What is the story about?
If all Cris Carter did was catch touchdowns, all VJ Edgecombe does is hit clutch shots.
Edgecombe’s late three was part of a 13-0 run for the Sixers which helped them stage a late comeback and steal a 109-104 win in the second half of a back-to-back on the road in Charlotte.
Tyrese Maxey was brilliant from the start and finished with 38 points. Edgecombe struggled most of the night, but buried a triple when it mattered. He finished just 4-of-13 for 10 points. Jaylen Brown returned to the lineup. Though
he was able to shake off a poor start, he wasn’t as impactful as he’s been this season. He was 6-of-15 for 14 points. Anfernee Simons was great again off the bench with 19 points.
The Sixers were without LeBron James and Joel Embiid, both sitting out the backend of the back-t0-back. Dominick Barlow (back) remains out.
Here are a few takeaways from the night.
First quarter
- It was funny to see Dean Wade pass up another shot on the first possession and pass VJ Edgecombe a grenade … only for Edgecombe to bury a three.
- The Sixers had a tall task keeping Moussa Diabate off the offensive glass. Not only did Adem Bona do a great job there, but Bona was impactful on the offensive glass himself. Diabate had just one defensive rebound in the first half.
- Holy moly, Tyrese Maxey. To quote a former Sixers, he is just stupidly locked in right now.
- Jabari Walker got the backup five minutes, so it appears no Tacko Fall tonight.
- It was a rough start for Jaylen Brown in his return. He missed his first five shots and had two turnovers. Whether it was a rhythm issue or the knee still bothering him, he looked off.
- Justin Edwards got early minutes, but his stint didn’t last long. It was a little surprising to see Edwards get in there before Labaron Philon.
- The Hornets came in as one of the worst shooting teams in the NBA this season — so, naturally, they couldn’t miss against the Sixers, going 6-of-11 from deep. They held a 37-27 lead. Maxey posted 15.
Second quarter
- Walker gave the Sixers strong minutes at the five. He drew a foul fighting for position with Diabate, then had a tough finish off a Maxey pass, then drove from the corner and had a nice reverse finish. Brown finally got a bucket to go and cut the deficit to 37-33.
- Well, hello, Dean Wade! You wanted him to shoot and what a beauty of a move on Naz Reid for a bucket at the rim.
- A decent stint for Philon. He hit a three and had a great defensive rep against fellow Alabama alum Brandon Miller. He then drew a foul on Miller before making a pretty dropstep move on fellow rookie Christian Anderson for a bucket. He missed a pair of free throws, but overall, good stuff from the rookie.
- Bona fumbled a pass from Brown and of course calmly collected it and finished at the rim over Ryan Kalkbrenner to tie the game at 44-44. Brown was much better in his second stint, finding Maxey for another bucket to put the Sixers in front.
- The Sixers’ defense picked up big time. Another trio of threes from Anfernee Simons and Maxey buried another. Maxey led all scorers with 19. Some tremendous ball movement at times here. Grayson Allen’s red-shot shooting was the only thing keeping the Hornets in it. The Sixers were up 57-54 at the half.
Third quarter
- Credit where it’s due, more good Bona minutes and another pretty make in the post from Wade. It appeared Bona’s activity was starting to frustrate Diabate, as the Hornets’ big man threw in elbow into Bona’s gut. Diabate was called for an unsportsmanlike foul.
- The Sixers’ offense and defense started sagging. The ball stuck too much and Charlotte got way too many good looks at the rim. The Hornets pulled back in front, 67-65.
- Brown and Walker seem to have a little chemistry. Look at that, preseason reps paying off! Overall, the game became a slog. It looked like two teams playing the second half of a back-to-back. Charlotte continued to get to the paint with ease, building the lead to 73-67.
- Brutal night for Edgecombe. He was just 3-of-10 from the field. As we’ve seen though, Edgecombe can have three rough quarters and show up for the fourth.
- On a positive note, Brown has looked much bouncier as the game has gone on. He powered past Allen for a dunk and then had another nice finish at the rim on a drive. He kept the Sixers in it. The offense got bogged down again when he took a breather.
- Yet another three for Simons, cutting the Hornets’ advantage to 79-77. Wade notched his seventh assist on the play. Unfortunately, that was the last basket the Sixers made in the period. Charlotte pushed the lead back up to 83-77 as a Maxey three missed everything. You have to wonder if tired legs are a factor.
Fourth quarter
- Bona sort of turned back into a pumpkin here. It’s hard to even fault him. They’re asking him to play starter minutes and he simply doesn’t seem capable.
- Walker checked back in, buried a three and scored off an offensive rebound. After a steal, Maxey missed a transition three, but Bona gathered the rebound, got it back to Maxey who made a short fadeaway. For as poorly as the Sixers played in the second half, they hung around. It was a one-possession game with plenty of time left.
- In a different spot, I don’t mind Bona taking a corner three. Down six midway through the fourth with time on the shot clock? Yeah, I’d like a better shot.
- Wade’s so freaking good defensively. Hell of a possession on Reid. He really can guard anyone. Then a slick floater from Maxey. He’s doing all he can do keep them in it, but Edgec0mbe’s tough night continued. He grabbed a big offensive rebound, but was stuffed by Miller at the rim. The Hornets then got a Diabate dunk in transition.
- Another Maxey floater and a short turnaround jumper from Brown cut it to 98-94, but the Sixers continued to lose Allen on the perimeter, who made them pay with another three.
- More big time stuff from Wade, who grabbed an offensive rebound and kicked it out to Simons for another three. After a stop, Maxey was fouled, but split his free throws, an issue throughout the night. The defense was finally able to generate turnovers, one leading to a tough finish by Simons in transition to make it 101-100.
- A monster block by Wade and then the Sixers are bailed out as Denis Schroder undercut Maxey going for a loose ball. Maxey made both and the Sixers took a 102-101 lead.
- What a tremendous sequence for Maxey. He stands tough against Miller, who missed a fadeaway, then fought Diabate for the ensuing rebound, which the big man knocked out of bounds.
- How does he do it?! VJ Edgecombe got the ball with the shot clock and what does he do? He buries a triple right in Allen’s eye. That’s a 13-0 run for the Sixers.
- Sion James missed a layup, Maxey grabbed the rebound and was fouled. Wow. Miller made another three to make it 107-104, but Charlotte fouled Brown with 5.2 left and he made both to seal it.
