Warriors vs 76ers: VJ Edgecombe’s put-back and Tyrese Maxey’s chase-down block seal a 99–98 Philadelphia thriller

The Philadelphia 76ers edged the Golden State Warriors 99–98 on Thursday, December 4, 2025, in a finish that swung twice in the final second. Rookie VJ Edgecombe slipped in for a go-ahead tip with 0.9 seconds left, and Tyrese Maxey preserved the win with a sprinting, last-ditch block at the horn. The result pushes the Sixers to a three-game upswing and hands a short-handed Golden State a gut-punch after rallying from 20 down.

Golden State Warriors vs 76ers: game flow and the wild finish

Philadelphia blitzed out to a 30–10 opening quarter behind downhill pressure from Maxey and second-chance work on the glass. The Warriors score came in waves after halftime, when small-ball spacing and bench energy unlocked their offense—12 made threes on 42 attempts kept them alive despite uneven execution inside the arc.

With under five seconds left, the Sixers trailed by one after Golden State executed a sideline set to reclaim the lead. Maxey’s initial drive rimmed out, but Edgecombe knifed through traffic for the decisive put-back. On the Warriors’ final heave, Maxey chased down the leak-out and pinned the layup attempt just before time expired, punctuating a signature night.

Sixers spotlight: Tyrese Maxey and a composed rookie core

Tyrese Maxey authored one of his most complete outings of the season: 35 points, 4-of-10 from deep, 5-of-5 at the line, plus timely shot creation late. Philadelphia needed every bit of it, as the half-court bogged down in the fourth and turnovers (19) nearly flipped the result.

VJ Edgecombe finished with a blue-collar line—10 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals—and the game-winner, showcasing poise beyond his years. Quentin Grimes added 12 points and 6 assists, while Dominick Barlow set the physical tone with 14 rebounds and switchable defense. Joel Embiid, limited in minutes, posted 12 points and 6 boards and drew extra attention that freed cutters all night.

Rookie guard Jared McCain chipped in 7 points and 3 assists off the bench, including a timely third-quarter three that steadied the second unit.

Warriors takeaways: bench punch, narrow margins

Short-handed or not, Golden State nearly stole this on the road by winning the math: they attempted 42 threes to Philadelphia’s 38, hit the turnover battle (+6), and matched the Sixers on the glass for long stretches. The difference came in late-game shot quality and one extra defensive play.

Wing depth carried the Warriors: Pat Spencer (career-best form) poured in 16 points in 24 minutes, De’Anthony Melton added 14, and Buddy Hield matched 14 with movement shooting that fueled the comeback. Moses Moody (14) and Quinten Post (10) supplied secondary scoring, while Brandin Podziemski and Jonathan Kuminga handled tough defensive assignments on Maxey and Edgecombe.

Golden State Warriors vs 76ers — key player stats

Philadelphia 76ers

• Tyrese Maxey: 35 PTS, 4–10 3PT, 5–5 FT, +7

• VJ Edgecombe: 10 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST, 3 STL, +1 (game-winning tip at 0.9s)

• Quentin Grimes: 12 PTS, 5 REB, 6 AST

• Dominick Barlow: 6 PTS, 14 REB

• Joel Embiid: 12 PTS, 6 REB

• Jared McCain: 7 PTS, 3 AST (bench)

Golden State Warriors

• Pat Spencer: 16 PTS, 5–8 FG, 2–3 3PT, +17

• De’Anthony Melton: 14 PTS, 4 REB, 2 STL

• Buddy Hield: 14 PTS, 8 REB

• Moses Moody: 14 PTS, 2 STL

• Quinten Post: 10 PTS, 3 REB

• Brandin Podziemski: 6 PTS, 6 REB

Team totals: PHI 99 (46% FG, 26% 3PT, 79% FT) — GSW 98 (42% FG, 29% 3PT, 75% FT). Philadelphia edged boards 47–43 but nearly gave it back with 19 turnovers; Golden State’s bench outscored the Sixers’ reserves yet couldn’t secure the final rebound.

What it means for both sides

Sixers: The closing tape matters. Maxey’s crunch-time control and Edgecombe’s off-ball instincts hint at a late-game formula that doesn’t solely depend on deep post touches. If McCain continues stacking solid minutes and the wings keep spacing, the offense can survive slower Embiid nights.

Warriors: The takeaway is encouraging despite the loss—role players drove a near-comeback on the road, and lineup versatility kept a top scorer within arm’s reach. To flip these one-possession games, Golden State needs one more high-efficiency creator late or a cleaner last-two-minute execution package to generate a point-blank look.

Looking ahead

The Philadelphia 76ers will aim to bottle this closing energy as the schedule tightens, with Maxey’s All-Star case building on performances like this. The Golden State Warriors can point to improved bench impact and defense; clean up late-game possessions, and the record should correct. For fans tracking prospects, keep an eye on VJ Edgecombe and Jared McCain—their reps in December are already moving the needle in real games.