VJ Edgecombe rescues Sixers from Warriors' short-handed comeback in amazing finale

The Philadelphia 76ers held off a determined Golden State Warriors rally despite the visitors missing their three key stars, thanks to a clutch play by rookie VJ Edgecombe.

Trailing 98-97 after surrendering a 24-point advantage, Edgecombe converted a putback layup following a blocked fadeaway from Tyrese Maxey, preserving the Sixers lead. However, the game remained tense, as Golden State inbounded with 0.9 seconds remaining, allowing DeAnthony Melton a breakaway opportunity. Maxey hustled back and managed to block what could have been the game-winning shot.

Edgecombe concluded the contest with 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting, alongside 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks, and 5 turnovers. Maxey dominated scoring with 35 points on 13-of-27 shooting. The decisive putback highlighted a remarkable rookie season for Edgecombe, who was the third overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. He currently averages 14.4 points per game, ranking fourth among rookies, and leads all rookies with 4.2 assists per game.

The Warriors entered the fourth quarter trailing 80-66. Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler were sidelined, and Draymond Green exited in the second quarter with a foot injury, later being ruled out for the remainder of the match. Green finished with 3 points and 3 rebounds in 9 minutes of play.

With their core players absent, Golden State relied on contributions from Pat Spencer, Buddy Hield, DeAnthony Melton, Quinten Post, and several others. This marked the second consecutive game in which the Warriors nearly engineered a comeback after losing a star, highlighting their resilience despite an 11-12 record and play-in contention.

The exact severity of Green's injury remains unclear, and his absence may have been precautionary given the halftime deficit. Curry, sidelined with a quad injury for his third straight game, is expected to miss at least two more contests. Butler, already limited by a knee issue, was also ruled out. The teams dependence on their veteran trio, all aged 35 or older, has contributed to their current injury challenges.

Author: Caleb Jennings