Sixers head coach Nick Nurse
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 27: Head coach Nick Nurse of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Houston Rockets in overtime at the Wells Fargo Center on November 27, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Rockets defeated the 76ers 122-115 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The Philadelphia 76ers are heading into a rough week on the injury front.
Lately, the rookie star VJ Edgecombe has been dealing with a setback, and he’s certainly not alone. When the Sixers visit the Cleveland Cavaliers in Ohio on Tuesday, March 9, Edgecombe will be questionable to play.
The first-year guard is dealing with a lumbar contusion. After starting March with a 40-minute shift against the Boston Celtics, Edgecombe had to check out just under 20 minutes into his shift against the San Antonio Spurs on March 3.
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When he left the game, he was shooting 2-9 from the field with just six points. Edgecombe had four rebounds, one assist, one steal, and two blocks. The Sixers ruled him out for the remainder of the matchup and monitored his availability going forward.
In a March 4 matchup against the Utah Jazz, the Sixers ruled out Edgecombe without hesitation. While his setback didn’t seem severe, the team wasn’t taking any chances. Edgecombe suddenly became day-to-day.
A game against the Atlanta Hawks over the weekend also didn’t include the young standout. For Edgecombe, that was his first consecutive absence since late November. The Sixers fell short against the Hawks in his absence with a 125-116 loss.
The Sixers Need VJ Edgecombe Back
VJ Edgecombe
GettySixers rookie VJ Edgecombe is having a strong first season in the NBA.
Help is necessary for the Sixers as they look to avoid falling into a losing streak. Since returning from the All-Star break, the Sixers have been up and down. They opened up the returning stretch by winning three out of the first five games. Since then, the Sixers are 1-3.
The veteran sharpshooter Paul George remains out of the mix as he’s still serving his league-issued 25-game suspension. That won’t be lifted until late March.
Then, there’s the star center Joel Embiid, who is battling an oblique injury. Last week, the Sixers ruled him out for a week, confirming he would miss the current four-game stretch they are on. Tyrese Maxey became the latest player to suffer a setback. The star guard injured his hand and was ruled out for Philadelphia’s next two games, including Monday’s outing against the Cavs.
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If Edgecombe gets cleared to make his return in Cleveland, the rookie will have to take on a larger role. This season, Edgecombe established himself as a full-time starter for Philadelphia. He has 57 games played, while averaging 35 minutes on the court. Offensively, he’s shooting 42% from the field and knocking down 36% of his shots from deep. The rookie is producing 15.3 points per game.
Beyond his scoring, Edgecombe is coming down with 5.5 rebounds per game and dishing out 3.9 assists per game.
The Sixers and the Cavs will tip off at 7 PM ET on Monday. Edgecombe could be a game-time decision for the outing.