The Philadelphia 76ers are surging in the second half of their matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
With 3:59 on the clock in the third quarter, LeBron James leaped up for a rebound after Jarrett Allen missed a free throw and smacked his teammate, VJ Edgecombe, in the nose with his elbow. Edgecombe immediately grabbed his face and blood dripped onto his hand.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope helped direct Edgecombe to the sideline, where a trainer took a white towel and held it up to Edgecombe's nose. Edgecombe stood patiently with his hands on his hips as the trainer continued to treat him. He walked back onto the court with a swab of cotton shoved up his right nostril and clapped as the crowd welcomed him back.
VJ Edgecombe Just Took An Elbow From LeBron James To The Nose.
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) October 23, 2026
Damn 💀💀 pic.twitter.com/53k5o0K375
LeBron gave VJ a bloody nose 🤕
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 23, 2026
VJ was okay 😮 pic.twitter.com/hiXFU0Tei8
James was fouled on the play by Donovan Mitchell and made both free throws to cut down the 76ers' deficit to 80-77. Philadelphia was down by as many as 29 points in the first half.
The game was another chapter in James' career against his hometown team, which he was drafted by and won the 2016 NBA Finals with.
At tipoff, James Harden was booed in his return to the City of Brotherly Love.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LeBron James gives 76ers teammate VJ Edgecombe bloody nose via accidental elbow