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VJ Edgecombe reacts to playing first postseason game after Sixers win
TL;DR
VJ Edgecombe made his postseason debut for the Philadelphia 76ers, scoring 19 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in a 109-97 victory over the Orlando Magic. Coach Nick Nurse praised his ability to impact the game despite some shooting struggles.
Key points
- VJ Edgecombe is a rookie for the Philadelphia 76ers.
- He was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
- Edgecombe scored 19 points and had 11 rebounds in his postseason debut.
- The Sixers won 109-97 against the Orlando Magic.
- Coach Nick Nurse praised Edgecombe's overall impact on the game.
VJ EdgecombePhiladelphia 76ersOrlando MagicNBA Playoffs
PHILADELPHIA -- The entire 2025-26 season is, obviously, one of firsts for Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe. The No. 3 overall pick got his first taste of postseason basketball in the NBA on Wednesday as the Sixers knocked off the Orlando Magic 109-97 in the play-in tournament to clinch a playoff spot.
Edgecombe was excellent as he had 19 points and 11 rebounds in the contest, and despite shooting just 1-for-5 from deep and committing four turnovers, he made an impact on either end. That is the most impressive aspect of his game as he continues to make an impact on the floor even if he isn't shooting it particularly well.
"I thought, for him, he made some little bit more off the script decisions tonight with the ball, but it didn't matter the rest of the game, right?" said coach Nick Nurse. "He was flying in for rebounds. He was guarding really hard, and I think that's a good one to get under his belt from an offensive standpoint. That's the thing about him. He's going to impact the game, even maybe when he's not playing the greatest offense in the world, but he's still impacted the game in a big way."
"Off the script" is probably the best way to describe Edgecombe's performances at times, but he also was able to give the Sixers a lift in plenty of ways.
"I was tweakin’ a little bit tonight," Edgecombe laughed. "I was able to settle in a little bit, calm down. I was, yeah, I mean, I guess it happens when you got a kid playing such a high-intensity game, but I was out there having fun. I was out there having fun. So, if I got to play wild for us to win, I'll play wild."
The intensity is only going to rise for Edgecombe and the Sixers as they now turn their attention to the Boston Celtics who will be heavily favored in this series. With that being said, it's better to be in the playoffs rather than watching from the couch at home.
"I’ll honest, it's great to be in the playoffs," Edgecombe smiled. "Some teams are home, but it's great to be in the playoffs. I'm super excited. Obviously, we're going to play against a really good team. So now, it’s on to the next game."
Game 1 from TD Garden is set for 1 p.m. EDT on Sunday afternoon.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: VJ Edgecombe reacts to playing first postseason game after Sixers win
Q&A
What were VJ Edgecombe's stats in his first postseason game?
In his first postseason game, VJ Edgecombe scored 19 points and recorded 11 rebounds.
How did the Philadelphia 76ers perform in the play-in tournament?
The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Orlando Magic 109-97 in the play-in tournament to secure a playoff spot.
What did Coach Nick Nurse say about VJ Edgecombe's performance?
Coach Nick Nurse noted that Edgecombe made impactful plays despite some off-script decisions and shooting struggles.
