Edgecombe shows knack for doing ‘whatever it takes' on 1st career game-winner  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

VJ Edgecombe didn’t pause.

For rookies — and for anyone — it’s natural to stop and stare as a crunch-time shot is launched. But the Sixers’ 20-year-old guard saw De’Anthony Melton block Tyrese Maxey’s jumper and reacted first. As is his habit, he knew where to be and was determined to get there. 

The result was a first career NBA game-winner, a put-back layup with 0.9 seconds on the clock. Despite blowing a 24-point lead Thursday night to the Warriors, the high-drama Sixers sit at 12-9. 

Edgecombe’s vital rebound was no fluke. He’s grabbed 1.9 offensive rebounds per game — second among rookies to 7-foot-1 Hornets center Ryan Kalkbrenner — and has at least one offensive board in 16 of his 18 games. 

“I’m athletic,” he said. “Just try to use my athleticism. The shot goes up, people tend to relax. I’m a victim of it. So I know the opportunity is going to present itself for me to grab the board. And like I said, I can jump, so I just try to jump before them, to be honest.”

Maxey sat to Edgecombe’s left at the postgame press conference podium. Instead of being grateful after Edgecombe’s put-back and celebrating a presumed win, he chased down Melton and blocked his layup attempt on the other end at the buzzer. 

“Rese probably ran a 4.2 (40-yard dash) or something,” Edgecombe said with a smile. 

Maxey enjoyed swatting his good friend and former teammate, who returned Thursday from a torn ACL. 

“Honestly, I just didn’t want him to call me in a couple minutes saying he beat us,” Maxey said of Melton. “I’m just happy to see him out there. He was at my house for two, three hours yesterday just chopping it up and talking about life. … I told him I’d give him one jump shot because he was struggling early. I gave him one middie in the third. But I’m just happy that out he was out there, man. It was good to see him. I told him he can’t guard me, so it’s all good.”

While Maxey continued to be a scorching scorer, posting 35 points, Edgecombe’s final box score stats were not sparkling. He chipped in 10 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals, but he committed five turnovers and only played 24 minutes in his third game since returning from a left calf injury.

None of his previous mistakes ever seem to matter in the final moments. 

“He’s had some of these games where he just hasn’t done much, and then down the stretch he’ll hit a big three, get a big rebound,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said. ”I just thought, ‘Let’s go back with him and maybe he’ll make a play.’ He’s got a nose for the ball and he’s got a nose for what’s going on out there. Even though he’s a rookie, he can make those plays.”

The Sixers had their game-winning chance because Edgecombe stole Pat Spencer’s inbounds pass and called timeout with 8.2 seconds left. 

“Just watching basketball, to be honest,” Edgecombe said of his defensive instincts. “I knew how much time they had to inbound the ball and I knew they had no timeouts left. He had to throw the ball somewhere and everyone was just contesting that one little spot. I just dove on the ball. 

“It’s more just reading their eyes because people tend to telegraph their passes a lot. So just trying to read their eyes and make a quick play on the ball.”

Edgecombe has shined late in many of the Sixers’ ultra-tight early-season contests. 

He’s played 54 minutes in “clutch” situations, which the NBA defines as the final five minutes of games within five points. Edgecombe has shot 10 for 13 from the field and 4 for 6 from three-point range, pulled down 11 rebounds and dished out seven assists. 

“I just want to win,” he said. “Whatever it takes for me to do that, I’ll do it. I don’t care about (anything) else. 

“If they need me to make a shot, I’m going to make the shot. If they need me to grab a rebound, I’ll grab the rebound. Get a steal, get a stop … I’ll do it. Whatever it takes to win, because winning feels great and losing (doesn’t).”