VJ Edgecombe shines and other things we learned in the Sixers’ 123-103 loss to the Thunder

The Sixers’ 123-103 loss to the NBA-leading Oklahoma City Thunder snapped their two-game win streak, but it wasn’t all bad.

Down five players, VJ Edgecombe carried the undermanned Sixers with one of the best performances of his young career. Here are three things we learned:

With Quentin Grimes out with an illness, among all the other team’s injuries, an even larger offensive burden fell on Edgecombe’s shoulders against Oklahoma City.

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He took 15 three-point attempts, the most he has attempted in an NBA game, and made seven of them, tied for the most he’s made in a game this season. Edgecombe continues to show the high-volume shooting Nurse wants to see, taking 28 shots. His scoring touch has also returned. He scored 30 or more points for the second time in the last three games.

“He’s got a pretty good command of the team right now,” Sixers coach Nick Nurse said. “As far as getting us organized, and as far as playing with great leadership, he’s leading by example a lot.”

When the Sixers’ injured starters return to the lineup, Edgecombe knows he’s not going to be taking a high volume of shots anymore. But this stretch as the top option will be key for his future development, and Edgecombe said he’s enjoyed getting the opportunity to test out different skills in his tool kit and see where he needs to learn and grow.

“It comes with finding your role, especially when you share the floor with such great players,“ Edgecombe said. ”With them on the floor, I can go out there and pick up full court. I can try to cause havoc defensively, cut, lock down, spot up shots, but on a night like this, where I have to have the ball in my hands, I have to control the game, or control the offense and get more of the shots.”

Monday night was the Sixers’ final game without Paul George in the lineup after his 25-game suspension expires on Wednesday. Nurse doesn’t anticipate a ramp-up period for George, who’s been playing scout team and actively working out on-court with the Sixers through most of his suspension.

With Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Kelly Oubre Jr. still out, George’s return to the lineup will add a boost of scoring and improvement on the defensive perimeter. Before the suspension, George averaged 16 points per game and shot 38.2% from three. His return will add some off-ball support for Edgecombe, who has started at point guard since Maxey’s injury.

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“It’s Paul George, man,” Edgecombe said. “He’s elite. He’s one of the smoothest players to ever touch a basketball. He’s a two-way player at that, so for him to get back on the floor means a lot.”

During George’s 25-game absence, the Sixers have stayed in the playoff race, and currently sit seventh in the Eastern Conference standings with 10 games to play. They are one game out of the sixth seed, which would allow them to bypass the Play-In Tournament.

“I think they’ve done a decent job of hanging in there,” Nurse said. “I think it just shows you how fast 25 games goes in this league sometimes. It’s hard to believe it’s over with already.”

Jared McCain made his return to Philadelphia after the controversial trade that saw him shipped to Oklahoma City for a first and three second round picks.

McCain hit a three-pointer over Andre Drummond on his first touch in the first quarter, and hit another on the Thunder’s very next possession. He didn’t score again until the fourth quarter, adding another three and two lay-ups for 13 points in 25 minutes off the bench. The Thunder were plus-19 with him on the floor.