VJ Edgecombe showcased his versatile offensive attributes during the Philadelphia 76ers' 116-107 triumph over the New York Knicks; however, it was his ability to make Jalen Brunson's night a living hell that was more impressive.
Philadelphia's energetic rookie recorded 23 points and four assists, while exhibiting his ice-cold mentality with seven points down the stretch to ensure that the 76ers picked up a vital win on the road against their Eastern Conference rivals.
Nevertheless, a player can have the greatest game of his career against the Knicks and still come away from the Maddison Square Garden with a defeat due to the elite talent they have on offense. Edgecombe's matchup with Brunson would be key if Philadelphia wished to come out on top -- the young guard excelled in this assignment.
Edgecombe's steely defense frustrates Brunson
As most things are in the NBA, defensive contributions are usually assessed alongside statistics, but Edgecombe's outstanding showing on that side of the ball would not be given enough credit if it were simply down to numbers. The 20-year-old chalked up two steals and one block, which is, of course, impressive for a guard, yet it was other aspects of his defense that ensured the Sixers were victorious.
Brunson is a guard who is constantly changing direction while getting physical with his defender to draw fouls. Edgecombe showed maturity beyond his years to avoid this becoming an issue -- recording just two fouls in 38 minutes. The Baylor graduate kept Brunson in front of him at all times, making sure that he did not commit himself too early, forcing his opponent into settling for shots with a high degree of difficulty.
Despite New York's star man finishing the night with 22 points (around six points below his season-average), Edgecombe held Brunson to 7-22 shooting from the floor. Additionally, Brunson only drained 14.3% (1-7) of his shots from deep.
The most impressive contribution came with around 48 seconds left on the clock. After recording a flurry of points over the previous few minutes, Edgecombe's ridiculous levels of endurance allowed him to nip in front of Brunson to leap on a loose ball, preventing the Knicks from hitting the 76ers with a quick transition.
VJ Edgecombe has been a revelation for the Philadelphia 76ers this year. Not only has he created a devastating partnership with Tyrese Maxey, but his understanding and execution on defense have been sensational -- something that Jalen Brunson had to discover the hard way.