The Sixers ruled Maxey out Friday night for their matchup with the Pacers because of an illness. Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said pregame that the sixth-year guard hadn’t been able to participate in the team’s activities during their mini-break the past several days.

VJ Edgecombe carried the Sixers in the first quarter and Joel Embiid carried them in the middle of the game before Embiid and Paul George teamed up for a stellar closing effort on Friday night.

This quirk in the schedule is a great chance for teams to lick their early-season wounds. Nick Nurse has said this break comes at a good time as the Sixers are not only getting injured players back on the court, but newly returning players are seeing their minutes restrictions increase.

Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe gives a lot of love to Paul George for helping him adjust to the NBA at this stage.

Only 20 games into his rookie season, VJ Edgecombe made the cut as one of ESPN's top 25 NBA players under the age of 25.