to get back into shape. If the backcourt keeps playing like they did last night, Embiid can take all of the time he needs.
Dominick Barlow Might Be for Real
If you were one of the few people hyped about Dominick Barlow during the preseason, congratulations, your stock just went through the roof. Barlow was a monster on the glass, constantly creating second-chance opportunities and showing poise with the ball in transition.
The Sixers finally won the rebounding battle against Boston, and Barlow was a big reason why. He’s proving he deserves a standard contract sooner rather than later. If Paul George returns soon, don’t be shocked if Kelly Oubre Jr. ends up coming off the bench.
Sixers at Celtics Game Notes:
- Kelly Oubre Jr. went ice-cold for most of the night before burying a massive clutch triple in the final minute. Frustrating but fearless.
- Quentin Grimes couldn’t hit anything, but his defense kept him in the rotation. He should still be starting over Oubre.
- The Sixers’ forward depth actually looks solid. Barlow, Jabari Walker, and eventually Trendon Watford give them some toughness and flexibility they haven’t had in years.
Great Start.
The Sixers walked into Boston and pulled off a comeback win against their biggest rival with zero Paul George, a limited Embiid, and a rookie leading the charge.
VJ Edgecombe’s debut was the stuff of legend, ending the night with 34 points, poise, and swagger that felt way beyond his years. Combine that with Maxey’s 40-burger, and you’ve got a duo that might just carry this team into a new era.
If this is what opening night looks like, buckle up. Philly might be a lot better than people thought.
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