The Philadelphia 76ers went up against the Memphis Grizzlies in a thrilling battle that concluded in overtime. The Sixers had the return of former MVP, Joel Embiid, who dropped a near triple-double coming from his knee/ankle injury management. He scored 34 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists in 38 minutes. This marks the most minutes he’s played this season so far.
Tyrese Maxey continues to show out with a double-double, scoring 34 points and 12 assists. Ja Morant fought back for the Grizzlies, finishing the game with 40 points while providing back-to-back clutch baskets.
VJ Edgecombe nails game-winning three-pointer
The main headline, however, is the impressive performance rookie VJ Edgecombe put in to lead the Sixers to a tough-earned victory. He scored 25 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and made 4 assists while recording 4 steals. To make things better, he nailed the game-winning three-point shot to seal the game in overtime, off the assist from Maxey. The Sixers would beat the Grizzlies 139-136.
The Sixers have had a season full of ups and downs. There is one player, however, that has tried to give the franchise the extra boost of hope they’ve desperately needed for the past couple of seasons. VJ Edgecombe has become the source of consistency and the dynamic partner with rising superstar Tyrese Maxey. On a franchise filled with injury-prone players, Edgecombe hasn’t shied away from the spotlight.
MORE: Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Paul George win their first game as a trio in the 76ers' OT victory
All direction leads to the Sixers' willingness to focus on the development of key players like Edgecombe and Maxey. It’s hard to rely on Embiid and Paul George’s availability, so it’s a smart move to give Edgecombe the exposure he needed to become a potential star in the league. With the Sixers' record now 17-14 in the East, Edgecombe looks to continue this momentum against the Dallas Mavericks on the first day of the new year, this Thursday.
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