Rookie VJ Edgecombe Rescues 76ers in Thrilling Overtime Win Over Grizzlies 139-136

It wasn’t Joel Embiid with the game on the line. It wasn’t Tyrese Maxey. When the Philadelphia 76ers needed a miracle to snap a three-game skid and silence a raucous FedExForum crowd, they turned to the kid.

VJ Edgecombe, the third overall pick out of Baylor, didn’t just play in his first major overtime thriller—he owned it. With the clock ticking under two seconds in the extra period, Edgecombe rose from 25 feet and buried the game-winning triple, delivering a 139-136 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies that felt more like a playoff heavyweight bout than a December regular-season game.

For a 76ers team that has been battling inconsistency and injury woes, Tuesday night wasn’t just a win in the column; it was an exhale.

A Rookie Steps into the Spotlight

Early in the game, it looked like a typical rookie night for Edgecombe. He was battling foul trouble, struggling to find a rhythm, and watching from the bench as the veterans traded blows. But something clicked in the fourth quarter.

The rookie poured in 13 of his 25 points in the final frame of regulation, refusing to let the game slip away when Memphis made its inevitable run. He finished the night showing poise well beyond his years. The final shot—a cold-blooded dagger with 1.7 seconds remaining—was just the punctuation mark on a breakout performance.

“He saved us,” is the sentiment echoing through the Philadelphia locker room. While the box score will show his 25 points, it won’t fully capture the magnitude of a rookie demanding the ball in that moment.

The Stars Did the Heavy Lifting

While Edgecombe grabbed the headlines, he stood on the shoulders of giants to get there. The 76ers don’t even sniff overtime without the monstrous efforts of their dynamic duo. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey were simply unstoppable, dropping 34 points apiece.

Maxey was a blur in transition, dissecting the Grizzlies’ defense and keeping the pace frantic, while Embiid anchored the middle, demanding attention on every possession. It was the kind of two-pronged attack Philadelphia envisioned before the season began. They combined for nearly half of the team’s total output, keeping the 76ers afloat during a contest that saw 11 ties and massive momentum swings.

Heading into the fourth quarter with a slender 103-100 lead, it was Maxey and Embiid who absorbed the initial contact from a surging Memphis squad, setting the stage for Edgecombe’s heroics.

Morant’s Masterclass and Heartbreak for Memphis

You have to feel for Ja Morant. The Grizzlies’ superstar did everything in his power to defend the home court, exploding for 40 points, including a mind-bending 18 points in the fourth quarter alone. Morant willed Memphis back from a deficit, hitting clutch shots and driving lanes that didn’t seem to exist.

He wasn’t alone. With key big men Zach Edey and Jock Landale out, unheralded Cedric Coward played the game of his life. Coward posted career highs with 28 points and 16 rebounds, proving to be a nightmare on the glass for the 76ers.

The Grizzlies fought back to tie the game at 128 with under a minute left in regulation, forcing the extra session. Memphis coughed up the ball 11 times, mistakes that ultimately offset a blistering shooting night where they connected on over 50% of their shots.

A High-Scoring Affair in Tennessee

From the opening tip, defense seemed optional. Both teams shot the lights out in the first half, entering the locker room deadlocked at 72-72.

The 76ers usually pride themselves on gritty defensive stops, but Tuesday was about survival through offense. They had to match Memphis shot-for-shot. Philadelphia weathered the storm of nine Grizzlies three-pointers in the first half and stayed composed when the Memphis crowd reached fever pitch in the fourth.

The overtime period was a microcosm of the game: back-and-forth, high-stress, and ultimately decided by a single possession. Coward had a look at a 3-pointer as time expired that would have sent the game into double overtime, but it clanged off the front iron, sealing the fate of both teams.

What’s Next for the 76ers

This victory is massive for morale. Snapping a three-game losing streak on the road against a gritty Western Conference opponent proves this team has the resilience required for a deep run.

The road doesn’t get easier, though. The 76ers continue their five-game road trip with a visit to Dallas to face the Mavericks on Thursday. If Edgecombe continues to play with this level of confidence alongside Embiid and Maxey, Philadelphia might just be turning the corner at the perfect time.

For now, they head to Texas with a win, a relieved locker room, and a rookie who just proved he’s ready for the big stage.