The Tribune

By JONATHAN BURROWS

Tribune Sports Reporter

jburrows@tribunemedia.net

THE Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 128-113 on Monday night, extending their winning streak as Tyrese Maxey and Dominick Barlow carried the offence. Rookie guard Valdez “VJ” Edgecombe struggled shooting the ball but still played more than 30 minutes in a game the Sixers controlled for most of the second half.

Edgecombe, 20, finished with just five points on 1-for-11 shooting, including 1-for-8 from three-point range, adding seven assists, three rebounds, and one steal in 31 minutes. It was one of his least efficient scoring performances of the season and a noticeable contrast to his recent stretch of play.

Philadelphia pulled away behind Maxey’s 29 points and Barlow’s career-high 26 points and 16 rebounds, offsetting Edgecombe’s off night along with their limited scoring from the bench. The Sixers shot efficiently as a team and turned defensive stops into transition opportunities late in the third quarter to create separation.

Despite the outing, Edgecombe remains firmly in the NBA Rookie of the Year conversation. According to ESPN and the NBA’s most recent Kia Rookie Ladder, the race has tightened into a three-player group featuring Kon Knueppel (first), Cooper Flagg (second), and Edgecombe (third).

Flagg has recently held the top spot due to efficiency and two-way impact, while Knueppel’s scoring consistency has kept him close behind. Edgecombe currently sits just behind them.

Through the season to date, Edgecombe is averaging 14.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, shooting 42.9 per cent from the field. Edgecombe leads all rookies in steals with 1.5 per game, first in minutes per game with 35.5, and third in points per game. He trails Flagg in rebounds and Knueppel in scoring efficiency, but remains ahead of most rookies in assists and defensive activity.

Edgecombe’s season also includes selection to the Rising Stars Game during All-Star Weekend. He was drafted onto a roster coached by Vince Carter, a nod to the league’s view of his long-term upside.

Monday night’s game did not help Edgecombe’s efficiency numbers, but it did little to alter his standing in the rookie race.