Justin Edwards held his own in his first NBA test and felt comfortable doing so

Justin Edwards said he was comfortable during his first real NBA look Saturday night in Brooklyn — and it showed.

As injuries continue to plague the 76ers, they started a six-game road trip down one rotation wing, and finished it down two. KJ Martin has been out since Christmas, and while Kelly Oubre Jr.’s hand sprain is seen as day-to-day, he missed the last three games of the trip.

After struggling to plug those minutes with Ricky Council IV, Nick Nurse decided to give one of his two-ways a shot.

Undrafted rookie and Imhotep product Justin Edwards was given a crack at real rotation minutes. His only prior appearances this season for the Sixers were in garbage time.

His first big league assignment was no easy task. He checked into the first quarter of a Jan. 1 matchup against the Sacramento Kings and was immediately asked to guard DeMar DeRozan.

Nurse acknowledged it was a tough assignment, but thought it was worth seeing if he was up to the task of replacing Martin and Oubre’s defense.

“We just wanted a bit of size and athleticism,” Nurse said pregame before a Jan. 4 win against the Nets. “[I’m] not sure what he is, but at least the effort, he tries really hard on defense.”

Edwards didn’t even have time to process the assignment he drew.

“That was unexpected. I was like ‘oh, I’m going in the game!” Edwards said after the Nets win. “I know it was a great player in the other end, but you know, just taking it day by day, and going out there and doing what I can do.”

Nurse said before that Nets game he’d hoped to get more of a look at Edwards in the following week, and he did that same night.

Edwards was the first wing off the bench, and he made the most of his 23 minutes. He finished with 11 points and five rebounds, shooting 4-of-7 from the field and 3-of-6 from three.

While a fair chunk of his scoring came when the game was well in hand, his lone two-pointer of the game was an impressive drive to the basket. It’s also not his fault the depleted Nets didn’t have much of a chance at keeping the game competitive.

While Edwards has appeared in each of the last three games for the Sixers, he said that Nets game was the first time he felt comfortable.

“The last couple games I played, I was overthinking a lot,” he said, “now feel like I got my feet under me, so I feel more comfortable.”

While Nurse continued to hammer home that its defense he’s looking for at the moment, he did seem impressed by Edwards’ feel for the game on offense.

“He seems to get shots, I don’t know how long that will last,” Nurse said, “but I think it’s just cause he’s in the right place and the ball finds him.”

As this very blog featured, Edwards has played very well for the Blue Coats when he has been assigned there.

Despite taking on a completely different role for Delaware, one of the focal points of their offense, he still feels that experience has helped him adapt to the role he’s been asked to do with the Sixers.

“It’s moreso just getting game reps,” Edwards said, “so when I get up here, it’s not me just being robotic. So going down there and just playing my game, it helps me.”

How much opportunity Edwards gets as the wings get healthier remains to be seen, but so far he’s been able to hang.