BOSTON -- The Philadelphia 76ers fell to the Boston Celtics 123-91 in Game 1 of their Round 1 series on Sunday afternoon. It was a tough game all around as the Sixers did not match the intensity that the Celtics brought to the forefront in this contest.On a positive note, rookie VJ Edgecombe was able to get some playoff reps under his belt. It was a rough showing in his playoff debut as he shot just 6-for-16 from the floor, 0-for-5 from deep, and had three rebounds and three assists.

It was just not a performance many are used to when it comes to Edgecombe, but if there's one thing about this rookie, he always finds a way to bounce back."I’m gonna be honest, intensity," Edgecombe said of his first playoff game. "They're a good team. I just think for us, it’s just we weren't making shots.

Wide open shots. I'm gonna say wide-open. I mean, butt naked open. Just shots—ball going in and out.

Like, it's deflating. Especially, against a really good team that's also shooting the ball really well. I mean, my takeaway is they got to win three more.

It's on to the next game. My takeaway is that just we gotta be ready to match their intensity. Make it feel more of a playoff game than a regular game."VJ Edgecombe’s main takeaway from his playoff debut: “I mean, my takeaway is they got to win three more.

It's on to the next game. My takeaway is that just we gotta be ready to match their intensity. Make it feel more of a playoff game.” #Sixerspic.twitter.com/TpDLRzUfNk— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) April 19, 2026The Sixers certainly missed their fair share of wide-open looks.

The No. 3 overall pick wasn't the only one who struggled to shoot the ball as Philadelphia shot 38.9% as a team compared to 50% for Boston. So, while Edgecombe certainly had some tough moments, the Sixers just couldn't convert on their open looks as they only made four 3-pointers compared to 16 for the Celtics."If you think about it, I mean, if you play basketball—I don't care what anybody says," Edgecombe added. "If you play basketball, shots are missing, and everyone is missing shots, not just yourself, but the whole team.

Missing lot of shots. Shots that we normally make. If everyone’s just missing all those shots, the whole team, it can become devastated.

Especially when, like I said, you're playing against a really good team in the Celtics, that also shoots the lights out."As the Sixers now turn their attention to Game 2, this will be another new experience for Edgecombe. It's adjustment time. This is what the playoffs are all about.

Philadelphia will make adjustments to get the rookie going, but the Celtics will also make adjustments of their own to be sure they don't have any letdowns on their end. This is where the cat-and-mouse game begins for everybody involved."Adjustments are gonna be made on both ends," Edgecombe finished. "Both teams.

We just gotta respond. Focus on film. Lock into that. See where we got to be better on the defensive end. Offensively, where we got to be better and be ready for next game."Game 2 is on Tuesday in Boston.This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers' VJ Edgecombe reacts to first playoff game in loss to Celtics