News 76ers Team Notes

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers Bell Ringer: Sixers lose second straight, allowing Bulls 10-0 run to close game

(Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 12
VJ Edgecombe – 3
Andre Drummond – 2
Joel Embiid – 2
Paul George – 2
Dominick Barlow – 1
Adem Bona – 1
Justin Edwards – 1
Quentin Grimes – 1
Jared McCain – 1
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1

---

Deja vu. The Philadelphia 76ers drop another close game to the Chicago Bulls, falling 109-102 on Friday night.

It was another questionable game from the Sixers, from missing a ton of shots throughout and playing some horrific defense at times to allowing the Bulls to go on a 10-0 run to close out the game. Just really not inspiring basketball.

VJ Edgecombe, Dominick Barlow and Quentin Grimes all returned to the lineup after missing Tuesday’s game due to illness. Joel Embiid, despite being questionable pregame due to right knee injury management, was also available.

This one was a back-and-forth battle of runs for the most part, but the Bulls had the important run when it mattered the most. Absolutely everyone, including the guys up for Bell Ringer here, choked in some way or another down the stretch for Philadelphia tonight.

All that being said, if you’re looking for a game recap, you can find that here!

The 16-13 Sixers face a tough one next, taking on the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder (26-5) on Sunday afternoon. That will be the second game of this five-game road trip for Philly.

Until then, let’s get to the Bell Ringer.

Joel Embiid: 31 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block

Joel Embiid was in the starting lineup Friday after being listed as questionable for right knee injury management until just before the game. The big fella hyperextended his knee on a play in the Sixers’ embarrassing loss on Tuesday to the Brooklyn Nets, briefly heading to the locker room before surprisingly returning to the game.

He looked relatively comfortable tonight (by current standards, of course). There were a few moments of scares with Embiid in pain grabbing his knee, but he played like it wasn’t bothering him too much between those. In the first half, the big fella was battling for finishes at the rim, drawing fouls and hitting jumpers, leading the floor with 16 points on 6-for-10 field goal shooting and 1-for-1 three-point shooting at the break.

Is he as explosive or athletic as he was a few years ago? No, of course not. That’s just the reality. But he’s still finding ways to contribute. He put up 31 points in 32 minutes tonight shooting 10-for-19 FG and 2-for-4 3PT in addition to drawing fouls off the Bulls (9-for-9 from the line), and put up some really great screens off the ball.

Joel Embiid with the pump fake to create the 3-point play pic.twitter.com/UVTIKFnJmP

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) December 27, 2025

Tyrese Maxey: 27 points (5 triples), 4 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 blocks

Maxey, unfortunately, started this one as cold as he looked in Tuesday’s season-worst performance. Fortunately, he was able to turn it around by the second frame. After going just 1-for-7 from the floor in the opening period with questionable shot selection, Maxey started to look more himself approaching halftime. He shot 3-for-4 field goals in the second frame to bring his total to 12 points by the break.

He came out for the second half with a different energy than that with which he started the game, sinking a running pull-up triple in transition with zero hesitation. And he kept shooting them from long range, ending up with five three-pointers in this one. Once those were falling, the drives to the rim came with more frequency and to more success with them. A much better showing than Tuesday from Maxey, to say the least.

He finished Friday’s contest with 27 points, eight assists, four rebounds and two blocks in this one. He played 40:21.

Tyrese Maxey hits his fourth triple of the night here in Q3! pic.twitter.com/m0HAer2cYW

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) December 27, 2025

Dominick Barlow: 7 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, +10

I have to give Dominick Barlow his flowers for continuing to be such a positive impact for this Sixers squad. He’s not going to score 20 points or have the flashiest highlights most games, but he’s been in the right spots making the right plays time and time again. Tonight was no exception. He is constantly aggressive on the boards, getting up put-backs and/or drawing fouls in the process. The same energy level is brought to his defense every night. Tonight, in a game that the Sixers lost 109-102, Barlow was a team-leading +10.

He had seven points on 2-for-3 field goal shooting and 3-for-4 from the charity stripe with six rebounds (three offensive), two assists and three steals.

Dominick Barlow is a maniac pic.twitter.com/W4xo3gx1kG

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) December 27, 2025

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...ia-chicago-bulls-nba-joel-embiid-tyrese-maxey

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Do the Sixers have an identity issue?

At this point, calling Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George a “Big 3” is highly offensive to real trios of superstars that have taken the floor together for other teams. But that was at least what Daryl Morey and company envisioned when George signed with the team in the 2024 offseason. But that vision has been far from reality and we’re now almost a year and a half into the tenure of all three players on the Sixers.

It’s pretty dark when you think of it that way. George is in his age 35 season and signed for two more seasons after the current one. Even the optimist on the George contract probably didn’t see him producing at an All-Star level in 2026-27 and 2027-28. Toss in Embiid last year playing the fewest amount of games in a single season since he first stepped on an NBA floor and it was pretty understandable to see why Maxey was the only one of the three players that generated enthusiasm from the fanbase entering this season.

If you chose to view the glass as half full coming into 2024-25, and I doubt many did, your stance was probably something along the lines of “Embiid can’t possibly miss more time this year, right?” and “PG can’t really be worse than he was last season, right?” Well, yes, Embiid is likely to play in more than just the 19 games he played last season, having already appeared in 13 this season before he hit the new year. George has been about the same as he was last season, contributing mostly on defense and shooting percentages that are lower than what he was shooting in Los Angeles. So, I guess that means he hasn’t been worse than he was last season.

The problem is, last season was so bad for Philadelphia, and for Embiid and George individually, that the two players barely clearing last year’s standards of performance isn’t inspiring much confidence for their 2025-26 seasons. After Friday night’s loss to the Bulls, there’s a decent chance the Sixers do not win a game in the 2025 portion of the season in which all three of Embiid, George and Maxey are on the floor.

On one hand, it’s pretty explainable. Head coach Nick Nurse probably feels an obligation to involve Embiid and George, not only because of their salaries, but there have been glimpses — more so from Embiid this season than George — of why those players are paid what they are paid. Embiid had 31 points in 32 minutes of action in the Windy City on Friday night. He hasn’t been as explosive defensively, but he’s been better on that end of the floor of late. He won’t come close to MVP contention this season, but he might do enough on certain nights to remind everyone why he has won the award in the past. In other words, there’s enough from Embiid and George during some games for Nurse to want them heavily involved. But heavily involving the two of them limits how effective Maxey can be offensively and Maxey is far and away the most consistent of the three players at this point in their careers.

In each of the last two games, Friday night in Chicago and Tuesday night at home against Brooklyn, Maxey, George and Embiid all dressed for Philadelphia. Maxey scored below his season average in both games and shot a combined 12-for-38 in the two losses.

The same could probably be said for the other exciting young guard in Philly’s backcourt, VJ Edgecombe. Edgecombe did not play on Tuesday night against the Nets but went 4-for-13 from the field and was a -15 in Chicago on Friday night. The other two games that Philadelphia lost with its “Big 3” available were a game earlier in December against the Lakers and one at the end of November against Atlanta. Edgecombe played in both of those games and attempted just six field goals against Atlanta and was just 5-for-13 from the field against the Lakers in 38 minutes of action.

But let’s not put this all on Embiid and George. It’s easy to blame expensive veterans when the team results aren’t there, but it should be noted that prior to the two losses this week, Philadelphia was 5-4 in games Maxey and Embiid both played in without George and 6-3 in games Maxey and George both played in without Embiid. Additionally, while no one may want to hear this, all four losses with Maxey, George and Embiid on the court this season have been by single digits. Granted, Brooklyn was large and in charge on Tuesday night, but the losses to the Bulls and Lakers were tightly contested into the final minutes and the loss to Atlanta went to double overtime. A couple plays here and there could have flipped two of these games to wins and 2-2 with all three players on the floor suddenly doesn’t feel like an identity crisis.

It’s also important to point out that in the double overtime loss to Atlanta, the minutes of Embiid and George were being monitored in a game that was 10 minutes longer than the standard 48 minutes. Against the Lakers, Embiid simply had a rough shooting night — average night from Embiid from the field probably gives the Sixers a win there without anyone else contributing more.

There are a variety of other factors that should be considered here as well when discussing the team’s 0-4 record in games Embiid, George and Maxey all appear in. Are we asking enough questions about Nurse’s performance this season? I’m not calling for a coaching change, but it is the job of the head coach to get the most out of his roster and find ways to maximize his players. The above research on Maxey and Edgecombe’s performances in games with Embiid and George on the floor would suggest that Nurse has not done a good job of empowering his young guards in every game this season.

Additionally, while lots of attention will always be on Embiid, George and Maxey for as long as they’re all teammates, a little more help on some of these nights could have again flipped two of the four losses to wins. Against the Bulls this past Friday night, Embiid, George and Maxey all scored in double figures. The only other Sixer to score in double figures in the game was Edgecombe, who just got there with 10 points on an inefficient shooting night. In the loss earlier this month to the Lakers, Quentin Grimes played 29 minutes off the bench and shot just 1-for-6 from three-point land. Justin Edwards and Adem Bona got 20 and 19 minutes of action respectively on Tuesday against Brooklyn. Edwards was a -9 in his 20 minutes and Bona was a -10. Jared McCain has not been able to pick up where he left off last year. Perhaps what’s most disappointing about all of this is that Andre Drummond has actually been pretty solid for Philly too. But there just haven’t been enough steps forward by some of the young players who are not named Maxey or Edgecombe. Sure, some of that could again be Nurse not getting the most out of them, but the players are also not innocent bystanders.

So, to answer the question, do the Sixers have an identity issue? They might. But it’s also probably too early to say. They’re 16-13 following the loss to the Bulls and they got to 13 losses a lot faster than their 29th game in 2024-25. For as open as the East feels this season, it’s hard to complain with a regular season that sees Philly tread water and do enough to finish with one of the top six seeds in the conference and avoid the play-in tournament if that’s where this is headed.

However, there’s also a world in which the issues with Embiid, Maxey and George all playing do not get fixed. It’s not impossible to see the Sixers miss the play-in tournament all together or certainly lose quickly in it. In this kind of one step forward, two steps backwards season, Nurse probably gets pink slipped in the spring, and the Sixers move forward hoping someone else can make the most out of the situation next season. Of course, I’m sure they’ll try to get off of the final two years of George’s contract, but this is the bed they’ve made for themselves.

Right now it’s a bed that’s comfortable enough to sleep in 2-3 days a week, but impossible to sleep in for the other 4-5 days in the week. Maybe they’ll get more comfortable as the season wears on. If not, 2025-26 is going to be a bumpy ride to nowhere.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...ty-issue-joel-embiid-tyrese-maxey-paul-george

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Joel Embiid out Sunday against Thunder

Philadelphia will be missing a big piece of its starting lineup when they square off against the defending champion Thunder Sunday afternoon in Oklahoma City. On Saturday evening, the Sixers designated Joel Embiid as out due to right knee injury management and a right ankle sprain. Paul George was listed as probable by the team, with Kelly Oubre Jr and Trendon Watford remaining out.

The Sixers have an injury report for tomorrow's game @ OKC:

Joel Embiid – right knee injury management; right ankle sprain – OUT

Paul George — left knee injury management — PROBABLE

Kelly Oubre Jr. – left knee sprain – OUT

Trendon Watford – left adductor strain – OUT

— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) December 27, 2025

While the knee management has obviously been an ongoing issue, this injury report is the first mention of the ankle sprain, presumably something Embiid suffered in Friday night’s loss to the Chicago Bulls. Joel tied a season-high with 32 minutes played in Chicago, scoring 31 points. There was no mention of an ankle issue at the time, as he closed the game in the 109-102 defeat.

Embiid has appeared in 13 games this season, averaging 21.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.3 blocks. His current 27.0 minutes per game would be his lowest mark since his 2016-17 rookie season, and Sunday will be his 17th game missed for the 16-13 Sixers. While Joel is on pace to far exceed his 19 games played last season, appearing in less than half the team’s games has to be hurting the team’s cohesion and continuity to some degree. Unfortunately, there are no signs of the situation dramatically altering at any point soon, as the Sixers and Embiid himself are subject to the whims of how his body feels on a daily basis. Following the Oklahoma City contest, the Sixers will next play in Memphis on Tuesday night.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76ers-injury-report/83099/joel-embiid-out-sunday-against-thunder

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers-Thunder: First Half Thread

Game Details​

When: Sunday, December 28, 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76ers-discussion-threads/83113/sixers-thunder-first-half-thread

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers Bell Ringer: First half effort of Tyrese Maxey, Sixers bench bright spot in loss to OKC

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 12
VJ Edgecombe – 3
Joel Embiid – 3
Andre Drummond – 2
Paul George – 2
Dominick Barlow – 1
Adem Bona – 1
Justin Edwards – 1
Quentin Grimes – 1
Jared McCain – 1
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1

---

Well… the first half was kind of fun, at least.

The Philadelphia 76ers fell 129-104 to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday afternoon.

The Sixers were right in there with the defending NBA champions through the first half, led by Tyrese Maxey putting up 23 points on 8-for-10 field goal shooting by the break. By midway through the third, things started to slide a bit in favor of the Thunder, with OKC building a double-digit lead. By the halfway point of the final frame, the Thunder had amassed a 25-point lead. It was a really valiant first half effort from Philadelphia, but OKC simply took over the game in the second.

If you’re looking for a full game recap, you can check that out here.

Let’s get to the Bell Ringer.

Tyrese Maxey: 28 points (10-for-18 FG), 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals

Tyrese Maxey got off to a stellar two-way start, leading all scorers with 16 points on 6-for-7 field goal shooting with three steals in the first frame. He stayed red hot, carving through the Thunder defense with seemingly relative ease. By halftime, he continued to lead the floor with 23 points on stellar 8-for-10 field goal and 2-for-3 three-point shooting to go with two rebounds, three assists and three steals. His second half was not as strong (no one’s was from the Sixers) as the Thunder were able to completely clamp down on him defensively, but he still led the Sixers’ scoring by far with 28 points overall.

We know Maxey’s offense always has the potential to be this explosive, of course, but his defensive effort in this one was extremely strong as well. He looked extremely aggressive on the ball and has continued to develop his ability to lurk, read the opposing offense and intercept passes off the ball.

Maxey finished this one with 28 points on 10-for-18 field goal shooting with two rebounds, five assists and four steals.

The Sixers are hanging right in there with the Thunder here in Q2! pic.twitter.com/CnbGqCK9QE

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) December 28, 2025

Adem Bona: 11 points, 8 rebounds (6 offensive), 1 assist, 4 blocks

Adem Bona had some really strong minutes — probably some of his best all season —for the Sixers in the first half of this one… which was great considering how OKC was easily taking advantage of Andre Drummond when he was out there. Not only did he put up eight points on 2-for-3 field goal shooting and 4-for-4 shooting from the line in the first half, but he was an absolute menace on defense. He had two steals by the break to show for it, but that doesn’t tell the whole story of just how energetic and involved he was defensively, helping keep this one extremely close going into halftime.

Even as things started to get lopsided in the second half, Bona kept bringing the energy, fighting for blocks and boards even when the game was realistically out of reach.

Bona finished with 11 points (3-for-4 from the floor, 5-for-6 from the line) with seven rebounds (five offensive), one assist and four blocks.

Adem Bona block VJ Edgecombe assist Justin Edwards triple pic.twitter.com/ZvDn8uWpTt

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) December 28, 2025

Justin Edwards: 12 points (4 triples), 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block

Justin Edwards has had a rough season, let’s all be honest… but he seems to enjoy playing against the league’s toughest teams. This afternoon, he looked possibly the best he has all year in the first half against the defending NBA champs. Early on, Edwards was red hot from long range, sinking 3-of-3 attempts from beyond the arc for nine points along with three rebounds and a block by halftime.

His second half was not so great… but honestly the second half wasn’t exactly great for anyone on the Sixers. Thunder just took over. It would be great to see more of the JE we saw this first half in other games, though.

Edwards finished with 12 points (4-for-6 from three), five rebounds, one assist and one block.

Justin Edwards hits his third triple of the first half pic.twitter.com/JxFoodGmR1

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) December 28, 2025

Jared McCain: 10 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist

Jared McCain has had kind of a rough go since returning from the injuries that sidelined him for 11 months after ending the stellar beginning to his rookie season last year. Today was one of the better performances he’s had, especially shooting. The sophomore continues to look confident shooting, even though some inefficient games, and today they finally started falling smoothly. McCain shot 4-for-6 from the floor for 10 points in this one. He was 2-for-4 from long range, including hitting a really nice no-dip triple from the corner in the third frame.

Sure, it’s not the type of performance we got spoiled with watching McCain last season, but any game where the shots start falling like this is is a step in the right direction to getting back to that.

Jared McCain with the no-dip triple from the corner! pic.twitter.com/zmGNc66yJ4

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) December 28, 2025

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...klahoma-city-thunder-tyrese-maxey-bona-mccain

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Joel Embiid questionable for matchup vs. injury-riddled Grizzlies

(Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)

The Philadelphia 76ers have dropped their last three games and their next opportunity to get back in the win column comes Tuesday night when they take on the Memphis Grizzlies. This is their third game of a five-game road trip.

As of Monday evening, Joel Embiid is listed as questionable for the contest due to a right ankle sprain and right knee injury management. For what it’s worth, Embiid was also listed with both ailments when he missed the Sixers’ last game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but Nick Nurse told Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey before that one that Embiid was sidelined due to the ankle, not the knee.

Sixers coach Nick Nurse said Joel Embiid is day-to-day with the sprained right ankle. He added that the ankle, not the right-knee injurymanagement, is the reason the center will miss today's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) December 28, 2025

Embiid apparently sprained that ankle in his last game, the Sixers’ gross 109-102 loss to the Chicago Bulls last Friday night. He played just over 32 minutes in that contest, putting up 31 points on 10-for-19 field goal shooting.

In addition vs. the Grizzles, Trendon Watford and Kelly Oubre Jr. both remain out for Philadelphia. That being said, the Sixers’ said on Monday that the pair are continuing to progress and, beginning with today’s practice, are being reintegrated into team activities.

Memphis’ injury report is… a bit longer. Kentavious Caldewell-Pope (hamstring), Brandon Clarke (calf), Zach Edey (ankle), Ty Jerome (calf), John Konchar (thumb), Scotty Pippen Jr. (toe) and Vince Williams Jr. (knee) are all out on Tuesday. Jock Landale (calf) is questionable.

The Sixers and Grizzlies will tip off from FedExForum in Memphis at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...el-embiid-injury-report-nba-memphis-grizzlies

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Can Sixers break out of their slump vs. Grizzlies?

The Sixers have had their fair share of tough opponents this month. They’ve picked up some solid wins, including victories over the Warriors and Knicks, yet they’re now sitting on a three-game losing streak after their latest loss to the juggernaut that is the Oklahoma City Thunder following a valiant effort in the first half.

Yet this slump hasn’t just come at the hands of top teams like OKC. Two losses beforehand to the lowly Nets and middling Bulls leaves Philly well in need of a bounce back performance.

Next up, their road trip continues against a team further down the rankings again in the form of the 15-17, 9th place Grizzlies.

Apart from Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford remaining out, the only addition to the Sixers’ injury report is Joel Embiid as questionable. Despite technically being listed with both a right ankle sprain and right knee injury management, though, Nick Nurse did say it’s the ankle that kept Embiid out against the Thunder.

The Grizzlies’ injury report is a busy one, including Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (right hamstring soreness), Brandon Clarke (right calf strain), Ty Jerome (right calf strain), John Konchar (left thumb surgery recovery), Scotty Pippen Jr. (left toe surgery recovery) and Vince Williams Jr. (left patellar tendinitis) all being listed as out. Jock Landale (right calf strain) is questionable.

Sophomore center Zach Edey has been a bright spot for Memphis. He’s a strong presence inside at both ends of the floor, upping his averages this year to 13.6 points, 11.1 rebounds (3.9 offensive) and 1.9 blocks with a 66.9 true shooting percentage as a reliable finisher. But he’s also out right now with a left ankle stress reaction, leaving Jaren Jackson Jr. to carry more load anchoring the defense alongside Santi Aldama who’s stepped into the starting center spot.

Aldama’s already proven his fluidity with his passing chops, ability to put the ball on the floor, and quick-trigger shooting as a 7-footer, but he’s really given the offense a boost lately in his extra minutes. Even though his scoring overall has been a bit up and down, he’s scored 37 points twice in the last five games.

One of the various reasons for the Grizzlies’ shaky season so far is Ja Morant only playing in 15 games, while his production and efficiency (by far the lowest true shooting percentage of his career so far at 48.1) have dropped significantly. With Desmond Bane being dealt to Orlando as well, the team has looked rather different and their offensive rating has plummeted from sixth last season to a measly 24th.

Even still, Morant will be the main test for the Sixers’ backcourt on Tuesday. Tyrese Maxey has continued to defend better than ever this season, so he’ll need to put his energy and physicality on the ball and around screens to good use there.

Jaren Jackson Jr. isn’t quite in the All-Star form he displayed last season, but he’s still putting together a solid year. He’s also had his first two 30+ point games of the season in his last seven outings, averaging 24.0 points with 47.1 percent three-point shooting in this stretch. Keeping Jackson’s shooting in check when he trails into space in transition, relocates around the arc, and comes off screens will be key for Philly’s bigs and any forwards switching onto him.

Rookie Cedric Coward is a great talent to keep an eye on as well. The No. 11 pick from this year’s draft is averaging 13.5 points on 57.9 percent true shooting as a three-level scorer, 6.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 26.9 minutes per game. He’s also showing more growth and ability as a physical, controlled driver and sharp playmaker too, benefiting from increased on-ball reps while Memphis has been shorthanded.

It’ll be fun to see how he fares on Tuesday and matches up against the Sixers’ guards — both as a scorer, and how he uses his rangy defensive skills to guard them. VJ Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes will need to be ready to stay physical against Coward’s drives and versatile scoring.

The Sixers’ backcourt could use a turnaround in shooting form, too. Grimes and Jared McCain have both been in a bit of a shooting slump lately (apart from an efficient yet still quiet 10 point, 4-of-6 night for McCain vs. OKC), and even Edgecombe has struggled with just 7-of-29 shooting over his last two games.

Losing to the Thunder was always likely, but losses to Brooklyn and Chicago are obviously the kind the Sixers need to avoid if they want to secure a stronger standing in the East.

While there are some good matchups in Tuesday’s game, facing an underwhelming Grizzlies team should be a decent chance to break this losing streak and get back on track.

Game Details​

When: Tuesday, December 30, 8:00 p.m. ET
Where: FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...-sixers-break-out-of-their-slump-vs-grizzlies

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers-Grizzlies: Second Half Thread

Game Details​

When: Tuesday, December 30, 8 p.m. ET
Where: FedEx Forum, Memphis, TN
Watch: NBC, Peacock
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76ers-discussion-threads/83243/sixers-grizzlies-second-half-thread

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers Bell Ringer: Edgecombe’s three propels Sixers over Grizzlies

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 13
VJ Edgecombe – 3
Joel Embiid – 3
Andre Drummond – 2
Paul George – 2
Dominick Barlow – 1
Adem Bona – 1
Justin Edwards – 1
Quentin Grimes – 1
Jared McCain – 1
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1

---

The Philadelphia 76ers outlasted the Memphis Grizzlies in a 139-136 overtime shootout.

The Sixers entered the matchup looking to bounce back after dropping their previous three games, and had the full services of the Big 3 (plus the rookie) to do so.

It took maximum effort, as the Sixers finished with six players in double figures, compared to the Grizzlies five.

With honorable mentions including Dominick Barlow, Paul George and Adem Bona, lets move onto Bell Ringer, and how the Sixers pulled this one off.

Click here for a full game recap.

Tyrese Maxey: 34 points (4-of-7 from three), 12 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 0 turnovers

Maxey had one of his most efficient shooting nights of the season against Memphis. He was the sole source of offense early in the game, but incorporated the big man seamlessly in the second quarter. The two-man game was a delight to watch, including some dribble handoff actions, a slick dime from Maxey to Embiid, and a nasty step-back over Jaylen Wells.

He finished the half with a double-clutch three to tie the game at 72, making 3-of-4 from deep through the first 24 minutes.

Not sure how the hell Maxey hit this one, but we're sure glad he did! All tied at 72-72 at the half. Maxey with 24, Embiid with 19. pic.twitter.com/AojmvYOwy7

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) December 31, 2025

Maxey shot 40% the rest of the way, but was crucial in running the Sixers’ offense and finding the open man on double-teams. He finished with 12 assists, his second-highest mark in a game this season.

In the first All-Star voting returns, Maxey was the highest total vote-getter amongst Eastern Conference guards. Tuesday’s performance should do nothing but strengthen the campaign.

Joel Embiid: 34 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal

Embiid tonight looked the best physically we have seen him all season. He was moving with purpose and without hesitation, going for loose balls and even attempting a self-oop dunk. He showcased the MVP-level touch from the midrange for most of the night, operating with the rhythm and fluidity that is so unique for a center at his size.

Big fella getting warm and the Sixers are right in this game pic.twitter.com/lXfC02fRhJ

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) December 31, 2025

Most inspiring were his strong drives and finishes at the rim that invited contact. He successfully drew fouls throughout the game, converting and-ones, and even halted some Grizzlies momentum getting the defender to bite on a pump-fake.

The big fella had multiple beautiful passes in the post, most of which where to a frequently cutting Dominick Barlow.

This Embiid-Barlow frontcourt pic.twitter.com/0mw20RZNt8

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) December 31, 2025

Now if we can see the physicality show itself defensively and on the boards late, the Sixers will be in great shape.

VJ Edgecombe: 25 points (5-of-10 from three), 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover

Despite not having the strongest start to the game, the rookie would for sure leave his mark by the end of it. Edgecombe tallied 16 points combined in the fourth quarter and overtime, drilling 4-of-6 from deep.

He was going toe-to-toe with Ja Morant, who did everything in his powers to deliver a Grizzlies victory. Yet the shot-making of Edgecombe off of strong playmaking from Maxey kept the game tight until the closing moments.

The final three-pointer from Edgecombe was the difference, draining it with just 1.7 seconds remaining in the extra period, in front of a quickly closing Morant.

The definition of clutch: VJ Edgecombe

16 points in 4th & OT (4-6 3PT 6-12 FG) pic.twitter.com/4O9p4iO6ki

— Drew Peltzman (@dapeltz13) December 31, 2025

It is wonderful to see a natural closer execute when Maxey was getting double-teamed consistently and Embiid was getting tired late. This was one of those performances that speaks to his level of confidence and poise in high-pressure moments. Hopefully we continue to see it the rest of the season.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...dgecombe-game-winner-tyrese-maxey-joel-embiid

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

5 Sixers thoughts: What the ‘Big 3’ holds, online discourse and more

As we get set to roll into the New Year, here’s a series of thoughts I have on the good ol’ Philadelphia 76ers as of late…

The discourse around the minimum games played threshold is a joke​

So, as you’re all aware, the NBA implemented a rule a couple of years ago that players needed to reach a 65-game and a specific minutes threshold to be considered for end-of-year awards and honors. I kind of get that in principle even though it was clearly a middle finger unjustly pointed directly at Joel Embiid by the league and basketball community at large. Now, with another instance of injuries plaguing superstars like Nikola Jokić, the discourse is rocking backward as people claim it’s unfair given how electric Jokić has been this season and how otherworldly his numbers have been.

This is what you all wanted! This is Adam Silver’s NBA! Either get rid of the specifically spiteful regulation or get over it given that Jokić is still going to go down as one of the dozen-or-so best players ever.

The Sixers’ ‘Big 3’ isn’t a real ‘Big 3’​

I get that we’re all going to refer to Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George as the franchise’s “Big 3” given their past accolades and contracts as long as they’re all still remaining in Philly, but I’ll be honest: I’m tired of it. I was tired of it when things went surprisingly well to start the season and I’m even more tired after some tough losses over the last week or two.

It feels like we’re begging for something that doesn’t exist, never truly existed from the start and isn’t even the predominant team-building strategy in the modern NBA. Daryl Morey is holding onto not just relics from his Houston days in the forms of roster spots blown on the likes of Kyle Lowry and Eric Gordon, but down to an actual outdated method of roster construction. Maxey is a First-Team All-NBA player this season. I will be forever grateful for how Embiid transformed this franchise. George, uh, exists. I’d be lying if I said I’m not counting down the days until Maxey is the only one still in Sixers red, white and blue (or black and gold).

Jared McCain needs to have no qualms about launching up threes​

I want McCain to be unconscionable as a shooter. There was a sequence on Tuesday night where he passed up an open look and sent the ball Paul George’s way. Dude, let it fly. Prove to Nick Nurse and the Sixers’ decision-makers that your brief, but torrid run from your rookie campaign wasn’t an aberration. Maybe it ultimately was, and the Sixers’ perimeter is crowded as is, but I am nervously waiting for a wiser organization to swoop in and make a deal for him.

I want Dominick Barlow in Philly for the foreseeable future​

I can certainly be critical of the Sixers organization as a whole, but credit where it’s due: signing Barlow to a two-way deal this summer was an absolutely ace move from the front office. Get him a long-term deal. I like the way he likes playing forward both alongside Embiid and in those times Embiid is off the court. His energy is infectious. Is he a star? Of course not, but he just screams “winning player” whenever I see him out there.

Why was such a colossal Sixers loss a part of one of the defining films of the 2010s?​

Alright, let’s end with something a bit more esoteric and fun. The film Marty Supreme, starring Timothée Chalamet and from Josh Safdie, dropped on Christmas and I loved it. Safdie’s previous directorial effort was with his brother, Benny, in 2019’s Uncut Gems. The heart of the film centers on Adam Sandler’s character Howard Ratner gambling on the 2012 Eastern Conference Semifinals matchup between the Sixers and the Celtics. I don’t know why I had to relieve my previous torture of watching Kevin Garnett destroy Spencer Hawes with moving screens, but, hey, it was a great flick. It’s an easy 4.5/5 on Letterboxd for me.

If the Sixers have an off night this winter, go hit the local cineplex!

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...iid-tyrese-maxey-paul-george-nikola-jokic-mvp

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers look to start 2026 on winning note in Dallas

Happy New Year, Liberty Ballers community! We hope everyone is safe and healthy and ready to have a great 2026.

Your Philadelphia 76ers will begin the year in Dallas, taking on the Mavericks, a matchup that features two of the most exciting rookies in the NBA in Cooper Flagg and VJ Edgecombe.

The Mavericks have had a weird 2025-26, to say the least. They began the season 5-15 as Flagg, who was acting as the team’s point guard to start the campaign, got off to a rocky start. As the No. 1 overall pick started finding his groove and All-Star big man Anthony Davis got healthy, the team started to play better, but they’ve hit another slump recently.

Coming into Thursday night’s matchup, Dallas sits at 12-22, having lost six of its last eight. Flagg, who just turned 19 a couple weeks ago, has been the Mavericks’ best player, averaging 19.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. The only thing that’s missing from Flagg’s game is his three-ball, but he got off to a slow start from deep in his lone season at Duke as well. The 6-foot-9 forward excels in the open floor and it will be up to the Sixers’ leaky transition defense to contain him.

Dallas is relatively healthy, as Davis will make his return to the lineup after missing two games with right adductor soreness. Kyrie Irving has yet to make his season debut while recovering from left knee surgery, while both Dereck Lively II and Dante Exum suffered season-ending injuries.

The Flagg-Davis frontcourt presents a difficult challenge for any team. Though undrafted rookie Ryan Nembhard gave the team a nice boost as a legitimate point guard, the two-way player has ceded minutes to fellow diminutive guard Brandon Williams over the last couple games.

Much like the Sixers, you don’t really know which Mavericks team you’re going to see on a given night. In the lone matchup this season in Philly, the Sixers struggled mightily with Dallas’ size before Jabari Walker helped provide a bit of physical presence late to help seal the win. Despite their issues, the Mavericks are 10th in the NBA in defensive rating, in large part because of their tremendous length.

The Sixers also boast a healthy injury report — as healthy as an injury report from the Sixers can be, at least. Joel Embiid is listed as probable while Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford remain out, though both have been integrated into team activities this week.

The Sixers are coming off a thrilling overtime win in Memphis Tuesday night. Edgecombe came alive late and buried the game-winning three with 1.7 seconds left to snap the Sixers’ three-game losing streak. It was the first win when having all members of the team’s Big 3 on the floor. Embiid and Tyrese Maxey carried much of the offensive load, dropping 34 points apiece.

The team’s defense has been much better recently, but they struggled to contain Ja Morant as the electric guard looked like his old self with a 40-point performance. While there is no guard like Morant on Dallas’ roster — and the Mavericks have been one of the worst offensive teams in the NBA — the size of Flagg, Davis, P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall was difficult for the Sixers to contain and keep away from the rim. We’ll see if Embiid’s presence makes a difference this time around.

The Sixers go into this one with a 17-14 record, good for sixth in the East. They’re 19th in offensive rating and 14th in defensive rating.

Game Details​

When: Thursday, January 1, 8:30 p.m. ET
Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...-look-to-start-2026-on-winning-note-in-dallas

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers-Mavericks: Second Half Thread

Game Details​

When: Thursday, January 1, 8:30 p.m. ET
Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...ks-second-half-thread-nba-philadelphia-dallas

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers Bell Ringer: Hometown hero leads the way in Dallas

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 13
VJ Edgecombe – 4
Joel Embiid – 3
Andre Drummond – 2
Paul George – 2
Dominick Barlow – 1
Adem Bona – 1
Justin Edwards – 1
Quentin Grimes – 1
Jared McCain – 1
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1

---

The 76ers played their most complementary game of the season in a 123- 108 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

They finished with five players in double-figures, only 11 turnovers and shot 53% from the field.

Paul George played a key part for the Sixers in the first half and early in the third quarter with some clutch baskets and strong playmaking. It would not be enough for Bell Ringer consideration on a night with an absolutely loaded ballot.

Shall we?

For a full game recap, click here.

Tyrese Maxey: 34 points, 14-of-24 FG, 4-of-10 3PT, 10 assists, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks

Maxey was in complete control of the offense throughout the entire matchup against his hometown Mavericks.

He took advantage of the opponents poor perimeter defense all night, consistently getting a first step and drive, or finding the space for a three.

Ten of his 14 makes came in the paint as he consistently applied pressure to the defense. When he wasn’t, he was setting up his teammates in the halfcourt or pushing the pace in transition.

He also got Caleb Martin on one of the better crossovers you will see all year:

Tyrese Maxey got Caleb Martin badddd pic.twitter.com/ARkhrTmH2T

— HG (@Harrison_Grimm) January 2, 2026

On the defensive end he continued to provide relief with selected pass-lane jumping or aiding the big men in the post with a couple blocks.

He consistently found the bottom of the bucket when the Sixers needed it, including a pull-up three in the third before the defense could get set.

Home cookin' pic.twitter.com/5keQ3q3c2M

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) January 2, 2026

If Maxey can continue to produce at this clip while everyone else around him eats too, the Sixers will be dangerous approaching the All-Star break. Perhaps we will see a triple-double from Agent Zero during that stretch.

Joel Embiid: 22 points, 9-of-18 FG, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 block

Embiid followed up his strong showing in Memphis with an even better one in Dallas. Not only did he look physically capable on both ends of the floor, he was controlling the game with his effectiveness. Starting the game 3-of-3 with two pull-ups and a layup was enough to draw doubles, and sometimes triple-teams which opened up the floor for the rest of the team.

In the moments where he was left one-on-one, he was automatic, providing some happy flashbacks to his pre-left knee injury days. He operated out of the key, post and free-throw-line like he was trying to make the statement that he is still one of the best pure scorers in the world.

Joel Embiid keeping pressure on defenses in the half court. Post up, no help or double and he goes right to work. Next time down early help is show, skip pass gets the defense in rotation and the Sixers into drive and kick. pic.twitter.com/GY18LyG3uq

— Steve Jones (@stevejones20) January 2, 2026

The best part, it all came naturally and had positive effects for everyone on the floor, including Maxey. They were playing selfless basketball out of Embiid’s double-teams, which only happens if the big man can make the right exit pass to the open man. He did it repeatedly throughout the game.

He is visibly getting more comfortable playing with the attacking style of Maxey and Edgecombe, finding himself crashing to the paint at the right moments to open up a dump-off passing option.

VJ Edgecombe: 23 points, 9-of-14 FG, 3-of-6 3PT, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 assists, 1 block

Edgecombe had himself another strong all-around performance in Dallas, outplaying fellow rookie Cooper Flagg.

Even though he had plenty to get himself hyped up for this matchup, Edgecombe played with poise all night. No play highlights it better than this late shot-clock free throw line contested jumper.

The Generator pic.twitter.com/6FKkQV71vb

— Drew Peltzman (@dapeltz13) January 2, 2026

The bulk of his offensive output came at the rim, finishing 6-of-8 in the paint and even dropping off a slick pass to Embiid who finished with a reverse layup. The layup, in addition to his buzzer-beating layup, helped keep the Sixers’ offense afloat while Maxey was on the bench at the end of the third.

Although his fourth quarter was quiet offensively, his stellar defense helped seal the win for the Sixers. He finished with four steals on the night, and tallied one in the final frame, but it was his sole block in the fourth quarter that acted as the dagger.

Up seven with just over two minutes left, Edgecombe soars to not just block Brandon Williams once, but twice. It would lead to a Grimes three, effectively swinging five points to the Sixers off one block.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME VJ?! pic.twitter.com/ac0WAEOlob

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) January 2, 2026

Quentin Grimes: 19 points, 7-of-9 FG, 5-of-7 3PT, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks, 1 steal

Grimes carried over the momentum from his last game in Memphis into Thursday’s bout with his former team. Who’s to say if it was revenge, but Grimes would have one of his most efficient games of the season, missing only two shots.

Grimes first flashed in this one with an eight-point second quarter off two threes and a running layup. That was just the first act.

Eleven of his 19 points came in the final frame, which was a crucial lift for the Sixers as the starters relied on him to hit shots consistently as the defense closed around them.

Another fun Sixers win! Tyrese Maxey had a game high 34 points. VJ Edgecombe with 23. Joel Embiid had 22. And the former Dallas Maverick Quentin Grimes had 19 points off the bench. The Sixers have won two straight games. They are jelling together
pic.twitter.com/dcvsL4ZI3c

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) January 2, 2026

His rebounding effort and defense should be applauded in this one. He caught Anthony Davis in the paint for a block, which helped fend off any comeback attempt from Dallas in the fourth.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...maxey-joel-embiid-vj-edgecombe-quentin-grimes

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

The Sixers are playing well — just soak it in

Sixers fandom has undergone a decade-long metamorphosis.

The Process brought about losing, but with a ray of hope. The Colangelo Era was bizarre and filled with screwups, but the team won a little bit. Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons turning into All-Stars made fans downright cocky. Jimmy Butler’s tenure felt like a fever dream. Most of Tobias Harris’ felt like a nightmare. The injuries, the holdouts, the postseason disappointments — many of you likely needed some form of therapy.

In many ways, last season almost felt like the end of an era. After the team splurged on Paul George in free agency, the nine-time All-Star turned in an injury-riddled and ineffective season. Embiid played 19 games and never resembled his MVP form. It felt like a window was closing.

Other than drafting VJ Edgecombe, this offseason didn’t instill much promise. The Sixers were essentially stuck with most of the roster that went 24-58 in 2024-25. Plus, Embiid and George both underwent knee procedures. Understandably, fans weren’t planning to march down Broad St. in June.

But a funny thing is happening. The Sixers are playing well … and are fun to watch? Those concepts have almost been at odds with each other over the last half-decade.

The franchise had as great a chance as they’ve had to get back to the Eastern Conference Finals while James Harden was here in 2023, but was the season “fun”? It felt like the highs and lows of Harden — which, to be fair, some of those highs were very high — the discourse around Embiid’s MVP and the big fella’s injuries sort of sapped the joy out of everything. When the team choked away Game 6 at home and no-showed in Game 7, it felt much more like an inevitability than heartbreak.

Expectation-free was the correct way to go into the season. Expectation-free is probably still the move, but that doesn’t mean you can’t savor this moment. With social media, we all feel this need to quantify everything immediately.

Can the Sixers be a contender in the East?

Are Joel Embiid and Paul George back?

Is Tyrese Maxey an MVP candidate?

Is VJ Edgecombe the next Dwyane Wade?

Let’s all breathe.

The Sixers are 18-14, good for fifth in the East. Embiid and George both look better than they did at any point last season. Maxey has played like a superstar from opening night on. Edgecombe looks every bit like a future star in this league. These are unquestionably positive things. You can be excited about all of them.

But you don’t have to treat a road win in Dallas on Jan. 1 as a referendum on what this team is and can be. Do they have enough talent to compete in the East? Of course. Talent has never been the real issue. The issue is the health and availability of Embiid and George, and the sustainability of what Maxey and Edgecombe are doing.

It’s all about consistency. With the two veteran stars in the lineup regularly, they’ve clearly played better and have established chemistry with their teammates. They both played so little last season and to start this season, it was always going to take time. You can see they’re both processing things way faster and making quicker decisions. It’s not a coincidence.

It doesn’t even feel hyperbolic to say Maxey and Edgecombe have a chance to be the greatest backcourt in the franchise’s history. That said, Edgecombe is a rookie and he can’t legally buy alcohol. He’s taken bumps and bruises along the way. That will likely continue to happen — though he’s already exceeded expectations with his shooting and finishing at the rim.

The only thing that feels truly sustainable is Maxey’s play. He’s just that damn good. He’s turned into a superstar before our eyes … after some folks wondered what the team could get for him in a trade this past offseason (Yeah, going to keep bringing that one up because it sounds more ridiculous with each passing game). He’s well on his way to being an All-Star starter and getting an All-NBA nod.

But this is all so fragile — Embiid and George’s health, the rest of the roster remaining healthy, Edgecombe doing this as a rookie, two-way guys playing effective minutes — it’s fruitless to put expectations on it right now.

At this moment, the Sixers are playing a good and entertaining brand of basketball. Give yourself permission to enjoy it without having to quantify it. Think back to this offseason and how you felt coming into this season — this has surely already been better than what you anticipated.

There is hope. Though an unfamiliar concept to Sixers fans, it is something one can feel towards their favorite basketball team from time to time.

“It’s a good place when all you have is hope and not expectations.”

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...gecombe-joel-embiid-paul-george-nba-standings

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers travel to New York striving to stay undefeated in 2026

Happy New Year! I hope 2026 has started as well for you as it did for the Philadelphia 76ers, who had one of their finer performances of the season in taking down the Dallas Mavericks, 123-108, on New Year’s Day. Now, the Sixers will head back up to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks, where they just won a couple weeks ago, 116-107, behind a combined 53 points from the starting backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.

Tonight, they should have reinforcements in the frontcourt, as Joel Embiid is listed as probable for what would be his first game playing at the Garden since the 2024 NBA Playoffs. The big man would be taking the court for his third game in five days, which is a signficant step forward from the sort of knee injury management we were seeing earlier in the season. In the previous two wins, he played a season-high 38 minutes in coming two assists shy of a triple-double against Memphis, and tallied an efficient 22 points and six assists across 35 minutes against the Mavericks. I’m not saying we’re anywhere close to out of the woods in terms of Embiid’s health, but it sure has been nice to see him in the role of “functional basketball player” again, rather than “roster liability”.

Still, the Sixers franchise is now firmly in the hands of their young guards. After a mini-slump towards the end of December, Maxey has put up consecutive 34-point games with double-digit assists. He was rightfully fourth overall across the entire league in All-Star fan voting at the last release. That’s a fair measure of the type of player the Sixers now have and the type of season Tyrese is putting together. Meanwhile rookie VJ Edgecombe is performing like the clutchest player in the NBA and doing incredible things like blocking the same shot twice in mid-air. He has understandably had some rookie bumps along the way, but both the floor and ceiling are incredibly high for the young man.

Philadelphia has a relatively clean injury report for tonight, with Embiid having the probable listing and just Kelly Oubre Jr and Trendon Watford remaining out. They’ll be catching the Knicks on the tail end of a back-to-back, after New York lost, 111-99, to Atlanta yesterday. Karl-Anthony Towns (illness), Mitchell Robinson (ankle injury management), and Josh Hart (ankle) all missed that contest, in addition to Landry Shamet remaining out with his shoulder injury. Hart has now missed four straight games so it’s unclear how close he was to suiting up, but I’d expect Towns and Robinson back out there tonight.

We should be in for a fun watch this evening. Edgecombe did a terrific job on Jalen Brunson in the last meeting, as Brunson shot just 7-of-22 from the field (don’t worry, Knicks fans, you’ll get to chalk it up to a back-to-back for the second straight time if it happens again). I imagine Jalen will have some adjustments to how VJ defended him last time, though. Wins against Memphis and Dallas are exciting and fun, but nothing beats seeing the Sixers take down the Knicks in front of the New York crowd. We’ll see if the Sixers are able to pull it off for the second time in as many weeks.

Game Details​

When: Saturday, January 3, 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia, NBA TV
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...york-knicks-striving-stay-undefeated-nba-2026

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers Bell Ringer: Sixers backcourt stars again in road win over Knicks

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 14
VJ Edgecombe – 4
Joel Embiid – 3
Andre Drummond – 2
Paul George – 2
Dominick Barlow – 1
Adem Bona – 1
Justin Edwards – 1
Quentin Grimes – 1
Jared McCain – 1
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1

---

As far as this road trip is concerned for Philadelphia, it’s the exact reverse of the meme of the horse drawing that started like a photo-realistic drawing and ended as a child’s chicken scratch.

After blowing the game in the fourth quarter in Chicago, and (understandably) getting crushed by a pissed-off Oklahoma City Thunder squad, Philadelphia has now won three straight games in advance of returning home for a Monday night contest against the Nuggets. Saturday night was one of their best performances of the season, opening up a lead in the second quarter, not falling into their usual third quarter collapse, and then putting their feet down in crunch time to seal a comfortable victory. With a 130-119 win, the Sixers have now won both games in New York this season, and it’s time for the league to take a real hard glimpse at everything Philadelphia has when all its pieces are available. Before doing that, though, let’s hit up Bell Ringer.

For a full game recap, click here.

Tyrese Maxey: 36 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 4 turnovers

The First-Team All-NBA case continues to build for Tyrese, who has now substantially outplayed a consecutive Second-Team member in Brunson twice in a couple weeks. Maxey definitely received more open looks than normal, with a fairly healthy supporting cast playing well and making life easier for him. But he still has to knock down those six threes (on nine attempts) and few players in the league are able to convert the shot variety, distance and volume that Tyrese now does on a regular basis. He also made his fair share of difficult ones (a midrange stepback in the fourth quarter was particularly nasty), and Brunson was often just left in the dust.

Meanwhile, Maxey himself was an impactful defender, making a handful of splash plays, including one that led to an easy transition bucket. Maxey can basically get and make any shot he wants at this point, and he has improved to the point of being a positive player on what was once his weaker side of the ball. He just dropped 36 points on the road and it felt like just another day at the office. The young man is putting together a truly special season and if the Sixers keep piling up their fair share of wins, lofty accolades will follow.

Tyrese Takeover pic.twitter.com/SmBHgoe8n4

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 4, 2026

VJ Edgecombe: 26 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers

Safe to say the bright lights in the Big Apple are not too much for the rookie. Edgecombe has now been outstanding in both wins in Manhattan, with two-way play and crunch-time chops that you’d be thrilled to get from a guy in his prime, let alone a 20-year-old with fewer than 30 NBA games under his belt. Don’t let the fact that Jalen Brunson had 31 points fool you; a lot of those points came against other Sixers defenders, as VJ did an excellent job against the Knicks’ star guard once again. Only having two personal fouls while logging substantial time against a master grifter like Brunson is an incredible feat in itself.

He chopped up New York on the other end as well, especially in the first half where he shot 7-of-10 from the field for 18 points. Then, Edgecombe once again proved that he has ice water in his veins in the game’s final minutes. He blocked a Mikal Bridges’ three in the corner, stole an inbounds pass at one point, and made a crazy play where he faked a pass in the lane before rising up for the dunk. Dude is a straight winner.

kid is SPECIAL pic.twitter.com/krBYULtQaO

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 4, 2026

Joel Embiid: 26 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 turnovers

Embiid helped silence the opposing boo birds at the Garden with an efficient night that saw him go 9-of-15 from the field and 8-of-12 from the free throw line. He baited Mitchell Robinson a few times, keeping the Knicks starting center on the bench with foul trouble for much of the first half; Robinson finished with just 19 minutes played. Joel didn’t need to take over this game by any means, and didn’t force anything, playing within the flow of the offense, setting screens to free up teammates and hitting open cutters with nicely-placed passes. He even had his first dunk of the season to cap off his night.

Joel Embiid's first dunk of the 2025-26 season! pic.twitter.com/VGh0F35FOh

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) January 4, 2026

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...ourt-stars-again-road-win-new-york-knicks-nba

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Here come the Sixers — team caps off road trip with third straight win vs. Knicks

Is anyone having a happier New Year than this offense?

The Sixers won their third in a row and beat the New York Knicks for the second time in a row, knocking them off 130-119 Saturday.

The backcourt dazzled in MSG again. Tyrese Maxey lead all scorers with 36 points, shooting 14-of-22 from the field. VJ Edgecombe went for 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting.

Joel Embiid continued his streak of 20+ point performances, finishing with 26 as well, going 9-of-15 from the floor and 10 rebounds while Paul George had 15. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 31.

The Sixers were only without Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford while New York was missing Josh Hart and Landry Shamet.

The Sixers improve to 19-14 and will head home to host the Denver Nuggets on Monday.

Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.

First Quarter​

• It felt like there was plenty of extra juice in the building to start with Embiid getting booed every time he touched the ball and plenty of 1-on-1 hunting. Embiid got turned over once but made his first three attempts of the game, including backing down Mitchell Robinson from the block for an and-1.

Joel Embiid gets the Sixers' night started with the midrange jumper as the crowd at MSG gives him a… warm welcome. pic.twitter.com/WPIqDr9yzs

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) January 4, 2026

• Edgecombe also started the night 3-of-4 attacking the basket a couple times, doing somewhat of a self-pass off the backboard. However brief it was the Sixers actually opened the game winning the second-chance battle with a pair of putback dunks.
• On the other end, Brunson already had the Sixers’ defense in knots, putting up 12 in the first while getting to the line seven times. The second unit didn’t initially keep pace, but a flurry of baskets at the rim capped off by Maxey put them up by one at the end of the quarter.

Second Quarter​

• The Sixers were the first team to get any sort of separation thanks in large part to Edgecombe, who opened up the second with a pair of pull-up threes. The contested layup he made in traffic was equally impressive and it was amidst a 9-0 run. Jared McCain finally got one to go down, hitting one well beyond the line to prompt a New York timeout.

VJ with his third trey of the night already! pic.twitter.com/U5z5850BfD

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) January 4, 2026

• Team-wide the Sixers did a good job of being pesky on the perimeter with three steals in the quarter, all of which turned into baskets. Edgecombe continued to be on fire from downtown, and the offense really kicked into another gear when Maxey and Embiid returned to the game and the two played off each other.
• Because of that they looked to be cruising into the half up double digits, but a couple sloppy plays cost them that. A turnover leading to Brunson free throws followed by OG Anunoby shaking free for a three had them settling for an eight-point lead at the break.

Third Quarter​

• The second half opened with the same type of cohesion and ball-movement the Sixers excelled with against Dallas. They kept clearing out one for Embiid and Maxey not just allowing them to cook, but setting up threes swung to George and open cutting lanes for Dominick Barlow.
• None of that took Maxey out of the rhythm he had, though to be fair, halftime hadn’t either. He called his own number a bit more as his shots continued to fall, hitting everything once he found an ounce of space to go for 11 in the quarter.

Tyrese Maxey is 5-for-7 on 3PTs so far tonight!!! pic.twitter.com/t5nC35Ps0S

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) January 4, 2026

• Another weak close to a quarter cost them a bigger lead, but the Sixers did have more of a cushion this time. This one started with a potential and-1 but it was Robinson fouled on a layup, and he didn’t convert the free throw. Maxey turned it over and McCain took a very ill-advised up-and-under layup attempt. The Knicks trimmed a lead that was as big as 19 down to 12.

Fourth Quarter​

• After being held in check for much of the first three quarters, Karl-Anthony Towns was finally able to do something against the Sixers’ bigs. He didn’t get a ton of space but worked his way to a quicks six points to start the fourth. Edgecombe continued to be everywhere for Philly, blocking a Mikal Bridges three and hustling back to be rewarded for the transition dunk, a five-point swing that caused another timeout.

VJ EDGECOMBE DOES IT ALL! pic.twitter.com/as7V7y0RYW

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) January 4, 2026

• Aside from that flurry, the Sixers did a great job with the front court matchup. Not only was Embiid moving great to score inside, but Robinson was also in foul trouble all night. He picked up his fifth with much of the quarter to go.
• They weren’t nearly as efficient as the Sixers, but the Knicks shot the three-ball very well on the night (the Sixers steal-hunting approach can lead to a lot of open looks). That helped them never be totally out of this game, and when Embiid got his layup blocked and Maxey followed with a turnover out of a timeout, it allowed New York to cut it a single-digit game.
• The Sixers only flaw offensively was that they oddly missed a lot of free throws and Maxey split a pair to make it an eight-point lead. A Brunson missed floater gave them their first stop in minutes, and PG made his second big play of crunch time, securing an offensive rebound to lead to an easy Quentin Grimes putback. Not only did Edgecombe steal the ensuing inbound, but hit a big euro coming out of the timeout to put the game away.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...se-maxey-vj-edgecombe-joel-embiid-paul-george

 

[JJ]

OH MAN the Sixers are actually looking like a REAL BASKETBALL TEAM right now and I gotta say it feels weird but also AMAZING???

Look I'm a Bills/Sabres guy so I know what it's like to watch your team underperform for years and then suddenly show signs of life. Three straight wins including TWO over the Knicks at MSG? That's the good stuff right there.

Maxey is absolutely COOKING. 36 points shooting 14-of-22 against the Knicks? The dude is making a legit First-Team All-NBA case and I don't wanna hear otherwise. He's outplayed Brunson TWICE in two weeks. That's not a fluke, that's just being the better player.

And this Edgecombe kid... holy crap. Blocking the same shot TWICE in mid-air against Dallas? The fake pass to dunk move at MSG? Dude is 20 years old and playing like he's been in the league for a decade. The Sixers might have actually hit on this draft pick big time.

Here's what I love about what I'm reading here - the article is RIGHT about just soaking this in. Don't overthink it. Don't start planning the parade route. Just enjoy watching good basketball for once. Embiid actually looking mobile and playing three games in five days? Paul George contributing? The role players stepping up?

19-14 and fifth in the East. Not bad for a team everyone wrote off before the season started. Now they got Denver coming to town Monday. Let's see if they can keep this rolling.

Trust the Process or whatever you Philly people say

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Edgecombe, Maxey, Embiid: Watch the best performances from Sixers’ win over Knicks

The Philadelphia 76ers swung momentum back in their favor to end their five-game road trip, winning their third straight game on Saturday after losing the first two contests of the trip.

The most recent saw the Sixers take down the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden 130-119 on Saturday evening on the backs of impressive performances from a number of players on the squad. Here, we’re going to look at those of rookie VJ Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.

If you’re looking for a full game recap, you can check out ours here. For Bell Ringer, head here.

Here, let’s watch some of the best performances of the night from the Sixers.

VJ Edgecombe

What an INCREDIBLE two-way performance from rookie VJ Edgecombe for Sixers-Knicks at MSG.

26 PTS (10-16 FG, 4-9 3PT), 2 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL, 2 BLK
Keeps just making the right plays offensively and playing fantastic defense, especially on Brunson tonight

Here's the highlights pic.twitter.com/IOPan7ci8i

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) January 4, 2026

I think we have all run out of clever ways to say “wow, this kid is good at basketball.”

VJ Edgecombe had Jalen Brunson and the Knicks in hell most of this game on both ends of the floor. New York had no answer to his silky-smooth triples (of which he had four) nor his aggressive, efficient drives right to the rim. It didn’t matter who was in front of him, the rookie muscled through the likes of Karl Anthony-Towns on his way to finishing buckets, even through contact. He also continues to show off some impressive defense on experienced NBA stars, with him doing a damn fine job in his stints slowing down Brunson on Saturday. That’s no small task for a 20-year-old in his first season as a pro. None of it is a small task, but it doesn’t seem to be intimidating Edgecombe in the least.

Wow, this kid is good at basketball.

Tyrese Maxey

Sixers' Tyrese Maxey put on a bit of a show tonight against the Knicks at MSG.

Led the floor with 36 points on 10-16 (63.6%) FG and 6-9 (66.7%) 3PT shooting, with 8 REB, 4 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK. Continues to look like he's stepped up defensively this season.

Highlights here! pic.twitter.com/6mSFrIXxly

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) January 4, 2026

Tyrese Maxey somehow just keeps looking better and better. With more consistent help around him spacing the floor as of late, Maxey has really been given more opportunities to thrive. Whether it’s working the two-man game with Joel Embiid, driving straight through opposing defenses to finish at the rim (often through contact) or hitting triples from any range or angle, Maxey has continued to look like a top NBA star offensively. He was incredibly efficient shooting on Saturday, hitting 10-for-16 field goal attempts and 6-for-9 on threes.

Not only that, though, but his defense has improved immensely over the last season or so, with Maxey now putting up big blocks or reading plays as they develop to intercept passes for quick transition buckets.

The most amazing thing is that a game like this for Maxey, even against the Knicks at MSG, feels like just another day watching him. What a player.

Joel Embiid

Joel Embiid looking as physically comfortable as we've seen him in quite some time in his 3rd game in 5 nights — efficient shooting, some great passes, big screens, drawing fouls, moving well, etc.

26 PTS (9-15 FG), 10 REB (2 OFF), 5 AST vs Knicks

Highlights below! pic.twitter.com/x3dm5c6YVB

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) January 4, 2026

It’s nice to see Joel Embiid moving so comfortably, especially considering this was his third game in five nights. Much to the chagrin of the MSG crowd that seemed to loudly boo every time Embiid touched the ball in the beginning, the big fella had himself a great night. He looked quick and fluid moving on and off the ball, was able to physically battle for buckets and boards in the paint, set up some huge screens for his teammates and had a few stellar passes. It was an extremely efficient night for Embiid as well, shooting 9-for-15 from the floor and 8-for-12 from the line. Speaking of the foul line, Embiid also had some great success early baiting Mitchell Robinson into fouls, sending him to the bench for a lot of the first half in foul trouble.

And, he had his first dunk of the season at the end of the game just to add a cherry on top.

This is the best version of Embiid a Sixers fan can ask for at this point. He didn’t need to completely put the game on his back. He didn’t force things and do too much to the point of inefficiency or even hurting himself. It seems like Embiid is truly finding the ways to work with the situation he is in health-wise, and is contributing a hell of a lot doing so.

Who impressed you the most in the Sixers’ win over the Knicks? Let us know in the comments!

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...-vj-edgecombe-joel-embiid-tyrese-maxey-knicks

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers return home red-hot and healthy to host Jokic-less Nuggets

After a shaky start, the Sixers closed their five-game road trip in impressive fashion, winning three in a row and improving to 19-14 on the young season. Don’t look now, but the Sixers sit in fifth in the East. After their win in New York Saturday, they’re only two games back in the loss column of the second-seeded Knicks.

On Monday, they return home and welcome the Nikola Jokic-less Denver Nuggets to town.

The secret to the Sixers’ success is pretty simple — they’re healthy. Joel Embiid and Paul George have been consistently taking the court. Embiid, who’s listed as probable, has been really effective over his last seven games, averaging 28.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.1 blocks in 33.0 minutes per game. Though George hasn’t played to that level, he’s finding his role on both ends of the floor and making a real impact while shooting 41.9% from deep over his last 11 games.

While those two have been rounding into form, the electric young duo of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe continues to play like one of the best backcourt in the NBA.

Maxey has recently gotten a boost from his two-man game with Embiid to play an even more efficient brand of basketball. He’s averaging 33.0 points and 7.8 assists, shooting a preposterous 60.0% from the field and 48.5% from three over the last seven games. He’s also continued to be impactful on the defensive end, averaging 2.3 steals and 1.0 blocks during that stretch.

What else can you say about Edgecombe? He’s doing things a 20-year-old rookie surrounded by All-Stars shouldn’t be doing. Of all the standout traits we’ve seen from Edgecombe, his fearlessness has proven to be his most impressive. He buried the game-winner in Memphis, had one of the most incredible blocks you’ll ever see in a big spot in Dallas, and turned in another outstanding performance under the bright lights of MSG. It’s fair to wonder if the Sixers actually have a Big 4 — that’s how impactful Edgecombe has been.

The defensive end of the floor is where the Sixers have buttered their bread of late. They’re fourth in the NBA in defensive rating over their last 15 games. The offense is showing serious signs of life, boasting a 124.1 offensive rating over the last three games. The situation is delicate, but the Sixers are playing great basketball right now.

While Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford remain out, it seems both guys are close to returning.

The Nuggets are hanging tough in the gauntlet that is the West, sitting at 23-12 and fourth in the conference. But the injury bug has crushed them of late. Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic recently suffered a knee hyperextension. Though he appears to have avoided any serious injury, he will be out for a while. Suffice to say, Denver is going to struggle to fill in the gaps while a player as important Jokic is sidelined.

While Jamal Murray has managed to stay healthy, the rest of the Nuggets’ starters have been dealing with various injuries. Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun returned to the lineup, but they’ve been limited this season to 14 and 12 games, respectively. Newcomer Cameron Johnson has also missed timed.

Denver is coming off a loss to the Brooklyn Nets Sunday night. While we won’t see their injury report until later this afternoon, it will likely be a challenge for the Nuggets in South Philly on Monday. The first game back after a long road trip is often difficult for the home team, so it’ll be important for the Sixers to get off to a fast start and try to take a weary Denver team out of things early.

It would also be nice for the beat writers in attendance who have to be there for such a late start!

Game Details​

When: Monday, January 5, 8:30 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: Peacock
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...-embiid-tyrese-maxey-paul-george-vj-edgecombe