After getting battered in Game 1 against the New York Knicks, the Philadelphia 76ers returned to Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night with renewed fight and made the hosts work for every bucket.
Despite a gritty, determined effort that kept them in the game through multiple lead changes, it ultimately wasn't enough, and the Knicks escaped with a hard-fought 108-102 victory to take a commanding 2-0 series lead.
The drama didn't end with the buzzer. As both teams made their way toward the tunnel, Jeremy Sochan, who played just one minute in the Knicks' win, initiated a trash talk and purposely clapped in the face of rookie VJ Edgecombe, sparking a chaotic postgame scene that required several players and staff members to step in before things escalated further.
The move drew immediate backlash, not just from the Sixers players who reacted on the floor, but from observers across the league who pointed out the irony of a bench player baiting one of the most impressive rookies of his generation. Since his arrival in New York after being waived by the San Antonio Spurs, Sochan has averaged nearly seven minutes per game for the Knicks, buried deep in their bench, including their postseason run.
Sochan's time with the Spurs ended on equally sour terms. After being waived, the young forward did not hold back about his experience in San Antonio, saying "No real opportunity in my opinion. It is what it is. It's a deep team. Maybe I didn't see eye-to-eye with coach [Mitch Johnson]. I'm just blessed to be somewhere to grow."
For Edgecombe, the incident appeared to add fuel to an already burning fire. The 20-year-old Bahamian guard, one of the most electrifying rookies in the 2025-26 class, refused to let the provocation or the 2-0 series deficit dim his belief in Philadelphia's ability to claw back.
"Don't give up. We're not gonna give up," Edgecombe said postgame. "They did what they have to do and protect home court, you know? So, we won't give up. We're gonna keep playing hard regardless."
The Sixers already completed one unthinkable comeback this postseason, rallying from 3-1 down to eliminate the Boston Celtics, and they carry a firm belief that another miraculous run is possible.
Edgecombe himself has been a cornerstone of that postseason run. He has reached double figures in eight of the Sixers' nine postseason games, including a stunning 30-point, 10-rebound performance in Game 2 against Boston and a 23-point showing in the Game 7 series clincher. In Game 2 against the Knicks on Wednesday, he finished with 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting, adding five rebounds while committing four turnovers.
With the series now shifting to Philadelphia for Games 3 and 4, the Sixers will need Edgecombe to elevate his game even further against a Knicks squad that has controlled the pace and interior throughout these opening two contests. The hostile Wells Fargo Center crowd, combined with Edgecombe's unyielding mentality, could prove to be the spark Philadelphia desperately needs.
On paper, the road ahead for Philadelphia looks steep. Fresh off a grueling seven-game upset of the Boston Celtics, the Sixers now find themselves staring down a 2-0 deficit against a Knicks side that has been the superior team for much of the season. Returning home, they will need to win at least two straight just to keep their conference finals hopes alive. The pressure now shifts to the Wells Fargo Center, where Game 3 tips off on May 8.
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