The hits keep coming for the Sixers as VJ Edgecombe goes down with back injury
Edgecombe has been a workhorse for the Sixers, rating among the league leaders in minutes and averaging 15.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists in his rookie season.
The hits keep coming for the 76ers.
In the final seconds of the second quarter of Tuesday’s blowout loss to the Spurs, VJ Edgecombe took a hard after San Antonio’s Carter Bryant tried to block his shot before the final buzzer. Edgecombe fell to the court and was down in pain for several seconds, before bouncing back to make all three of his free throw attempts.
But Edgecombe did not return and was ruled out after halftime because of lower back soreness. He ended the game with six points and four rebounds in 20 minutes.
The Sixers return to the court Wednesday for the second half of their back-to-back against Utah, but Nick Nurse did not have an update on Edgecombe’s status.
“Obviously took a hard fall,” Nurse said. “Going to check him out and get an update as soon as we can.”
Tyrese Maxey, after being pulled from the game midway through the third quarter, spent the rest of the period with Edgecombe in the locker room. He said he’d call him Tuesday night for another update.
“No one likes getting hurt, but he’s the same, smiling, happy,” Maxey said. “We had a good conversation. That’s my little bro. I’m going to check on him. I couldn’t continue the game without checking on him.”
Prior to Edgecombe’s injury, the Sixers were already missing Joel Embiid, who will miss at least the next two games with a right oblique strain, and Kelly Oubre Jr., who was ill. The team is also without Paul George as he serves the remainder of a 25-game suspension for taking a banned substance.
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Losing Edgecombe even just for a day could have a big ripple effect on games to come.
The Sixers currently sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, just a half game ahead of the seventh-place Orlando Magic.
Since January, the Sixers have gone 2-8 without Embiid, whose availability remains uncertain. And Edgecombe, who has played in 57 of the Sixers’ 61 games, has been a workhorse the entire season. He is averaging 15.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists in his rookie season. He’s the team’s fourth-leading scorer, behind Maxey, Embiid, and George. He’s also among the NBA leaders in minutes at 35.1 minutes per game, trailing only Maxey’s average of 38.3 minutes, which leads the league.
Without Edgecombe or Embiid, even more offensive responsibility will fall on Maxey’s shoulders.
“We’re going to keep pushing,” Maxey said. “I’m going to be here every night, as long as I can move around and try to play and do those different things. I’m fighting through the adversity, I’ll be here and try to keep leading this group.”