VJ Edgecombe dropped 35 points, but the shorthanded Sixers fell 123–103 to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night in Jared McCain’s return to Philadelphia.
Here’s what stood out.
The night began with many discussing the return of Jared McCain, but ended with a career night by Sixers rookie VJ Edgecombe. With Quentin Grimes sidelined with an illness and every other starter for Philadelphia out as well, Edgecombe was left with the keys to the offense and responded well.
Edgecombe led all scorers with 35 points, including seven made threes, a new career high. The Sixers had few options offensively, but the rookie did everything he could to fill the void left by his veteran teammates.
It seems like on any given night, Edgecombe showcases a skill that is a bit further ahead in its development than expected. Normally, his clutch play, or veteran-like ability when rebounding or playing defense, tonight it was his shot from deep and the versatile ways they came that shone bright.
Whether shooting off the catch or pulling up off the dribble, Edgecombe was knocking down shots with ease as the Sixers worked to overcome one of the NBA’s top defenses. While his effort wasn’t enough to swing the game in Philly’s favor, it’s yet another sign of his continued development in a critical area for his growth.
The Jared McCain return game began with a boom and ended just as loud. A roar of applause welcomed him to the court, and he responded with back-to-back threes as the Xfinity Mobile arena continued cheering. Finishing with 13 points on 5-11 shooting, McCain put on a solid scoring display for a Philly crowd that was excited to see him back on their home court.
The Sixers' decision to trade McCain was met with resistance from the fanbase, disappointment among his teammates in Philadelphia, and confusion from McCain himself. Still, the return was a nice opportunity for McCain to reunite with many within the Sixers organization and to enjoy some of the love poured out by Sixers fans.
“It was like I was on the Sixers,” McCain said of his return to Philadelphia. “It was really weird, like I said hi to the coaches, talking to Rico [Hines]... it felt like I was on the Sixers again when I walked out there.”
The Sixers are sticking around in Philly as they take the court Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls. The game is especially noteworthy, as it is expected to be the first time Paul George has been available since he was suspended for 25 games on Jan. 31 without pay for violating the NBA's anti-drug policy.
George is expected to meet with the media Tuesday afternoon and return to action without need of a ramp-up Wednesday night. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. EST.
Unless otherwise stated, all stats included in this article are via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass, Basketball Reference or Team Rankings. All salary information via Spotrac.
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