Tyrese Maxey, 76ers Beat Jayson Tatum, Celtics in Game 2 as NBA Fans Eye Joel Embiid's Injury Return

The Philadelphia 76ers evened their first round playoff series with the host Boston Celtics at one game apiece on Tuesday with a 111-97 victory.

Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe scored 30 points, hitting six-of-10 three-pointers in the process. He also added 10 rebounds and a pair of steals. Backcourt mate Tyrese Maxey added 29 points and nine assists, and Paul George posted 19 points.

For the Celtics, Jaylen Brown led all scorers with 36 points, and Jayson Tatum added a near triple-double (19 points, 14 rebounds, nine assists). No other Celtic player scored in double digits.

The 76ers got it done without star center Joel Embiid, who underwent emergency surgery on April 9 after being diagnosed with appendicitis and has been out since.

Philadelphia was able to get one of two on the road without him, giving the 76ers great life. If Embiid comes back, this team can be dangerous, and fans pointed that out.

It's not clear when Embiid can return, although the team did share some good news on Monday.

Embiid's next chance to return would be Friday, when the 76ers host the Celtics for Game 3. Philadelphia then hosts the C's for Game 4 on Sunday before heading back to Boston for Game 5 on Tuesday, April 28.

If necessary, Game 6 will be Thursday, April 30 in Philadelphia, and Game 7 will take place in Boston on Saturday, May 2.

Embiid averaged 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 38 games for the 76ers this season. Getting that production back would be a huge win for the 76ers, who are looking to make the NBA Finals for the first time in 25 years.

If not, the 76ers showed that they can still compete without them, especially if Edgecombe continues his breakout performances. He averaged 16.0 PPG for the season but nearly doubled that on Tuesday. He and Maxey were fantastic alongside Paul George, and that trio can give the Celtics more problems.

This series is far from over, though, and it'll continue on Friday at 7 p.m. ET in Philadelphia for Game 3.