By rookie V.J. Edgecombe’s calculation, he mistimed his game-winner in overtime on Tuesday that gave the Philadelphia 76ers a 139-136 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
“To be honest, I was actually trying to go when the buzzer [went] off, but it was a little bit too early, but it went in, and that’s all that matters,” Edgecombe said.
The 1.93m Edgecombe connected on a jumper with 1.7 seconds left, capping a 25-point night.
Photo: A
Edgecombe, the third overall pick in last year’s draft, brought the Sixers back into the game in the fourth quarter. He scored 13 points in the period, going five-of-10 from the field, including three-of-four from outside the arc. A pair of three-pointers near the four-minute mark helped erase a Memphis advantage. His three-pointer with 1 minute, 55 seconds left in regulation time gave the 76ers a 128-121 lead, but Memphis behind Ja Morant, pulled even at 128, sending the game into the extra period.
After Memphis took an early lead, baskets by Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid (34 points each), and Paul George (17 points) tied the game. A drive by Memphis guard Morant tied the game at 136 with 18.3 seconds left, setting the stage for the game-winner.
“My teammates have faith in us to make a play and that’s what happened,” Edgecombe said.
Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
“It’s a big shot,” Sixers coach Nick Nurse said. “Obviously, a game-winner for a rookie is pretty cool.”
Nurse has admired the poise of Edgecombe, who is averaging 15.5 points a game.
“He’s kind of like that all the time,” Nurse said of the rookie guard. “I never see him show much emotion. I think it’s an incredible quality. He just plays the game.”
In Los Angeles, Cade Cunningham scored 27 points and dished out 11 assists as the visiting Detroit Pistons earned a 128-106 victory over the Lakers to spoil LeBron James’ 41st birthday.
Marcus Sasser put up 19 points and Isaiah Stewart scored 15, while Jalen Duren added 14 points and eight rebounds as the Pistons avoided what would have been a season-worst three-game losing streak.
Detroit shot a season-best 63.2 percent from the floor while ending their Western Conference road trip with a 3-2 record.
Luka Doncic registered 30 points and 11 assists for the Lakers, although he committed eight turnovers.
James added 17 points while becoming just the 12th player in NBA history to take the floor at age 41 or older.
James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, played in his 1,577th career game, second to Robert Parish’s 1,611.
In Salt Lake City, Utah, Derrick White produced 27 points, seven blocks, seven rebounds and six assists to lead the Boston Celtics to a 129-119 victory over the Jazz.
White became the first NBA player 1.96m or shorter to finish with at least 25 points, six rebounds, six assists and six blocks in a game.
Jaylen Brown tallied 23 points, 10 assists and six rebounds for the Celtics. Brown’s streak of nine consecutive 30-point games, which tied the franchise record set by Larry Brown, ended.
Boston’s Anfernee Simons chipped in 20 points, while Payton Pritchard added 18 points and six assists.
Keyonte George had 37 points and seven assists to lead the Jazz, whose two-game winning streak was snapped.
Jusuf Nurkic tallied 26 points on 10-of-11 shooting, and added eight rebounds and eight assists.
Lauri Markkanen amassed 22 points and nine rebounds.
In Inglewood, California, Kawhi Leonard scored 26 of his game-high 33 points in a runaway first half as the Los Angeles Clippers went on to a fifth straight victory, routing the Sacramento Kings 131-90.
James Harden chipped in with 21 points for the Clippers, who led 73-40 at halftime en route to their biggest margin of victory this season.
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