The Justin Edwards Game: Sixers take down Celtics in the final seconds
The Sixers found a way Tuesday night, clawing back from yet another brutal third quarter to beat the Boston Celtics 102-100 in South Philly.
The star of the night was Justin Edwards, who came off the bench and delivered a season-high 22 points, including a scorching 8-for-9 shooting performance. It was the kind of breakout game the second-year wing desperately needed after a slow start to the year.
The Justin Edwards Game
Ironically, the Sixers’ game-winning bucket came right after Edwards’ only miss. Kelly Oubre Jr. cleaned it up with a put-back layup that put Philadelphia ahead for good with just under nine seconds left.
Tyrese Maxey added 21 points and nine assists, Quentin Grimes scored 18, and Andre Drummond posted another double-double with 14 points and 13 boards. Jaylen Brown led Boston with 24 points while Derrick White added 18.
The Sixers were shorthanded, playing without Joel Embiid (right knee soreness), Paul George (knee recovery), Dominick Barlow (elbow), and Johni Broome (ankle).
Shoutout to the Philly Kid, Justin Edwards
Nick Nurse turned to his bench early, and Edwards rewarded him with his best all-around performance of the season. The lefty wing hit two big threes in the second quarter, grabbed key rebounds, and brought energy on both ends. By halftime, he had already helped stretch the Sixers’ lead to double digits.
He caught fire again in the fourth quarter, drilling three straight threes to flip a six-point deficit into a one-point lead. The crowd roared as Justin Edwards pumped his fists and shouted, “Let’s freaking fucking go.”
The third-quarter curse strikes again
As has become routine, the Sixers’ third quarter was an absolute disaster. They entered halftime with a ten-point lead, only to get outscored 33-17 in the third. The offense completely lost rhythm, with turnovers and bad shot selection giving the Celtics life.
Nick Nurse’s Sixers are horrendous in the third quarter
If not for Quentin Grimes’ miracle half-court shot at the buzzer, the Sixers would’ve trailed by double digits entering the final frame.
Basketball is Four Quarters. People Forget That.
Down the stretch, the Sixers fought back with toughness and defense. Edwards’ steal and dunk early in the fourth sparked the comeback, and the team’s energy ramped up from there. Maxey and Oubre each hit big shots in the final minutes, and the Sixers forced Boston into a chaotic final possession.
Derrick White’s deep three missed at the buzzer, and the Celtics’ last-chance put-back rolled off the rim. It wasn’t pretty, but it was a huge win for a short-handed Sixers team that’s still finding its identity without Embiid and George.
The Sixers improve to 7-4 and will head to Detroit for a Friday night matchup with the Pistons. Justin Edwards will look to build on his breakout performance, while Philadelphia will continue to search for a cure to its third-quarter woes.
For now, though, the Sixers can take a deep breath. They just beat Boston for the second time this season, and Justin Edwards may have just earned himself a permanent spot in the rotation.
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