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VJ Edgecombe tells Joel Embiid ‘you were the MVP of the league’ after his 20 through a knee scare, and Tyrese Maxey says ‘he didn’t think’
VJ Edgecombe says he keeps telling Joel Embiid that he was the league MVP and that no one in the NBA can guard him. Embiid scored 20 in Thursday’s 123-112 win over Toronto after a first-quarter knee scare, and Tyrese Maxey said Embiid was aggressive and “didn’t think.”
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VJ Edgecombe has a message he keeps repeating to Joel Embiid, and after the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Toronto Raptors 123-112 on Thursday night he shared it. “I just try to tell him all the time, like, ‘Bro, you were the MVP of the league,’” Edgecombe said. “I just want him to know that he ain’t lose a step, for real.”
Edgecombe, in his second season, said he tells Embiid there is not one person in the NBA who can guard him, whether he faces up or plays with his back to the basket. He said Embiid is starting to find his rhythm, and that he is happy for him.
Edgecombe on Embiid after Thursday’s win. Video posted by Kris Rhim on X.
20 points after a knee scare
Embiid scored 20 points in 28 minutes on 7-of-17 shooting, made 6 of 7 free throws and was +11. It was his first 20-point game since he had 26 in Detroit on Nov. 4. About three minutes into the game, his right knee hit Ja’Kobe Walter’s knee, and he stayed on the floor before limping to the locker room. He was back on the court less than four minutes later.
On Thursday morning, Embiid had said his slow start was on him. “Quite frankly, I just haven’t been aggressive,” he said after shootaround. Through 11 games he is shooting 37.4% from the field and has made 4 of 36 threes. Read more: Joel Embiid on his 37% shooting start: ‘Quite frankly, I just haven’t been aggressive’.
Edgecombe said he does not like seeing Embiid go down. “He knows that I hate seeing him on the floor,” he said. “I always tell him all the time: just don’t fall.” He added that coming back into the game showed Embiid’s heart.
Edgecombe’s full answers on Embiid’s knee scare and his confidence. Video posted by Dave Uram on X.
Maxey: ‘He didn’t think’
Tyrese Maxey, who led Philadelphia with 27 points and eight assists, was asked what changed for Embiid. “He was aggressive,” Maxey said. “He didn’t think. I think he’s been thinking.” He said that was good for Embiid, and that he was not too worried about the knee because he saw it was a knee-to-knee hit.
Maxey on Embiid after the game. Video posted by Dave Uram on X.
Edgecombe’s own night: 15, 8 and 8
Edgecombe had 15 points, eight rebounds, a season-high eight assists and three steals in 36 minutes. He went 7-of-12 from the field and did not commit a turnover. His previous best this season was six assists, against Cleveland on Oct. 22.
Maxey said his instructions to Edgecombe are simple. “I say, ‘Hey, man, go do that VJ stuff that you do,’” Maxey said. “He literally goes out there and does VJ stuff.”
Philadelphia is 10-3. Anfernee Simons added 17 off the bench, and the 76ers host the Indiana Pacers on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, which is 8 p.m. in Cairo.
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