Suns Outlast Shorthanded Sixers Despite Valiant Push from VJ Edgecombe
The Sixers dropped the second leg of their back-to-back Tuesday night, falling 116-110 to the Phoenix Suns in a game that had its fair share of grit, growing pains, and a little revenge from Kelly Oubre Jr.
With Joel Embiid sitting out for right ankle injury management and Paul George also unavailable due to a left knee issue, Philadelphia was already behind the eight ball. And while Tyrese Maxey continued to search for his rhythm, it was rookie VJ Edgecombe who stepped up in a big way, flashing the kind of on-ball scoring ability that makes you pause and take notice.
Let’s dive in.
First Quarter: Edgecombe Finds His Groove Early
It started with a little defense turning into offense-Oubre jumped a passing lane on the first possession, picking off Devin Booker and taking it coast-to-coast for a layup. That would be the last clean bucket for a while, though. The two teams combined to miss the next 10 shots as the game opened with more clang than clarity.
Despite the offensive struggles, the Sixers’ defense came out dialed in. Oubre stuck to Booker like Velcro, and the rest of the unit followed suit.
Phoenix couldn’t get anything to fall early, needing nearly five minutes to hit their first field goal. Philly wasn’t lighting it up either, but they worked the glass-Andre Drummond pulled down a pair of early offensive boards, and second-chance points kept the scoreboard moving.
Edgecombe was the first Sixer to find a rhythm. He knocked down a catch-and-shoot three early, then went to work in the midrange, hitting three straight turnaround jumpers that showcased both touch and confidence. He finished the quarter with 10 points, looking comfortable in an expanded role.
Oubre added a pair of corner threes, and Justin Edwards-getting his first real burn since December-joined the party with a triple of his own. Even with Phoenix struggling from the field, their 11 free throw attempts helped them keep pace. A Jordan Goodwin layup at the buzzer cut Philly’s lead to three heading into the second.
Second Quarter: Suns Heat Up from Deep
Edwards opened the second with a rare drive-and-finish, a welcome sight from a player who’s struggled to find his footing this season. Maxey finally broke his scoring drought after missing his first five shots, but Phoenix had found their range. The Suns hit threes on four straight possessions to take their first lead of the night, forcing a Sixers timeout.
When Oubre checked back in, he immediately made his presence felt. He attacked the rim to earn a trip to the line, then buried another three to cap a 7-0 Sixers run. His energy was palpable, and for a moment, it looked like Philly might seize control again.
But Phoenix responded. Their shooting remained streaky, but they found a soft spot in Philly’s defense with Oso Ighodaro, who scored 10 first-half points mostly as the roll man in simple pick-and-roll sets. The Sixers’ communication on those actions just wasn’t sharp enough.
Despite a late-half lull that saw the Sixers fall behind by four, Edgecombe continued to shine. He capped the half with a highlight-reel moment in transition, reminding everyone why the team is so high on his upside.
Third Quarter: Suns Flip the Script
Coming out of the break, it was more of the same from Philly’s two best players on the night. Oubre got to the line again, then hit his third three of the game off a Maxey assist. Edgecombe followed with another deep ball and a smooth floater, fueling a 13-2 Sixers run that gave them a brief seven-point lead.
But Devin Booker had seen enough. A defensive lapse left him wide open for a three, and that was all he needed to get going. Phoenix did a great job using screens to free him up for catch-and-shoot opportunities, and once he found his rhythm, the floodgates opened.
The Sixers’ offense, meanwhile, hit a wall. Maxey continued to struggle, and outside of Oubre and Edgecombe, the rest of the team combined for just two made threes on 12 attempts. That lack of floor spacing allowed the Suns to pack the paint and force tough looks.
After that early third-quarter burst, the Sixers were outscored 38-16 the rest of the way. What had been a promising stretch turned into a 13-point deficit heading into the final frame.
Fourth Quarter: Late Push Falls Short
Down double digits, the Sixers couldn’t get stops in transition and continued to give up clean looks. Offensively, they didn’t have the firepower to keep pace. Edgecombe’s pull-up game kept them afloat, but Maxey missed open looks and the frontcourt duo of Drummond and Barlow struggled to finish inside.
Things got worse when Edgecombe was whistled for a questionable backcourt violation. Nick Nurse argued that the ball had deflected off Jalen Green’s foot, but the challenge only resulted in a technical foul-and an extra point for Phoenix.
Still, the Sixers had a pulse. A block and a steal sparked a mini-run, with Maxey and Quentin Grimes each knocking down threes. A putback from Adem Bona cut the lead to seven with three minutes to go, and suddenly, the comeback was in reach.
But it wasn’t meant to be. Edgecombe airballed a three, Maxey missed a clean look at the rim, and a failed challenge on an out-of-bounds call ended up giving Oubre a foul instead of possession.
Takeaways
- VJ Edgecombe was the clear bright spot, leading the Sixers with 25 points on 10-of-21 shooting. He was assertive, efficient, and showed a diverse offensive skill set.
If this game is any indication, he’s ready for more responsibility.
- Kelly Oubre Jr. continues to be a steadying force. He followed up Monday’s strong outing with 21 points on 6-of-15 shooting, and his energy was contagious early on.
- Tyrese Maxey is in a funk.
He finished with 20 points but shot just 7-of-25 and couldn’t find a rhythm, even on open looks. The Sixers need him to bounce back soon, especially with Embiid and George sidelined.
- Team defense was inconsistent. The Sixers had stretches of solid effort, especially early, but gave up too many easy looks in the second half-particularly in transition and on simple pick-and-roll actions.
This wasn’t a game the Sixers were expected to win, given the absences, but there was still a window to steal it. The fact that they couldn’t close the gap despite Edgecombe’s breakout and Oubre’s steady play speaks to the larger issue: when Maxey isn’t efficient, this team struggles to generate enough offense.
Still, there’s value in a game like this-especially for a young core finding its way. Edgecombe’s performance was a reminder that even in a loss, there are wins to be found in development.