News 76ers Team Notes

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Joel Embiid and Paul George out against Charlotte

We knew coming into the Philadelphia 76ers’ upcoming back-to-back that Joel Embiid would not be playing both games. We suspected the same for Paul George. The only question was whether they would sit out Monday or Tuesday, and we now know the answer, with the veteran stars announced as out for Monday in Charlotte.

The Sixers have an injury report for tomorrow’s game @ Charlotte:

Joel Embiid — left knee injury management — OUT

Paul George — left knee injury management — OUT

This is a front end of a back-to-back; Sixers host Milwaukee on Tuesday.

— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) January 25, 2026

The decision makes sense from a couple perspectives. The Hornets game is on the road versus Tuesday against Milwaukee at home. Also, the game time for Monday was pushed up to 3:00pm due to the weather situation. I imagine with guys having a coordinated maintenance schedule for their past injuries, you would want to stick to a similar routine throughout the day as much as possible. Let both veterans have a normal day in their home city and arena before taking the court at a customary hour.

The Sixers will certainly miss both guys against the Hornets. After seemingly struggling some to ramp up his conditioning and regain a rhythm earlier in the season, Embiid is currently in the midst of his best stretch of the season, having scored at least 30 points in four straight appearances. He is coming off his first triple-double of the season against Houston, followed by a 38-point, 11-rebound, five-assist effort against the Knicks. Joel has appeared in 25 of the Sixers’ 44 games thus far, while Paul George has also taken the court 25 times.

Currently 24-20 and in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, the Sixers will look to defeat the 18-28 Hornets down two starters. We’ll find out how they fare tomorrow afternoon.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...-embiid-paul-george-out-charlotte-hornets-nba

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

VJ Edgecombe selected as NBA Rising Star during All-Star weekend

At least something positive happened for the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday. Following the disastrous loss to Charlotte in the afternoon, the league announced the participants for the 2026 NBA Rising Stars competition during All-Star weekend. Sixers guard VJ Edgecombe will rightfully be a member of the Rookies squad. Here’s the list of all participants:

2026 NBA Rising Stars rosters: pic.twitter.com/WXLjq3Ui2i

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 26, 2026

As a reminder, Rising Stars is now a mini-tournament consisting of four teams of seven players. In addition to the G League team, the rookies and sophomores will be placed on three separate teams via a draft taking place on Tuesday night at 7:00pm ET on Peacock. Rising Stars will be the Friday night of All-Star weekend, February 13, beginning at 9:00pm ET.

It’s a well-deserved honor for Edgecombe, who has undoubtedly been one of the best members of his rookie class thus far. He’s third among rookies in both points (15.6) and assists (4.2) per game, and tops in steals (1.5) per game. While outside shooting was a purported weakness for him coming into the league, VJ is third in three-pointers made (85) among rookies, at a respectable 36.6 percent clip. Not only has he displayed all of the “high-floor” attributes that caused him to be viewed as a safe pick at third overall, but Edgecombe has flashed plenty of star potential as well. Sixers fans will look forward to seeing him out there with the best young talent in the league in a few weeks.

Below is the release from Sixers Public Relations:

“The NBA announced today that Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe has been selected to the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars, which will take place on Friday, Feb. 13 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles as part of NBA All-Star 2026. Edgecombe is the 22nd 76ers player in franchise history to be selected to a Rising Stars event.

Edgecombe has appeared in 41 games (all starts) for the 76ers this season, averaging 15.4 points (third among rookies), 5.3 rebounds (eighth among rookies), and 4.1 assists (T-3rd among rookies). He is one of two rookies this season averaging at least 15 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Edgecombe’s 11 games of 20-plus points are the third most among rookies this season.

In the month of January, Edgecombe has notched 26 steals, the second most in the NBA behind backcourt mate Tyrese Maxey (36), while his 1.5 steals per game ranks first among rookies this season.

The Bahamian National poured in 34 points in his NBA debut at Boston on Oct. 22, surpassing Allen Iverson (30 points, Nov. 1, 1996) for the highest scoring output ever by a 76ers player in an NBA debut. Edgecombe, whose 14 first-quarter points broke LeBron James’ record for most points scored in the opening quarter of a player’s debut (12), finished the night with the third-highest scoring output ever in a debut (43 points – Wilt Chamberlain, 10/24/59; 35 points – Frank Selvy, 11/30/54).“

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...76ers-sixers-nba-rising-star-all-star-weekend

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers host Giannis-less Bucks to close back-to-back

Just over 24 hours removed from being absolutely demolished by the Charlotte Hornets, the Philadelphia 76ers are back in action on Tuesday night to host the Milwaukee Bucks sans Giannis Antetokounmpo.

It’s a good thing there’s a quick turnaround here. I don’t think the Sixers want more time to dwell on their last contest. On Monday afternoon, Philadelphia put up a pathetic display for one of their worst losses all season falling to Charlotte 130-93. The Sixers even trailed by 50 at one point in the game. Joel Embiid and Paul George did not play (left knee injury management), but still. Just truly pathetic.

Fortunately, the Sixers will have to quickly flush that one from their memory with another game ahead on Tuesday.

This is the squad’s ninth back-to-back of the season so far with seven more ahead. In zero-days rest games, the Sixers are 5-3 this campaign. They will have had a few more hours of rest than a typical back-to-back, though. Philadelphia’s game on Monday in Charlotte was moved up to 3 p.m. ET (originally 7 p.m.) to give the Sixers more time to get back home in the wake of the winter storm that ripped through the East Coast this past weekend.

The Sixers’ injury report will not be made available until this afternoon. That being said, both Embiid and George did not play yesterday against the Hornets. Based on the pattern of the duo simply not playing both ends of back-to-backs, it would not be surprising to see both Embiid and George back available for today against the Bucks.

Per usual, we will keep you posted on everyone’s official statuses once they are available.

We do know that the Bucks will be without Giannis, who currently has no timetable for return after being diagnosed with a calf strain. It goes without saying that Milwaukee is a completely different team without Giannis, who is averaging 28 points and 10 rebounds per game in 30 contests this season. The Bucks are 3-11 this season when Giannis is sidelined.

Kevin Porter Jr. is also out with an oblique strain and Taurean Prince remains out recovering from neck surgery.

The last time the Sixers and Bucks faced off was also the second leg of a back-to-back for Philadelphia. Strangely, three of the four times the Sixers play the Bucks this season are second legs of back-to-backs. NBA brilliant scheduling at work!

What a night for Tyrese Maxey, dropping a career-high 54 points in the Sixers' OT win over the Bucks.

54 PTS (18/30 FG, 6/15 3PT), 5 REB, 9 AST, 3 STL, 3 BLK
Maxey was truly dominant all game.

Watch some of his best plays of the night below. There were a lot. pic.twitter.com/GN7R7GPzCb

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) November 21, 2025

But I digress. The Sixers are 2-0 against the Bucks this campaign. The squads had their most recent matchup back on Dec. 5, 2025, in Milwaukee with both Giannis and Embiid absent. The Sixers won 116-101 thanks in no small part to Quentin Grimes leading the team with 22 points off the bench on 7-for-9 field goal shooting (6-for-7 from long range) with five assists. Frankly, it was one of the last good (or even decent) Grimes performances, with the guard struggling mightily as of late to say the least.

In the teams’ first matchup back on Nov. 20, 2025, Tyrese Maxey put up a career-high 54 points on 18-for-30 field goal shooting (6-for-15 from three-point range) with nine assists, three steals and three blocks in a truly dominant performance. No Embiid nor Giannis for that one either.

The biggest thing this game provides for the Sixers is an opportunity to get momentum on their side. It feels like every time this team wins a good game, such as their overtime win over the Houston Rockets on Jan. 22, they follow it up with a big stumble into a loss or losing streak. That’s simply not going to cut it in a tight Eastern Conference. The Sixers haven’t been able to string four or more wins together since starting the season 4-0.

With a Giannis-less Bucks team ahead followed by meetings with the 12-win Sacramento Kings and 12-win New Orleans Pelicans, there’s not much excuse for not getting the ball rolling in their favor here.

The Sixers and Bucks tip off in South Philadelphia at 8 p.m. ET.

Game Details​

When: Tuesday, January 27, 8:00 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...giannis-antetokounmpo-joel-embiid-paul-george

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers-Bucks: Second Half Thread

Game Details​

When: Tuesday, January 27, 8:00 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC, Peacock
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...sixers-milwaukee-bucks-nba-second-half-thread

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers Bell Ringer: PG nails 9 threes, McCain hits 5 in win vs. Bucks

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 18
VJ Edgecombe – 6
Joel Embiid – 6
Paul George – 5
Andre Drummond – 2
Jared McCain – 2
Dominick Barlow – 1
Adem Bona – 1
Justin Edwards – 1
Quentin Grimes – 1
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1

---

The Sixers took down Doc Rivers and the Bucks in an exciting 139-122 victory on Tuesday night.

They had the services of Joel Embiid and Paul George, both of whom were out for the first portion of the team’s back-to-back in Charlotte. Quentin Grimes was ruled out with a right ankle sprain.

Plenty of plausible performances for Bell Ringer tonight, lets not waste any more time.

Joel Embiid: 29 points, 11-of-24 FG, 1-of-4 3PT, 9 rebounds (6 offensive), 5 assists, 1 steal

Embiid helped set the tone for the Sixers on Tuesday following his absence in Monday night’s beatdown at the hands of the Hornets.

About halfway through the first quarter, Embiid scored eight straight — two free throws, a free-throw-line jumper off a Paul George assist, tip layup off a Maxey miss, then a putback off his own miss in a two-minute span of game time.

His MVP-level touch from the midrange seems to have returned in full force, making 8-of-12 attempts against the Bucks.

Next up, Joel Embiid. The big fella continues to move and dominate in a way I genuinely didn't know if we'd see again.

29 PTS, 9 REB, 5 AST, 1 STL

Here's Embiid highlights vs. Bucks! pic.twitter.com/wCaAwCIRwG

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) January 28, 2026

His buy-in into setting screens has been fruitful for the entire Sixers offense. It forces the defense to decide between helping the ball-handler’s defender or Embiid on the soft roll that sets him up at the top of the key. We saw that continuously against the Bucks, as VJ Edgecombe, George, Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain all benefitted from his solid screens and got him open shots in rhythm.

It is the kind of offensive structure that makes the post-centric Embiid with the ball on the block and everyone else standing, feel outdated.

It lends itself to a more bought-in system, which can lead to moments like this, where Embiid is running a fastbreak and Maxey rewards him with a lob that felt like Fall 2016 all over again.

Tyrese Maxey celebrating Joel Embiid's lob finish is must see pic.twitter.com/YvxT9q8NUu

— Drew Peltzman (@dapeltz13) January 28, 2026

Embiid’s physicality in the post has been special to watch, and he displayed it again on Tuesday, causing havoc on the boards and getting easy points on second-chance opportunities.

Paul George: 32 points, 11-of-21 FG, 9-of-15 3PT, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals

George had his best shooting game of the season, and perhaps of the past six years. He drained nine threes against the Bucks on Tuesday, a feat he has only accomplished twice prior in his career. His first career nine-three game came on Nov. 21, 2012, and his career best day from three came on Feb. 1, 2019 where he drained 10 threes as a remember of the OKC Thunder.

That was a fun one with the Sixers taking down the Bucks. First up for video, the leading-scorer on the floor tonight: Paul George, who absolutely came alive in the third frame when Philly needed it.

32 PTS (9-15 3PT), 5 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL

9 TRIPLES! Here's PG highlights pic.twitter.com/Kd6c8p5xrd

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) January 28, 2026

It began early where he knocked down his first two attempts from deep, and he carried the shooting touch throughout the game. He would start the third similarly with a pair of jumpers, then break down Kyle Kuzma on a crossover step-back three later in the quarter.

Nearing the end of the quarter, he drained back-to-back from three on consecutive possessions. At the top of the fourth quarter, he stayed hot and was alternating made threes with McCain as the Sixers began to put the Bucks away.

Paul George is on FIRE in Q3! Two more triples and he's up to 26 points tonight! pic.twitter.com/llMWtV1xgQ

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) January 28, 2026

Not to be forgotten is George’s defensive impact, which helped slow down the Bucks’ somehow electric offensive attack.

Tyrese Maxey: 22 points, 9-of-19 FG, 2-0f-8 3PT, 9 assists, 3 rebounds

Maxey once again did not have his best shooting night, but it was a drastic improvement from his six-point dud 24 hours prior in Charlotte. Most notably was Maxey’s playmaking ability in a game where multiple guys were feeling it in various stretches.

He assisted on five of George’s nine threes, and dealt up a beautiful lob to Embiid for a monumental slam.

His ability to let other guys cook like George or Embiid opens up the floor for him to attack with his speed or force strong reactions from the defense to find an open shooter.

Stellar two-man game between PG and Maxey opens up George for his third triple of the game 3⃣ pic.twitter.com/hfDXCLHyy0

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) January 28, 2026

Maxey used his speed throughout, valuable on a poor shooting night. Five of his nine makes came within five feet of the rim as he utilized his floater when unable to get all the way for a layup. Not his best performance, but a strong game-managing display to help him get back on track.

Rounding out a great game for the Sixers' Big 3 vs. Bucks tonight is Tyrese Maxey. Maxey still struggling a bit from long range, but absolutely no issues using his speed and getting right to the rim.

22 PTS, 3 REB, 9 AST

Here's Maxey highlights! pic.twitter.com/WjrFtT9xPQ

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) January 28, 2026

Jared McCain: 17 points, 6-of-8 FG, 5-of-6 3PT, 3 assists, 1 rebound

McCain had his best full-game performance on the season vs. the Bucks, putting up an almost identical stat sheet to his get-right performance in garbage time against the Hornets.

Last video is of Jared McCain. Returning from injury and getting into any sort of groove in his sophomore season has been a struggle for McCain… Not tonight though.

17 PTS (6-8 FG, 5-6 3PT), 1 REB, 3 AST

Hopefully a sign of good things to come. Here's McCain highlights pic.twitter.com/jtxgjtAu3X

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) January 28, 2026

He drained a deep three in the first and followed it up with a patient finish at the rim on the next possession.

Then it was quiet until the fourth, when the avalanche began again.

He drained one over Jericho Sims early in the frame. A couple minutes later, he hit one off an assist from George, one in transition over AJ Green, and a corner three for nine straight points in a 40-second span of game time. Every one of the threes was pivotal in putting the Bucks away late.

These two performances have to feel good for the second-year guard after struggling for the better part of the season so far in limited minutes.

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

 

[Zedster]

Good to see the Sixers bounce back after that Charlotte disaster. Losing by 37 to the Hornets was rough to watch even as a neutral fan.

Paul George going 9-15 from three is exactly what Philly needs from him. That's only his third career game hitting 9+ threes, so hopefully this gets him rolling. When he's shooting like that, it opens up so much for Embiid in the post and Maxey attacking the rim.

Really happy for McCain too. Kid had such a great rookie year and the sophomore slump has been real for him this season. Going 5-6 from deep in meaningful minutes has to feel good. Those four threes in 40 seconds to close out the game showed flashes of what he was doing last year.

The Embiid-Maxey chemistry on that lob was fun. When Embiid is engaged like this - setting screens, running in transition, crashing the boards for offensive rebounds - this team looks completely different than when he's just posting up while everyone stands around.

Schedule sets up nicely with Sacramento and New Orleans next. No excuse not to build some momentum here. The East is tight enough that a 4-5 game winning streak could move them up a couple spots pretty quickly.

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

5 Sixers thoughts: Doc Rivers’ comments on Joel Embiid, the trade deadline and more

Are we having fun yet? The Sixers had a rock-solid victory on Wednesday night to carry an otherwise barren Philadelphia sports slate. Let’s talk some ball in my latest “5 Sixers thoughts” column…

Is Joel Embiid truly the most talented player Doc Rivers has ever coached?​

Rivers, the Bucks’ head coach now after formerly holding that position in Philadelphia for several seasons, made this eyebrow-raising comment before Tuesday evening matchup with Milwaukee, per PhillyVoice’s Adam Aaronson:

“Joel is the most talented player I’ve ever coached,” Doc Rivers said. “…Unfortunately for me, I never had him healthy once in the playoffs.”

— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) January 27, 2026

Embiid’s talent is undeniable even as injuries have defined his career. Is Rivers’ statement true though?

The immediate thought would be that this is a subtle jab at Giannis Antetokounmpo, the two-time NBA MVP who won a championship with Milwaukee in 2021. Antetokounmpo has one foot out the door, so that may be a part of it, but is Embiid more talented than Antetokounmpo? How about Kevin Garnett or even Tracy McGrady or Grant Hill from Rivers’ previous stops on his coaching journey?

Let’s just look at Embiid, Antetokounmpo and Garnett. Even putting my Philadelphia bias aside for a brief moment, Embiid has done things, when he’s actually been on the court, that have been rarely, if ever, seen on an NBA court. His scoring prowess as a big man rivals that of Wilt Chamberlain. That’s not hyperbole.

Embiid’s health and lack of championship success, however, knock him down when discussing any all-time greats.

Embiid, given the injuries, has probably had the worst “career” of the three, all things considered. I view Antetokounmpo as a top-25 guy and Garnett is not too far beyond him. Let’s say he’s a top-35 or a top-40 player at worst. The general NBA public isn’t going to view Embiid that way unfortunately given the time he’s missed and the way rings are valued.

Speaking of Antetokounmpo…​

A report from ESPN’s Shams Charania surfaced late Wednesday morning about Antetokounmpo, indicating that he is “ready for a new home” ahead of the Feb. 5 NBA Trade Deadline:

Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is ready for a new home at the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline or in the offseason as several rival teams make aggressive offers to the Milwaukee Bucks for him, and the franchise is starting to listen, league sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/OejatbQjDy

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 28, 2026

There has been chatter among fans and talking heads whether the Sixers could get in the mix for Antetokounmpo, who is under contract for next season and then has a player option after that. A trade between the Sixers and Bucks centered around Antetokounmpo would need to begin with parting ways with rookie VJ Edgecombe. I wrote just last week that dealing out Edgecombe would be a non-starter for me.

Will Edgecombe ever be as good of a player as Antetokounmpo has been? Given what I’ve already said about him in this column, clearly not. Given age, contracts and the trajectory of this Sixers team, however, it just does not feel like the right move for this franchise right now.

I’m just hoping he winds up in Golden State rather than New York at least.

25 years ago today…​

On Jan. 28, 2001, the Sixers traveled to Indiana to face the Pacers. In a win that improved the team’s record to 34-10, Allen Iverson had 27 points to go with eight assists. It was a rough shooting day from the field for Iverson, who went just 6-for-25, but he lived at the line, sinking 14 of his 17 free-throw attempts.

The Sixers would go on to face Indiana in the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs that year, taking care of business in four games in the best-of-five series on the way to an NBA Finals berth.

Jared McCain displays signs of life​

Dropping 16 points and nailing four threes in mega-garbage time during a brutal loss in Charlotte on Monday afternoon, McCain looked like an NBA player again. Seemingly nailed to the bench sometimes by Sixers head coach Nick Nurse, McCain, at least briefly, resembled the player he was during his brief, but red-hot rookie campaign.

McCain had the goods again in Tuesday night’s victory over Milwaukee as well, totaling 17 points while drilling five of his six shots from deep. That type of scoring punch and sweet shooting from a reserve has been sorely missed, especially with Quentin Grimes’ long-standing frigid stretch.

The Sixers went from having too many intriguing pieces in the backcourt to seemingly having too few while McCain was struggling. McCain needs to be a legitimate part of Nurse’s rotation.

Sixers tickets are dirt cheap right now​

I understand it from multiple perspectives. Weeknights are tough to begin with. People aren’t fully sold on this team after years of second-round exits. The current weather situation looms large over everything as well with snow piled up throughout the city and another storm potentially coming this week, making commuting a bit of a hazard.

Still, if public transportation’s easily accessible for you, which is obviously not always the case in this region, you can see the Sixers host the Kings on Thursday for as low as $9 on the secondary market. There are worse ways to spend a cold, dark winter evening!

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...rivers-joel-embiid-nba-trade-deadline-giannis

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers host Sacramento Kings for Thursday night clash

The Philadelphia 76ers split their early-week back-to-back, losing to the Charlotte Hornets before beating the Milwaukee Bucks at home. Now they’ll face another team dealing with its own issues, the Sacramento Kings, for the first time this season.

Man, oh man. Where do I even start breaking down this team? Fans who were around for the Process era are likely well familiar with the #Kangz, a franchise that simply can’t get out of its own way. Here we are 10 years later, and well, they’re still the #Kangz.

The Kings did find some recent success with the Beam Team, headlined by De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. Now Fox is gone. In his place is Zach LaVine, who joins DeMar DeRozan as the Kings have either accidentally or intentionally tried to reassemble the Chicago Bulls in a far more competitive conference. Sabonis is still there, but he has been slowly ramping his minutes back up as he returns from a lengthy injury.

The rest of the roster would best be described as fluid. Malik Monk is still around, though he has been banished from the rotation for stretches this season. Keegan Murray remains a bright spot in an otherwise bleak situation, although he is currently out with injury. Beyond that, the Kings brought in Dennis Schroder and Russell Westbrook this summer to add some veteran presence. There are a couple of minor silver linings as well, as rookies Max Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell have produced in limited minutes. Oh yeah, and our old friend Dario Saric is here too.

As you can probably tell from that list, things look pretty bleak. The Kings have played about how you would expect, sitting in the basement of the Western Conference at 12–36. There is some talent on this roster, but it lacks connective pieces and well-rounded contributors. Inconsistency defines this team. On most nights, one player will stuff the box score, but it usually happens in isolation rather than as part of a cohesive team effort.

That’s reflected in their offensive rating on the season, which ranks 29th in the league despite having some well-known scorers. Their defense is about what you’d expect from a team like this, sitting 28th in the league. It has really been a team that hasn’t hung its hat on either end of the floor or any particular skill.

Switching sides, the Sixers have had their fair share of ups and downs. On one hand, they’ve won real games against competitive teams. On the other, they’ve found themselves in dogfights more often than they probably should have and still sit below .500 at home. Their last game against the Bucks might be a turning point, though, as all three of their biggest names appear to be finding their legs and developing chemistry.

Both Joel Embiid and Paul George are coming off big performances, combining for over 60 points against Milwaukee. We’ve talked plenty about Embiid’s resurgence recently, but George turned in one of his best outings of the season. He knocked down nine three-pointers and stepped up as a perimeter scorer when the Sixers’ offense went cold. Tyrese Maxey also delivered a solid night with 22 points and nine assists. Rookie VJ Edgecombe added a well-rounded performance of his own, flirting with a triple-double while filling in the gaps as the Sixers’ stars did their thing.

All of those names have drawn plenty of attention, but one could argue none of them were the real story from the last game. With Quentin Grimes out, Jared McCain was called upon and looked like the player we saw last season. He poured in 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting and tied George for the team-high plus-minus at +13. McCain got shots up in the blowout against Charlotte, and it seems that may have helped get him back on track. The Sixers will need his shooting down the stretch of the regular season, and he has a chance to keep it going against a struggling defense. That will be a key area to watch in this matchup.

Key statuses to monitor for this matchup include Joel Embiid (probable), Paul George (probable) and Quentin Grimes (questionable). Johni Broome, Charles Bassey and MarJon Beauchamp are listed as doubtful due to G League assignments. For Sacramento, Russell Westbrook (right foot soreness) and Malik Monk (right ankle soreness) are questionable, while Keegan Murray is out.

The Sixers have two home games coming up, first against the Kings and then against the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, that they should be able to win and start stacking some much-needed home victories. Now the question is whether they can keep building on this momentum.

Game Details​

When: Thursday, January 29, 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...ost-sacramento-kings-for-thursday-night-clash

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Maxey makes layup in final seconds as Sixers win a close one vs. Kings

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 29: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers hits the game winning shot during the game against the Sacramento Kings on January 29, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

No game has ever had more “January night in Orlando” vibes than this one. Of course, the Sixers ended it with a game-winner in the final seconds.

Philadelphia escaped with a 113-111 win over the Sacramento Kings Thursday night.

Tyrese Maxey found his three-point shot again, leading all scorers with 40 points, including the go-ahead layup, while shooting 12-of-18 from the floor. Joel Embiid looked like his old self in that he put up 37 points and five rebounds on 13-of-21 shooting in a casual effort.

Paul George had his moments with the second unit, going for 15 points while shooting 7-of-15 from floor. VJ Edgecombe faded into the background again with five points, three assists and five rebounds. Dennis Schroder led the Kings with 27.

Quentin Grimes missed his second straight game with an ankle sprain while Sacramento was without Malik Monk, Russell Westbrook and Keegan Murray.

Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.

First Quarter​

• Maxey was certainly feeling it at the start of this one. After burying a midrange turnaround to get the Sixers on the board, he nailed a step-back three on back-to-back possessions before his heat check on his third try rolled off the rim.

x2 for @TyreseMaxey !! pic.twitter.com/rbq4WPhqrg

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 30, 2026

• The rest of his team started just 1-of-6 from the field. Embiid hit a bank shot to start but wasn’t getting positioning on Domantas Sabonis every time down the floor like he wanted. He did have an easier time pushing around rookie Dylan Cardwell, getting to the free throw line a couple of times in the process.
• DeMar DeRozan led the start for the Kings making four of his first five shots of the night, including their first three of the evening. After Maxey and Embiid had done most of the Sixers scoring, Kelly Oubre Jr. picked up a couple of baskets, but also fouled DeRozan with a half second left, giving him free throws to pull within three.

Second Quarter​

• PG seems to have really found a groove for the beginning of second quarters — he started another one off with a pair of jumpers falling. Jared McCain got early minutes again but he hardly touched the ball his first few minutes, with so many guys feeling good in isolation it didn’t find him. He made a nice bounce pass off a drive to Dominick Barlow who got fouled. He turned it over trying to kick out of his next drive and his first three-point attempt of the night rimmed out.
• DeRozan continued to knife his way into midranges and free throws. He helped put the Sixers in the bonus about halfway through the quarter. Maxey continued to one-up him on the other end, trying to put Schroder on ice skates before burying a step-back three on every possession. Maxey put up 22 going 7-of-10 in the half.
• Perhaps he was looking to match his pal in highlights, but for some reason Embiid tried this move going to the basket, somehow getting it to fall. Justin Edwards saw some floor time again when Edgecombe, who looked to be experiencing some discomfort in the half, made a brief trip to the locker room. Edwards got two wide open threes swung to him from Embiid, making the first. Oubre got himself wide open off a cut right before the half ended, but he smoked the dunk, leaving the Sixers lead at six at the break.

Joel Embiid with a spinning finish and celebrate accordingly pic.twitter.com/pAxmU35RD8

— Drew Peltzman (@dapeltz13) January 30, 2026

Third Quarter​

• Embiid was in a rhythm to start the half, hitting a couple midrange jumpers before steamrolling his way to a layup on which he got fouled on as well. Unsurprisingly, Maxey was getting heavily double teamed and picked up full-court, but Embiid was able to hit him with a really nice bounce pas off a give-and-go.

That two-man game though pic.twitter.com/dKeYoDhr45

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) January 30, 2026

• The Sixers had yet to take Sacramento out of a rhythm all night as well. DeRozan, still beating his man off the dribble, started to find Sabonis for some open dump-offs near the basket. On top of that they were crushing the Sixers on the offensive glass, getting out to a 19-0 advantage in second-chance points. That Kings’ pairing continued to pick up buckets inside before a Schroder three briefly gave them their first lead since the opening minutes of the game.
• McCain definitely needed to rebound from his first half shift and getting all the way to the cup was a good start. Fouling Keon Ellis just as he was receiving the inbound wasn’t though. He was able to muscle his way into a midrange a few minutes later as the Kings continued to surge. With Embiid off the floor the Sixers really struggled with rebounding and size, but it was an Ellis three that beat the buzzer and keep the Kings up by four.

Fourth Quarter​

• Due to those aforementioned struggles, Nick Nurse swapped out Adem Bona for Andre Drummond, though he couldn’t stop Maxime Raynaud and Precious Achuiwa from scoring either. To make matters worse, the Sixers had some brutal turnovers after possessions where they actually did get stops. McCain was too unaware coming up the floor and got his pocket picked from behind. George and Edgecombe both got too cute with passes with the defense still scrambling. Boos rained down on the arena when the Sixers called a timeout with 8:13 remaining.
• All night offensively the Sixers had been more reliant on their stars getting hot rather than execution and that had caught up with them as well. They went over three minutes without a field goal after George got two quick baskets to start the quarter. Maxey broke that driving in for a layup before Embiid started getting to the line trip after trip down the floor. Being able to box out against the Kings’ smaller starting lineup helped them finally get stops again.

Analyze the area.
Invade the paint.
Aim with accuracy.

Embiid is up to 35 PTS as the Sixers are fighting back! pic.twitter.com/UBgzhpG7yM

— NBA (@NBA) January 30, 2026

• With Embiid baskets slowly clawing them back, the Sixers finally went up by one again thanks to the lane clearing for Maxey as he drove to the basket, prompting a Sacramento timeout. After playing solid defense for most of the possession, both Edgecombe and Oubre both followed DeRozan off a screen, leaving Zach LaVine wide open for a three to retake the lead.
• After both teams missed jumpers, Maxey pushed the ball up the floor and got fouled on his layup attempt, tying the game with 27 seconds left. DeRozan shifted by Oubre but his pull-up was too long, Embiid secured the rebound and a timeout was called with 5.2 to go. The initial inbound by Edgecombe was a struggle to get in and the Kings knocked it out of bounds. Oubre took the second one, hitting Embiid at the free throw line who passed it to Maxey rushing down the floor. Maxey beat everyone to the cup, getting the layup to go and getting fouled in the process. With the Kings having no timeouts left he still tried to make the free throw. Missing it out probably worked out better for him though as LaVine’s heave didn’t come close.

FOR THE WIN!!!!! pic.twitter.com/mbjQxOJU9T

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) January 30, 2026

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

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Joel Embiid sends clear message to Sixers front office ahead of trade deadline

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 27: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Milwaukee Bucks at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 27, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Bucks 139-122. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With the NBA trade deadline less than a week away, surely you’re thinking it:

The Sixers better not duck the tax this year.

Over the past several seasons, the Sixers have made moves to dip below the NBA’s luxury tax. Some deals were less egregious, but last year’s salary-dumping of KJ Martin to the Detroit Pistons understandably drew the ire of fans. Not only did the team move on from Martin, a player who had a few bright moments here and was brought back on a balloon deal with bigger trade aspirations in mind, but they also attached two second-round picks in a cost-cutting move.

If you have concerns about the team making a similar move, you’re not alone. After the team’s 113-111 win over the Sacramento Kings Thursday, Joel Embiid made it clear he wants Daryl Morey and company to make improvements.

“Obviously, we’ve been ducking the tax past couple of years, so hopefully, we’ll keep the same team. I love all the guys that are here. I think we got a shot.

“I don’t know what they’re gonna do, but I hope we get a chance to just go out and compete because we’ve got a good group of guys in this locker room. The vibes are great. Like I said, in the past we’ve been I guess ducking the tax, so hopefully we think about improving because I think we have a chance.”

That quote is a big deal. Sure, Embiid has never been afraid to be outspoken, but when it comes to personnel decisions, he usually provides a diplomatic answer — something to the effect of, “That’s not my job” or “I trust those guys.” This felt like Embiid sending a clear message to the front office.

It’s a fair stance from Embiid, who dropped 37 against the Kings. All he’s done to get back to the level he’s currently playing is nothing short of remarkable. He’s also been available at a rate many weren’t expecting before the season started. The Sixers also find themselves in sixth in a seemingly wide-open East.

While backup center Andre Drummond is an obvious trade candidate, Kelly Oubre Jr. is another name that’s been floated out there. After starting the season strong, Drummond has mostly been supplanted by Adem Bona. It’s likely better for both sides to move on.

But Oubre is a different story. He’s fit well into the starting group, giving the team a spark on both ends. Of course, moving off his $8.3 million salary would go a long way to helping the tax bill, but it’s clear moving Oubre for a lesser player would not sit well with the big fella.

The quote was prompted by a question about continuity, something Embiid has said he’s craved in recent years. The Sixers’ roster upheaval has been … something during Embiid’s decade in Philadelphia. At this point, Oubre is Embiid’s longest-tenured teammate not named Tyrese Maxey. The veteran wing has always seemed to play well off the former MVP.

In referencing continuity, one wonders what Embiid thinks of the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes playing out. A report from NBA Insider Jake Fischer indicated the Greek Freak would have interest in playing with Maxey, putting the Sixers on his “radar.” A trade like that would surely mean multiple meaningful pieces going to Milwaukee, most notably Paul George for salary matching purposes.

It seems like what Embiid wants is meaningful improvement that doesn’t mess with the team’s core.

Sounds like the ball is in your court, Daryl Morey.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...rade-deadline-kelly-oubre-paul-george-giannis