76ers’ VJ Edgecombe on injury report vs. Cavs with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey already out

The Philadelphia 76ers (34-29) dropped to eighth place in the Eastern Conference after losing three of their last four games, and are now forced to battle the Cleveland Cavaliers (39-25) on the road without Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. Both the Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets could reasonably catch Philly before the end of the season, so a win at Rocket Arena could prove vital. This injury-plagued team’s hopes of pulling off an upset on Monday night may hinge in large part on the playing status of one rookie.

Explosive VJ Edgecombe strained his back after fouling out in a 131-91 loss to the San Antonio Spurs last Tuesday and missed the Sixers’ next two games. With Embiid dealing with an oblique strain and Maxey out for at least the next two contests with a sprained finger, head coach Nick Nurse could use some offensive firepower. And a healthy Edgecombe can potentially provide that.

So, fans were curious to know if Edgecombe would be a good fit against Cleveland.

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The 76ers will be painfully shorthanded against the fourth-place Cavs

According to the NBA injury report, the No. 3 overall pick in the NBA draft was initially listed as questionable due to a groin injury, but was later ruled out. It would have been difficult to secure a win despite his availability, but no one can deny the level of influence this young player has had.

Edgecombe arrived on the scene with immense confidence and is a major reason the 76ers have been able to survive Embiid missing half of the campaign. If necessary he can take over the game and lead his team to victory.

While his shot has been spotty this season – 42.7 field goal percentage – Edgecombe is still a dynamic talent who is doing his part to re-energize a franchise plagued by adversity and an emotionally exhausted fan base. The 20-year-old guard is averaging 15.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 36.1 percent from 3-point range through 57 games.

VJ Edgecombe will look to build on those figures the next time he takes to the stage, which unfortunately won’t be on Monday. The 76ers and Cavs tip off at 7 PM ET.