Shortly after the final buzzer sounded on a 108-102 New York Knicks' win in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, fuel was tossed on the proverbial fire by way of seldom-used Knicks forward Jeremy Sochan.
Hardly even an afterthought, Sochan, who played just a single minute, drew the ire of VJ Edgecombe. With the two engaging in plenty of chirping, it should no doubt carry over to Game 3 in short order, where the impassioned rookie guard will look to take that angst out on opponents who actually earn playing time on Friday night in Philadelphia.
Jeremy Sochan, who played one minute in the Knicks win, tried to talk trash to VJ Edgecombe after the buzzer. pic.twitter.com/hPafCMA46U
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) May 7, 2026
Sochan may fuel Edgecombe further
For the visitors, a promising start was powered by Tyrese Maxey (team-high 26 points, six assists). Yet, the field goal percentage discrepancy (51 percent by NYK, 45 percent by Philadelphia) haunted them in a back-and-forth affair featuring 25 lead changes. Knicks guard Jalen Brunson poured in eight of his team-high 26 points in the fourth quarter, leaving Philadelphia faced with a 0-2 deficit heading back home for Game 3.
"We felt like we should have won it," Edgecombe said in the post-game presser. "It came down to shot-making at the end of the game. They were making shots, we wasn't. We missed a lot of wide open ones."
For Edgecombe, who finished with 17 points in 40 minutes of action, the mix-up with Sochan should serve as further motivation throughout the remainder of this series. After a relatively quiet 12 points in 28 minutes of Game 1 action, Edgecombe saw his minutes and usage rate increase.
Edgecombe must take pressure off Maxey
Of course, the pending availability of Embiid looms for Philadelphia, but regardless, getting more touches and looks for Edgecombe should be in store in Game 3. Maxey can only do so much, and having clocked 47 minutes on the evening, it's imperative for his backcourt mate to shoulder more of the load.
The 76ers saw their rookie two guard go off in that electric Game 7 triumph in Boston, dropping 23 points in 44 minutes. He also went 8-for-17 from the floor in that game, showing with increased volume, he's absolutely built for this moment.
The razor-thin Philly bench, coupled with a visibly tired Maxey down the stretch in Game 2 and the touch-and-go status of Embiid, makes the need for Edgecombe to step up in Game 3 all the more essential.
And now that Sochan has poked the former Baylor Bears star, one can expect Edgecombe to come out with a vengeance back home in Philadelphia.