Nick Nurse’s Adjustments Unlocked Maxey, Edgecombe in Sixers’ Game 2 Victory

The Philadelphia 76ers’ Game 2 shift started with how Nick Nurse put his guards in position to attack early, rather than letting the offense slow down and get picked apart as it did in Game 1. The difference showed up right away in how Tyrese Maxey was getting the ball. Instead of catching it flat against a set defense, he was already moving downhill, forcing Boston to react sooner than they wanted. That shift kept showing up as the game settled in, and it never really left.

Once Maxey found that rhythm, the pace tilted with him. You could feel it midway through the second quarter when possessions stopped dragging and started flowing. It wasn’t rushed, just quicker to the point where Boston couldn’t get set before the next action hit. Maxey wasn’t just scoring; he was deciding how fast everything moved. He pushed off makes, pushed off misses, even after dead balls, when there was a chance to go. Boston never got comfortable in the half-court, which is usually where they take over, and they never got there.

That’s where VJ Edgecombe stepped in and made it matter. He didn’t have to force anything, finishing with 30 points and 10 rebounds by attacking space that was already there instead of trying to create it from nothing. Late in the third, Boston leaned harder toward Maxey, just a step or two more attention. That was enough. Edgecombe started getting clean looks and clear lanes, and he didn’t hesitate. No wasted dribbles, no overthinking, just quick decisions that kept the pressure exactly where the Sixers wanted it. That’s the kind of choice that breaks a defense open.

Maxey closed it from there, and it didn’t feel like a sudden takeover. It felt like the natural end of everything that had been building. Boston made its push, and he answered it without letting the game slow down. By that point, the Celtics weren’t dealing with a guard trying to find his footing. They were chasing one who had already set the tone. Every possession felt a little shorter for them, a little more urgent, and that’s where mistakes start to creep in. That’s what it looks like when control flips.

From Boston’s side, it wasn’t one glaring mistake that cost them. It was the accumulation of extra work on nearly every trip down the floor. One effort turned into two, then three, and over time that wears you down. You could see it creeping in as the game went on. A step late on a rotation, a closeout that didn’t quite get there, just enough of a delay to open a lane or a clean look for Maxey or Edgecombe. That’s what they’ll focus on heading into Game 3. More pressure earlier, more help sooner, and a stronger push to get the ball out of Maxey’s hands before he gets comfortable, because once he does, it’s already too late.

The Sixers don’t need to chase anything new, but they do need to be ready when those adjustments come. What worked in Game 2 came from quick decisions and trusting the next action. Not holding the ball and letting the defense reset. If Maxey sees more pressure, the ball has to move right away. If that shifts more responsibility onto Edgecombe, it’s on him to keep making those same clean reads without slowing things down. That’s where this either holds or slips.

That’s where Game 3 is going to turn. Not on some dramatic change, but on whether the Sixers can stay in that same rhythm while Boston tries to disrupt it. They’ve already shown what it looks like when they control the pace and force the Celtics to react. Now it’s about doing it again, knowing Boston sees it coming, and proving it travels back home.

Steve Hamilton

Steve may have been born in California, but don’t let that fool you. After dating a local woman and clashing with her and her family over sports for decades, he has an affinity for Philly sports. Balancing love for Philly and Bay Area sports teams may seem impossible, we can all agree that the Cowboys are the true evil.

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