Philadelphia 76ers rookie guard VJ Edgecombe hit a dagger 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds in overtime to give the Sixers a 139-136 road win against the Memphis Grizzlies.
VJ Edgecombe Explains Final Play
Edgecombe capped a 25-point night with a clutch 25-foot jumper.
“To be honest, I was actually trying to go when the buzzer [went] off, but it was a little bit too early,” Edgecombe said. “But it went in, and that’s all that matters.”
Sixers coach Nick Nurse praised Edgecombe for coming through in the clutch.
VJ EDGECOMBE GAME-WINNER IN OT 🚨 pic.twitter.com/bcsYP1J4WT
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 31, 2025
“It’s a big shot,” Nurse said. “Obviously, a game winner for a rookie is pretty cool. … He’s kind of like that all the time. I never see him show much emotion. I think it’s an incredible quality. He just plays the game.”
Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 34 points each, while Paul George added 17 points, three rebounds, and three assists in 39 minutes of action.
However, the 76ers would have been handed a fourth straight loss without their rookie 20-year-old.
Edgecombe Carried 76ers To Victory
Edgecombe, who the Sixers selected third overall in this year’s NBA draft out of Baylor, brought Philadelphia back into the game in the fourth quarter.
He scored 13 points in the final frame, going 5-for-10 (50%) from the field, including 3-of-4 (75%) from beyond the arc. A pair of 3-pointers near the four-minute mark gave the Sixers a 124-118 lead.
His 3-pointer with 1:55 left in regulation also gave the 76ers a 128-121 lead, but Grizzlies star guard Ja Morant brought the score to 128-all, sending the game into the extra period.
A drive by Morant in overtime tied the score at 136 with 18.3 seconds left, setting up Edgecombe’s game winner.
“My teammates have faith in us to make a play, and that’s what happened,” said Edgecombe, who also finished with six rebounds, four assists, four steals, and one block in 40 minutes.
The 76ers continue a five-game road trip on Thursday against the Dallas Mavericks.
