Sixers rookie VJ Edgecombe lit up the Celtics with 34 points on Wednesday night, the most in an NBA debut since Wilt Chamberlain had 43 in 1959, as the Sixers won 117-116.
BOSTON — Sixers rookie VJ Edgecombe wasted no time making his mark in the NBA, scoring 34 points in his debut to help Philadelphia rally to beat the Boston Celtics 117-116 in their season opener Wednesday night.
Edgecombe scored the most points in an NBA debut since Wilt Chamberlain had 43 on Oct. 24, 1959, and the third most in a debut all time. He also set the franchise scoring record in a debut, breaking Allen Iverson’s mark of 30.
The rookie managed to stand out on a night teammate Tyrese Maxey scored a game-high 40 points. The 74 combined points by Edgecombe and Maxey were tied for the second most by a duo in a season opener in NBA history, trailing only James Harden and Christian Wood’s 75 points for the Rockets in 2020.
