VJ Edgecombe clutches up, Maxey and Embiid go off in 139–136 win over the Grizz
VJ Edgecombe delivered the kind of night that defines why the Sixers believe in him long term. He scored 25 points, poured in 16 of them in the fourth quarter and overtime, and calmly knocked down the first game winning shot of his NBA career to lift Philadelphia to a 139–136 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
It was another chapter in what has quietly become the story of his rookie season. The shots do not always fall early, the box score does not always shine, but when the game tightens and the moment demands something real, VJ Edgecombe has shown zero fear.
VJ Edgecombe – Ice Cold
Coming into the fourth quarter, VJ Edgecombe was just 1-for-5 from three and sitting on nine points. From there, he flipped the switch. Three made threes, two brutally tough finishes at the rim, and suddenly Memphis was scrambling.
Then came overtime, when the Grizzlies sold out to stop Tyrese Maxey. Edgecombe set a screen, popped free, caught the ball without hesitation, rose straight up, and buried the jumper that ended it. No panic. No rush. Just confidence. Watching him grow in real time has been one of the few consistent joys of this season.
That clutch shot was necessary because the Sixers once again made life harder than it needed to be on the defensive end. Giving up 40 points to a Memphis offense that has struggled all season should not happen without effort, but Philadelphia managed it anyway.
Overhelping from one pass away created a steady diet of open looks. Transition defense was a mess, including possessions where the Grizzlies scored immediately after made baskets and even a made free throw.
The point of attack defense against Ja Morant was an adventure, and while Edgecombe has defended well recently, Morant had him on skates for long stretches, which only compounded the issues behind him.
The saving grace was an offense that finally looked connected with all three stars available. The ball moved, actions were deliberate, and players actually looked like they knew where shots were coming from.
Paul George lagged behind Joel Embiid and Maxey in impact, but the group felt cohesive in a way it has not often felt this season. The Embiid Maxey two man game was lethal early.
Maxey was unstoppable off the dribble in the first half, hitting stepbacks that left defenders shaking their heads, including a ridiculous running three to tie the game at 72 before halftime. Embiid complemented him perfectly, setting massive screens, punishing doubles, and scoring 19 first half points with four assists and just one turnover.
The second half was tougher. Memphis adjusted, loading up on Maxey and daring Embiid to beat them with jumpers. The looks were there, but the shots did not fall consistently. By overtime, Embiid clearly showed some fatigue, which is understandable given how carefully his minutes have been managed this season.
Still, there were encouraging signs. This was the best Embiid has looked physically since late 2023. He moved with confidence, played aggressively on defense, blocked shots, dove on the floor, and even tried to throw an alley oop to himself off the glass. That did not work, but the fact he felt comfortable trying it mattered.
The frontcourt combinations were another positive. Nick Nurse continues to lean toward pairing Embiid with another big or forward, and it has helped. Dominick Barlow fit well alongside him, and Adem Bona brought energy, rim protection, and effort that changed stretches of the game.
Bona plays hard every second he is on the floor, and while fouls remain a concern, his impact is undeniable. Nurse deserves credit for riding the hot hand, as Bona earned the non Embiid minutes over Andre Drummond and made the most of them.
This was not a clean win. The defense was sloppy, the late game execution was shaky at times, and Maxey nearly let it slip with a questionable early shot late in regulation. But they survived, and they survived because their rookie was fearless when it mattered most.
VJ Edgecombe did not just hit a game winner. He announced himself again. If this is what he looks like in year one, the future remains very much alive in Philadelphia.
Every clutch shot attempt from VJ Edgecombe so far this season
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