RSS 76ers Team Notes

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Win or lose, Sixers are back to being appointment viewing

Things have (understandably) tailed off for the Philadelphia 76ers following the hot 4-0 start to the season. The undefeated season dream died, then the spot atop the Eastern Conference, and now we’re back to looking at them in the Play-In Tournament range. The quest for the NBA Cup also isn’t looking good after the group stage loss to Boston. But you know what hasn’t stopped? These Sixers being absolute must-see TV on a nightly basis.

Even now at 6-4 on the season, the only loss that didn’t come down to the final seconds for Philadelphia was against Cleveland, which you could find in the encyclopedia under the ‘Schedule Loss’ heading. They’ve had one game go to overtime, and five other contests decided by four points or less. The Sixers are currently fifth in the NBA in offensive rating, but 22nd in defensive rating, a “Bucketz” formula that may not make for a championship contender, but does make you want to grab some popcorn and tune in to find out what happens.

After a season where almost everything Sixers-related was depressing, Philadelphia now has fun stories across the entire roster.

Like an anime hero who levels up his power scale or unlocks new weapons and armor, Tyrese Maxey is now playing at an All-NBA level and finds himself on a down-ballot MVP trajectory. VJ Edgecombe made history in his debut and has hit some typical rookie bumps, but still stepped up to hit some huge shots late in games. After watching Oklahoma City have a half dozen guards who will absolutely dog you on both ends of the court, it’s good to know the Sixers drafted one such individual with that fearless mentality.

Joel Embiid is back on the court, looking more productive player than albatross contract. From afar, he seems to be in a much better headspace and the team has encouragingly implemented a sensible plan for his usage. Quentin Grimes is the perfect guy to slide up or down his level of responsibility given who else is available, and I enjoy when he periodically pops up as Exhibit B in the “Why hasn’t Nico Harrison been fired yet?” discussions. Kelly Oubre Jr. is shooting 38 percent from three, and playing terrific two-way basketball, making those individuals claiming he should have been salary-dumped in the offseason look incredibly silly.

Andre Drummond has recovered from what must have been an entirely debilitating toe injury last season, now looking like the windex man of old and even adding a three-point shot to his game. Trendon Watford recorded a triple-double (!) in his first start as a Sixer, causing Joel to whip out Ben Simmons comparisons in post-game interviews. Adem Bona is like the basketball embodiment of Charlie Kelly declaring himself the wild card, making his incredible 2k block rating look perfectly accurate if you catch him on the right night.

To borrow a turn of phrase from Jason Kelce, “It’s the whole team!”

Now, in true Sixers fashion, there are still a few holdovers of less exciting bygone days. The Paul George injury situation is still a bit of a mystery. Dominick Barlow was struck down after a fun start to the season by the most dangerous elbow cut in the history of mankind. Jared McCain has been back in action in a few sparing moments thus far, but does not appear to like that leg brace one bit.

Still, after months earlier this calendar year when we were actively rooting for the team to lose to better their draft positions, it’s so nice to wake up and say, “Oh, the Sixers are on tonight. That’ll be fun. I can’t wait to watch.” The Sixers probably aren’t going to end up on the road to a championship this season (maybe Paul George playing can change that equation a bit?), but I guarantee they’re not a squad who opposing clubs would want to draw in the postseason. More importantly from a fan perspective, they’re back to being appointment viewing.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...-sixers-are-back-to-being-appointment-viewing

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers Take on Celtics in Crucial Early-Season Showdown

The Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics are meeting for the third time in just three weeks to start the season. The Sixers took the first matchup on opening night the road, 117–116, before the Celtics evened the series with a 109–108 win. Combined, those two games were decided by only two points — a sign that another tightly contested battle could be on deck between these division rivals.

Since the season opener, the Celtics have had mixed results in the early part of the regular season. Over their last ten games, they are an even 5–5, leaving them with a 5–6 overall record. Currently, Boston ranks 11th in offensive efficiency and 13th in defensive efficiency, just outside the top ten on both ends of the floor, despite several key offseason departures and missing Jayson Tatum.

The biggest reason for the Celtics’ success so far has been Jaylen Brown stepping up in Tatum’s absence. In eleven games, Brown is averaging 28 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists on 52.2 percent shooting from the field. His shot attempts have increased by nearly three per game, and his efficiency is actually higher than previous seasons. Brown scored 25 points in the season opener and 32 points in their most recent matchup in Philadelphia. Limiting his impact will likely be key for the Sixers, especially given how close these games have been so far.

Coming into this game, the Sixers are coming off a split back-to-back series, defeating the Toronto Raptors but falling short against the Detroit Pistons. Fortunately, they should be expecting reinforcements tonight with Joel Embiid slated to return. Embiid will be a key player to watch, especially after his standout performance against the Raptors, where he scored 29 points in just under 26 minutes. He struggled in the season opener, making only one of nine shot attempts, and fared better in the second matchup with 20 points and six rebounds in a close loss. If Embiid can continue this upward trend and find his rhythm tonight, the Sixers will be in a strong position.

Tyrese Maxey will also look to continue building on his early-season momentum. Through the first ten games, he has averaged 33.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 8.2 assists while shooting 47 percent from the field and 44.1 percent from three. Maxey has made an early case for All-NBA consideration, and the Sixers will need his scoring and playmaking to navigate Boston’s guard rotation of Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and Anfernee Simons.

His backcourt mate, rookie VJ Edgecombe, will also aim to regain his rhythm after struggling in recent matchups. Edgecombe shined in the season opener against the Celtics, scoring 35 points, and this game could be the opportunity to reestablish flow and confidence for the young guard.

Heading into this game, the Sixers will only be down three players, Paul George, Dominick Barlow, and Johni Broome. George is still working his way back from an offseason procedure, while Barlow continues to work back from the elbow laceration he suffered early into the year. This means Kelly Oubre will draw most of the Brown defensive assignment, while players such as Jabari Walker or Justin Edwards should get some extended run.

For a November matchup, this game carries more weight than usual. With the first two games already split, the winner tonight will at least ensure a split of the season series. If the series ends tied 2-2, the division record will serve as the tiebreaker. These teams won’t meet again until March for their fourth and final matchup.

Can the Sixers get it done against their division rival? We’re about to find out.

Game Details​

When: Tuesday, November 11, 8:00 p.m. ET
Where: XFinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: Peacock, NBC
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...e-on-celtics-in-crucial-early-season-showdown

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers-Celtics: First Half Thread

Game Details​

When: Tuesday, November 11, 8 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena
Watch: NBC, Peacock
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76ers-discussion-threads/80598/sixers-celtics-first-half-thread

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Justin Edwards knew his time would come

After a promising rookie season, Justin Edwards came back and had a bad summer league. He had a bad preseason as well — so much so that he was essentially out of the rotation by the time the regular season started, despite two forwards in Paul George and Trendon Watford not being healthy for opening night.

While his playing time was waning, his coach still hadn’t lost faith in him.

“I think I’ve said this to you guys before like, I love him, I don’t worry about him,” head coach Nick Nurse said after a 102-100 win over the Boston Celtics. “He has a bad game, it doesn’t even phase me because I love him.”

In the first 10 games of the season, Edwards had racked up three DNP-CDs. Two of the games he had appeared in he played less than 10th minutes. He averaged four points per game and shot just 38.7% from the field.

When his number was called early in the 11th game of the year against Boston, he was ready. Edwards dropped a team-high 22 points shooting 8-of-9 from the floor. Even when he was off target it benefitted his team — his only miss of the night fell right into Kelly Oubre Jr.’s hands for the game-winning put-back with 8.7 seconds remaining.

Sixers win a THRILLER over the Celtics

Kelly Oubre Jr. putback with 8.7 left
Clutch defense to seal the W pic.twitter.com/8EKIlWk0FY

— NBA (@NBA) November 12, 2025

Despite how hot he was, Edwards wasn’t exactly confident when Maxey kicked it to him, but everything went right for him that night.

“It didn’t feel good, but I shot it,” Edwards said of his last attempt, “and like I said, a game-winning miss — a little joke, K9 tapped it in, so it all worked out in my favor.”

“Oh, definitely. It’s great not just for the team but to him,” said Quentin Grimes. “Hats off to him, he played amazing.”

Coming into a game cold and completely catching fire is what Edwards is always preparing for. The cliche amongst NBA benches is “always staying ready.” He credited the work he puts in at practice for how was able to do so. He pinpointed a moment in practice in which he knew he had earned his coach’s trust.

“That means a lot coming from Nick, actually. We had a little moment in practice, maybe like a month ago,” Edwards said. “I was sitting on the sideline and he was like, ‘I’m not worried about you and you shouldn’t be worried about yourself and it’s all going to work out’. So, you know, that honestly shows that I’ve been waiting my turn and today was my day.”

As a Philadelphia native, he was able to have his day in his hometown with family in attendance. Edwards has been a pretty even-keeled guy since getting to the NBA, but he showed quite a lot of emotion, especially during his fourth quarter heater in which he hit three straight three-pointers that erased the Sixers’ deficit.

8-8 FG. 5-5 3PM. https://t.co/xzuTztVrId pic.twitter.com/R9FKmhf1H3

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) November 12, 2025

“Yeah, and then especially in my hometown, it gave me chills, low-key,” Edwards said,.“Then I had to like, snap back in because I was zoned out honestly. Everything was just happening so fast.”

That “zoning out” is something that Edwards actually credited with helping him find his shot again. The advice came from assistant coach Rico Hines in a shooting drill.

“Actually in one of my workouts I had to go 20-for-25 in five spots,” he said. “Rico was like, you just got to zone out, and I guess that’s what he meant by it because I just was shooting and wasn’t even really thinking about it.”

Edwards’ spot in the rotation is far from guaranteed going forward, but he’s seemingly mastered the “stay ready” mentality so his number can be called at any time.

“It’s a make-or-miss league. I can’t really beat myself up on the misses,” he said. “Even on the makes I can’t get too high, you know, I gotta stay levelheaded. I’m just going back to the drawing board and continuing to work.”

That work is a big reason why he has earned more than trust — love, in fact — from his head coach.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76ers-features-profiles/80684/justin-edwards-knew-his-time-would-come

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

ESPN names Kelly Oubre Jr., Quentin Grimes as ‘Contract-Year All-Stars’

On Monday, ESPN’s Bobby Marks highlighted 12 potential free agents who’ve gotten off to a hot start in the 2025-26 season as his “Contract-Year All-Stars.” He excluded players who’ve previously made an All-Star or All-NBA team, which automatically disqualified the likes of LeBron James, James Harden and Trae Young.

That opened the door for two Sixers to make the cut.

Marks named Quentin Grimes as one of the Contract-Year All-Star starters, alongside Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Jalen Duren and Norman Powell. So far, Grimes’ decision to bet on himself by taking the one-year, $8.7 million qualifying offer looks like it might pay off.

Grimes hasn’t started in any of the Sixers’ first 11 games this season, but he’s effectively playing starter minutes off the bench. He’s averaging 17.2 points, 4.4 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 three-pointers while shooting a career-best 47.0 percent overall, 39.7 percent from deep and 81.3 percent from the charity stripe.

Grimes has also been a major reason why the Sixers’ three-guard lineups are working this year. The trio of Grimes, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe played 141 minutes together through the first 10 games of the season, and the Sixers had a net rating of plus-17.7 with them on the floor. That’s the best net rating of any Sixers trio that has played at least 100 minutes together thus far.

Heading into this past offseason, Grimes’ camp was reportedly eyeing a deal worth around $30 million per year, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. They eventually came down to a $20-25 million annual salary, but the Sixers reportedly weren’t willing to go much higher than his qualifying offer. It’s fair to wonder what would have happened if they offered him something around three years and $45 million. They might grow to regret not making such an offer, if they haven’t already.

Grimes also seems to be unhappy with how those negotiations played out. On Tuesday, news broke that he signed with CAA, which represents fellow Sixers Paul George and Kelly Oubre Jr. as well. Grimes’ previous agent, David Bauman, does not represent any other active players in the NBA. (He used to be the agent for Andrew Bogut, Reggie Bullock and Metta World Peace, among others.)

Oubre is the other Sixer who cracked Marks’ list of Contract-Year All-Stars. As Marks noted, Oubre has developed into a far more well-rounded player since initially signing a one-year, veteran-minimum contract with the Sixers in September 2023. He’s averaging 18.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 made threes, 1.5 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.0 blocks this season (albeit in a career-high 37.2 minutes per game) while shooting a personal-best 51.1 percent overall and 38.3 percent from three-point range.

While the Sixers’ season flatlined last year, Oubre was one of the only players who consistently gave a good effort night in and night out. This year, in Paul George’s absence, he’s being forced to masquerade as a power forward alongside the Sixers’ three-guard lineups, and he’s thriving in that role. Even if (when) his shooting percentages regress to the mean, his attentiveness as a driver, cutter and rebounder should earn him some looks in free agency next summer.

Since Oubre is only on a two-year contract, the Sixers are not allowed to extend him before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. The good news is that they’ll now have full Bird rights on him since he hasn’t changed teams in free agency since his arrival in Philly. That means they can offer him anything up to a max contract even though they project to be well over the 2026-27 salary cap.

If Oubre thought such an offer was on the table this past offseason, he wouldn’t have picked up his $8.4 million player option. The constant leaguewide hunt for 3-and-D wings could help him cash in next summer, though, particularly if his early-season shooting proves to be somewhat sustainable.

The Sixers currently have only seven players under contract for the 2026-27 season and project to be roughly $31.9 million below the first apron and $44.9 million below the second apron based on the estimated $166 million salary cap. If the cap comes in higher than expected—it could rise as high as $170 million—they’d have a bit more wiggle room under both aprons. But if Grimes and Oubre both continue their strong play, it might be tough for the Sixers to re-sign both while staying under the second apron.

That’s a problem for another day, though. For now, Sixers fans can enjoy watching Oubre and Grimes ball out without worrying about their eventual paydays next summer.

Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball Reference. All salary information via Salary Swish and salary-cap information via RealGM.

Follow Bryan on Bluesky.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...ontract-year-all-stars-sixers-nba-free-agency

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

The shots aren’t falling, but VJ Edgecombe continues to make winning plays

The shot, a three-pointer from the right wing, looked like nine of the first 10 VJ Edgecombe attempted Tuesday night.

Which is to say, it appeared to have no shot at all.

“It hit back rim,” the Sixers’ rookie said. “I was like, ‘Ahhh.’”

Then the ball bounced high in the air.

“I was like, ‘OK, maybe it has a chance,’” he said.

It did, splashing through the net to give the Sixers a 100-96 lead over Boston with 2:20 left in the game. They would go on to win, 102-100, on a stick-back by Kelly Oubre Jr. in the closing seconds. It was the third nail-biter in as many meetings between the two teams to date — they had traded one-point decisions before Tuesday — and the seventh of 11 Sixers games this season that has been decided by five points or fewer.

“I just kind of think this is going to be what it’s like … up 10, down 10, see you at the end, right?” coach Nick Nurse said.

The Sixers are far from a great team, and they were again flat out awful in the third quarter, a troubling tendency. But they compete, and it is clear Edgecombe, the third overall pick last summer, is going to be right in the middle of things, no matter his offensive output — that regardless of how his shot might look, he is among those that give them the best shot at winning.

On Tuesday Nurse had him out there for the final 13:45, and Edgecombe joined Justin Edwards — he of the 8-for-9, 22-point night — as the only Sixers to play the entire fourth quarter. So while Edgecombe went 2-for-11 and managed six points, the fewest of his fledgling rookie season, he was plus-10. That equaled Andre Drummond for the second-best mark on the team, behind Edwards’ plus-12. (Standard plus-minus disclaimers apply.)

“I super believe in him,” Nurse said of the rookie, citing his poise, mistake-free play and sticky defense.

Edgecombe memorably poured in 34 points, a first-game high for a Sixers rookie, in the season-opening 117-116 victory in Boston, then managed an efficient 17 when the C’s won 109-108 in Philadelphia on Oct. 31. But the last five games have seen a regression to the mean. Including Tuesday, he is averaging 9.4 points a game over that span, while shooting 27.9 percent from the floor (17-for-61) and 25 percent from the arc (5-for-20).

He acknowledged that it’s been “a rough couple of games,” but is undeterred.

“I’m gonna continue shooting the ball,” he said. “If I’m wide open, if it’s the right shot, I’m gonna shoot the ball.”

He’s 20, remember. Doesn’t turn 21 until next July.

Twenty going on 35, it seems.

“It’s not weighing on me,” he said of his recent struggles. “And why I say it’s not is because it’s an 82-game season. They’re not gonna remember. Nobody will remember these games early, you know? I’m a rookie, man, and I’ve got to give myself some grace.”

And so he does.

“I just keep being aggressive and keep playing with joy, man,” he said. “I told Jared (McCain) if I’m not smiling, it’s gonna be a long night. So I just try to bring energy, try to do something different to impact the game.”

The Sixers led by 12 at one point in the first half, and were up 51-41 at halftime. But Boston outscored them 36-20 in the third, continuing a trend that puzzles Nurse to no end.

“Maybe,” he suggested, “we’ll just do halftime down on the bench.”

The Sixers were down only 77-71 after three, thanks to Quentin Grimes’ buzzer-beating halfcourt heave, but the Celtics pushed their lead to eight early in the fourth. Edwards connected from deep, and on the next Boston possession Jaylen Brown attacked the glass.

Edgecombe was waiting.

Never mind that he is 6-foot-4, two inches shorter than Brown. The rookie denied the dunk attempt of the four-time All-Star at the rim, then collected the loose ball, raced to the other end and teed up Edwards for the second of three triples he nailed in a one-minute, 18-second span.

“I was like, I just hope I don’t get dunked on,” Edgecombe said. “Just wanted to change the shot. … I got a piece of it.”

Other than instances like that, his feet seem firmly planted on the ground.

“Shots haven’t been falling for the past couple nights,” he said, “but I can’t let that determine the rest of my season. … I just want to make winning plays, to be honest.”

His shot figures to come around — as he put it, he is “due for a game, just to get back on track” — but even when it goes on hiatus, it’s clear he gives his team as good a shot at victory as anyone. That the bounces will continue to go his way, and he will continue to make super believers of everyone around him.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...-jaylen-brown-block-nick-nurse-justin-edwards

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

VJ Edgecombe questionable, Joel Embiid out for Cup matchup vs. Pistons

Well, that’s no fun.

The Sixers released their injury report ahead of their second NBA Cup matchup against the Detroit Pistons. VJ Edgecombe’s name has popped up — he is listed as questionable with back spasms. He did take a couple of hard falls in his most recent game against the Boston Celtics, but this blog won’t speculate any further.

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

Joel Embiid – right knee — OUT

Paul George — left knee — OUT

VJ Edgecombe — back spasm — QUESTIONABLE

Jared McCain — G League — OUT

Dominick Barlow not listed after missing the last 9 games with an elbow laceration.

— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) November 13, 2025

Joel Embiid’s status was left up in the air when the Sixers last practiced, but he has also been ruled out vs. the Pistons with right knee soreness. So that’ll be at least two games he’ll miss because of that soreness, but at least the team has said there is no structural damage in that knee.

Dominick Barlow has missed the last nine games with an elbow laceration and subsequent procedure that didn’t heal as quickly as hoped. The two-way forward earned his way into the starting lineup for the first two games of the season before suffering that injury. Hunter Sallis is on a two-way assignment and is questionable. The Delaware Blue Coats play one day before that Pistons matchup.

The rest has already been reported. Paul George remains out as he tries to strengthen his quad to get that left knee completely ready to go. Jared McCain is out on a G-League assignment, set to play in that aforementioned Blue Coats game.

If there’s any consolation, Detroit’s injury report is just as crowded. Tobias Harris will miss this game as well. He’s missed the first two games against the Sixers with a right ankle sprain — as has Jaden Ivey, who’s yet to make his season debut recovering from a knee injury.

Jalen Duran is questionable with an ankle sprain and Cade Cunningham is questionable with a hip contusion. Both missed their most recent contest in which Detroit was still able to pick up a win against the Chicago Bulls.

A robust injury report for the Detroit Pistons ahead of tomorrow’s matchup with the Sixers. pic.twitter.com/DgN4fgCd4X

— Austin Krell (@NBAKrell) November 13, 2025

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...biid-paul-george-jared-mccain-dominick-barlow

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers travel to Detroit for pivotal NBA Cup game

The Philadelphia 76ers are coming off another close win over the Boston Celtics and, just as importantly, two days of much-needed rest. They’ll travel to Detroit to face the Pistons in their second NBA Cup game of the season. The Sixers lost their first matchup against the Celtics in October, making this game a key part of their in-season tournament pursuit.

This will be the second time the Sixers face the Pistons, meeting just a few days earlier when Detroit defeated Philadelphia 111-108. The Pistons currently hold the top spot in the Eastern Conference with a 10-2 record. Much of their success stems from Cade Cunningham, who is putting together another spectacular season. Through 11 games, Cunningham is averaging 27.5 points and 9.9 assists per game, though his efficiency has been uneven. In their last matchup, he posted 26 points and 11 assists, making several key plays down the stretch.

His running mate, Jalen Duren, has also taken a leap this season and looks on pace for an All-Star nod. Duren is averaging 19.2 points and 12 rebounds on 64.7 percent shooting. The Sixers struggled to contain him on the boards in the previous game, making that a critical area to watch in this rematch.

Both Cunningham and Duren didn’t play in their last matchup against Chicago and are listed on the injury report for this game. Their statuses will be worth monitoring as tip-off approaches. As of now, Cunningham is questionable with a left hip contusion, and Duren is questionable with a right ankle sprain.

Reserve big Isaiah Stewart, who missed the Sixers-Pistons matchup earlier this week, is also questionable with an ankle sprain. Detroit will be without Tobias Harris (ankle sprain), Jaden Ivey, Marcus Sasser and Ausar Thompson (ankle sprain).

This season, the Pistons rank 14th in offensive rating but do most of their damage on the defensive end, where they sit in the top three. The Sixers, meanwhile, have the fifth-best offensive rating but rank 19th in defensive efficiency.

The Sixers are coming from several days off, which is a rarity early in this NBA schedule.

Regarding injuries, Paul George remains out as he continues recovering from a left knee procedure. Joel Embiid will also miss this matchup with right knee soreness. The team noted there’s no structural damage and that he’s day-to-day, so this appears to be a cautious approach.

VJ Edgecombe is a new addition to the injury report and is questionable with back spasms. Interestingly, two-way guard Hunter Sallis is also listed as questionable for two-way designation reasons rather than an injury. Dominick Barlow is not listed on the report, which means he’ll be available for this game.

As mentioned earlier, this is an NBA Cup game and will be crucial for keeping the Sixers’ in-season tournament hopes alive. Although they dropped their first game, it was by just one point. Point differential carries a lot of weight in these matchups, so a win tonight would go a long way toward keeping their tournament hopes alive despite starting 0-1.

Whether you’re tuning in for the in-season tournament or just for a marquee NBA matchup, it should be an exciting game. The Pistons are playing well this year, and the Sixers need a victory against a team sitting comfortably above .500. Let’s see if they can get it done.

Game Details​

When: Friday, November 14, 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelpia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...rs-travel-to-detroit-for-pivotal-nba-cup-game

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers-Pistons: Second Half Thread

Game Details​

When: Friday, November 14, 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...cond-half-thread-nba-cup-philadelphia-detroit

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers Bell Ringer: Sixers don’t answer the call for the Cup in loss to Pistons

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer Standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 4
Andre Drummond – 2
Adem Bona – 1
VJ Edgecombe – 1
Justin Edwards – 1
Quentin Grimes – 1
Kelly Oubre Jr – 1
Trendon Watford – 1

---

Philadelphia’s NBA Cup dream is dead for another year. The Sixers managed to flip the script on Friday evening, doing the improbable in outscoring the Pistons, 36-25, in the third quarter. Still, though it wasn’t enough, as the offense stagnated in the usually reliable fourth quarter and they ultimately lost, 114-105.

The Sixers have now lost both games thus far in NBA Cup group stage play, essentially ending any chance of moving on to the knockout round. Bigger picture, tonight is a bad loss to a Detroit Pistons club missing basically an entire starting five, including superstar Cade Cunningham. Even acknowledging the Sixers were without Joel Embiid and lost Kelly Oubre Jr. due to a hyperextended left knee during the game, you probably put this defeat down as the worst loss on the season to date. But that’s a discussion for another time. For now, let’s do Bell Ringer.

Dominick Barlow: 10 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers

In his first game back following history’s most annoying cut, Barlow didn’t miss a beat. He didn’t enter the game until the second quarter, but Nick Nurse couldn’t keep him out of it afterwards, as Dominick ended up playing almost 29 minutes. His activity level was off the charts, keeping possession after possession alive with five offensive rebounds. Barlow’s chasedown block of Ronald Holland II was one of the great energy plays on the night, and I still can’t believe Nick Nurse had to challenge to overturn a foul call on it. Barlow does so many little things to help the team, and if his jump shot can remain serviceable (he hit two of his three attempts from downtown tonight), there will continue to be plenty of minutes for him.

BARLOW BLOCK. ALL BALL. pic.twitter.com/bJ0wlrLO1S

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) November 15, 2025

VJ Edgecombe: 18 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers

The rookie had been slumping a bit lately, as he adjusts to NBA schedule makers treating every week like a collegiate conference tournament. So it was nice to see Edgecombe have his highest scoring game of the month of November, going 4-of-8 from downtown. VJ knocked down some shots via relocation and off the dribble, stuff you wouldn’t have said was exactly in his bag during his time at Baylor. It’s also sure fun watching him run the court and finish in transition. Edgecombe is going to absolutely posterize a defender one of these games.

3J Edgecombe sinks his second triple of the opening frame pic.twitter.com/dvjUi3vZBf

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) November 15, 2025

Andre Drummond: 12 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers

It was a pretty standard Drummond game in a lot of ways (standard for the new and rejuvenated version of Drummond, that is). He collected four offensive boards and tipped in a couple putbacks. Andre did have one goofy moment where he was called for a double-dribble trying to play point guard on a 2-on-0 fast break opportunity. But we have to acknowledge his tying a career-high with two three-pointers made (on two attempts). He’s now at six made threes for the season (a new career-high), and it’s a legitimate thing. Make of it what you will, but kudos to Drummond for putting the work in to add that aspect to his game at age 32.

ANDRE DRUMMOND CAREER-HIGH 6 TRIPLES THIS SEASON ALREADY! pic.twitter.com/sTjmW5vqrH

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) November 15, 2025

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...nswer-the-call-for-the-cup-in-loss-to-pistons

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers waste opportunity with road loss to severely undermanned Pistons

Enough evidence has mounted and it is damning — the Sixers are not Cup risers.

Philadelphia fell to the Detroit Pistons 114-105 in their second game of NBA Cup action Friday night. The Sixers are now 0-2 in group play.

Tyrese Maxey once again led all scorers, going for 31 points on 13-of-31 shooting along with six rebounds, three assists and four steals.

VJ Edgecombe, active despite popping up on the injury report, had a bounce-back game, finishing with 18 on 6-of-15 while going 4-of-8 from behind the arc.

Andre Drummond had 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting while Justin Edwards had 13 off the bench. Javonte Green led Detroit with 21.

Joel Embiid missed his second straight game with knee soreness. He joined Paul George (knee injury recovery) and Jared McCain (G-League assignment) on the inactive list. Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duran, Ausar Thompson and Tobias Harris headlined a laundry list of Pistons unable to suit up due to injury.

Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.

First Quarter​

• It was a fairly disjointed start for the Sixers, giving Detroit a couple easy turnovers early by staring down their target of passes. Bball Paul was out for revenge early, getting the first basket of the game and throwing down an emphatic dunk a few possessions later.
• Offensively, the Sixers weren’t able to get much going in the half court save for what Maxey could get them as they were getting a lot of pull-up jumpers in isolation. Trendon Watford pushed the ball up the floor for a couple transition opportunities, but no one got in a rhythm early. Another small positive was Edgecombe getting his first eight points without a miss. He made his first two free throws and swished down a three after needing friendly bounces his last time out against Boston. A few possessions later he pulled up off the dribble with a crossover to knock down another three.

Trendon Watford with the dime to VJ Edgecombe for the triple in transition from the rookie pic.twitter.com/Z1r8QHaIXI

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) November 15, 2025

• It was probably more due to how many guys were out for the Pistons, but the Sixers actually defended pretty well in the quarter. Detroit shot 40% from the floor, but that was better than the Sixers’ 38.7%, good enough to give them a one-point lead after one.

Second Quarter​

• The Sixers’ offense did start rolling a bit thanks a three-point barrage. Edgecombe’s hot hand carried over, Edwards came in the game and immediately knocked one down, as did Dominick Barlow. After missing the last nine games, Barlow didn’t seem to miss much of a beat — he pulled down six rebounds in his six minutes of play. He also picked up a hard-earned chase down block on Ron Holland II in transition.

Welcome back, Dominick Barlow! pic.twitter.com/ClkPUn4VP4

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) November 15, 2025

• Still taking a lot of pull-ups out of isolation, the Sixers offense cooled down again after said barrage. The Pistons on the other hand found their three-point shooting stroke, led by Javonte Green who punished the Sixers for slipping under screens.
• That early game sloppiness was not something the Sixers able to shake off as the half went on. They continued to throw passes that were easy to pick off, and they got beat by a lot of back door cutters, helping the Pistons get out to a nine-point lead at the half.

Third Quarter​

• Nick Nurse switched up the lineup a bit, switching Quentin Grimes for Watford and Barlow in place of Kelly Oubre Jr., who looked like he tweaked his knee in the first half, and that group put together a 14-0 run to start the half. What kept that run going was the Sixers’ ability to get their hands on the ball — both Maxey and Edgecombe deflected passes during this stretch that helped create fast break opportunities. Andre Drummond poked away a steal as well, but took away his own bucket by double-dribbling.

Tyrese Maxey with the steal, passing up the triple to instead dime up VJ Edgecombe! pic.twitter.com/Q4Jt5q2Anw

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) November 15, 2025

• The injury Oubre suffered would end up ending his night. The team ruled him out in the second half with a left knee hyperextension. It looks like it happened on this play.
• Drummond was able to make up for that sequence by burying not one but two corner threes, passing his career-high for three-pointers made in a season in early November. That was helped by the Sixers offense actually getting into the paint, which made a lot more shooters open and the Sixers converted early in the quarter.
• For as good of a third as they had, the Sixers’ woes in this quarter still were able to surface. Even after Maxey hit a tough turnaround fadeaway to stop the bleeding, Daniss Jenkins, who was going back and forth with Maxey for much of the night, drilled a heave at the buzzer to cut the lead to two at quarter’s end.

Fourth Quarter​

• The unit without Maxey really struggled to open the quarter offensively. All they were able to muster was a layup from Barlow. Edgecombe probably should have been running this unit more as it was an off night for Grimes.
• If there was any more proof needed that things needed to run through Edgecombe, he buried a three to get the Sixers back on the board when the Pistons were threatening to pull away. Edwards followed that up with an impressive drive to the hoop. The rest of their backcourt did most of the leg work, but Caris LeVert started to find his shot as well during this time, preventing the Sixers from getting any closer.

VJ EDGECOMBE HITS AGAIN FROM LONG RANGE, RIGHT ON TIME! pic.twitter.com/pH6gKSvzTv

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) November 15, 2025

• Needing plenty of stops and baskets down the stretch, the Sixers hopes were in Maxey pulling the rabbit out of the hat again but that was too big of an ask. They had a couple much needed threes rim out, and could not keep the Pistons away from the rim on the other end enough for it to matter.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...y-vj-edgecombe-dominick-barlow-andre-drummond

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers-Pistons: First Half Thread

Game Details​

When: Friday, November 14, 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...irst-half-thread-nba-cup-philadelphia-detroit

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Paul George upgraded to questionable ahead of Clippers matchup

A potential for a revenge game in a season debut?

The Sixers two big post-practice questions were answered with the release of the injury report. For the first time this season, there’s a possibility of Paul George taking the court. He’s been upgraded to questionable (left knee surgery recovery) one day ahead of their game against the LA Clippers.

George has missed the first 12 games of the season after having an arthroscopic surgery over the summer for an injury suffered in an offseason workout.

Joel Embiid, on the other hand, will miss his third straight game with right knee soreness. It’s worth noting that Embiid was a full participant during practice Sunday, per the team.

Paul George, it appears, is finally set to make his season debut.

Joel Embiid’s designation is now “right knee injury management” instead of “right knee soreness.”

Kelly Oubre Jr.’s designation: “left knee sprain.” https://t.co/d03hmhfoDJ

— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) November 16, 2025

While he’s listed as available, it will be interesting to see if Jared McCain sees the floor — and if so, for how long. The 20 minutes he played in each of the two G League games he appeared in over the weekend was the most run he’s gotten so far this season.

The rest of the report was already covered at practice. As LB alum SixersAdam points out, the official designation for Kelly Oubre Jr. is a knee sprain. George’s return in any fashion will be much welcomed should Oubre have to miss any extended period of time.

Not only does that make the Sixers thinner on the wing, but they’ll have to use some of their other forwards to fill in at the center position. With Embiid and Adem Bona out, the Sixers will have to get some small-ball minutes out of Jabari Walker, Dominick Barlow and perhaps even Trendon Watford in the short term. For as hot as he is from downtown, Andre Drummond can’t play all 48.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...lippers-matchup-joel-embiid-out-injury-update

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Shorthanded Sixers aim to bounce back vs. struggling Clippers

The Sixers are still off to a strong start this season at 7-5, but they’ve certainly cooled off a bit since their 4-0 opening. They’re now coming off a rough 114-105 loss to a seriously shorthanded Pistons team on Friday, setting them up for what needs to be a bounce back performance on Monday night.

Up next, the Sixers are against the 4-9 Clippers, sitting all the way down in 11th place in the Western Conference.

Unfortunately for the Sixers, a couple of new names are on Monday’s injury report. Adem Bona (right ankle sprain) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee sprain) are now out, with Oubre set to meet specialists to discuss how to handle his injury. Joel Embiid remains out with right knee soreness.

There is good news, though! Paul George has been upgraded to questionable, and his debut sure would be coming at a good time if he plays, especially now that Oubre’s sidelined.

Jared McCain has also been made available again after a brief stint in the G League.

Kawhi Leonard’s status isn’t official for Monday yet, but he remained out for the Clippers on Sunday with a right ankle sprain. Bradley Beal undergoing season-ending hip surgery has made their weak start to the season even tougher.

The Clippers have bolstered their frontcourt with John Collins (who’s been fairly quiet this season overall and has just moved to the starting lineup over the last few games) and Brook Lopez, and in theory have plenty of talent and depth to support their stars with others like Bogdan Bogdanovic, Chris Paul, former Sixers star role player Nicolas Batum, and Ivica Zubac to anchor their play in the paint at both ends. Yet, it hasn’t amounted to much.

So far, the Clippers rank just 21st in offensive rating and 25th in defensive rating. James Harden having a quality start to the year — averaging 26.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 9.0 assists per game with a 64.5 true shooting percentage and three 35-plus-point performances in his last four outings — hasn’t been enough to lift them to more success.

The size and talent of their frontcourt will likely give the smaller Sixers some problems. It’ll be interesting to see how Andre Drummond steps up in this one, and Justin Edwards and Dominick Barlow (and maybe PG) will be needed to help guard up and chip in on the boards from the wing — especially with Oubre out.

That said, Philly still has some favorable matchups here with their amount of shooting and dynamic guard play against L.A.’s faltering defense — especially with Leonard out and unable to disrupt on the perimeter.

VJ Edgecombe has struggled more over the last two weeks as his efficiency has dropped — maybe it’s partly due to playing a ton of minutes at 37.3 a night, and/or simply having natural learning curves as a young NBA rookie. He still only shot 6-of-15 against the Pistons on Friday, but took a step back in the right direction with 18 points, seven boards, three assists, a steal, and 4-of-8 shooting from three.

box office backcourt pic.twitter.com/6efCbHnK2H

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) November 15, 2025

Even after some recent slips and losses, these younger, faster, more energized Sixers still picked up an exciting win against the Celtics last week. If Maxey stays hot, Quentin Grimes keeps stepping up off the bench, Edgecombe returns to form, and Drummond can handle the boards and compete with the Clippers’ size (he’s been playing pretty well and cleaning up on the glass in increased minutes over the last three games), the Sixers should have enough firepower.

Barlow’s return bodes well, too. He was solid at both ends again in his return against the Pistons, and will be needed to help compete against the Clippers’ bigs in Bona’s absence.

Dominick Barlow in his return from a nine-game absence on Friday @ Detroit:

29 minutes
10 points (4-8 FG, 2-3 3P)
8 rebounds (5 offensive)
3 assists
2 blocks
+11

Full highlights from Barlow's first game since Oct. 25: pic.twitter.com/uAN18lEwuN

— Adam Aaronson's clips (@SixersAdamClips) November 16, 2025

To give the Sixers an extra edge at home, they also have the advantage of two days’ rest, while the Clippers are on the second night of a road back-to-back following a 121-118 loss to the Celtics on Sunday.

Clearly the Clippers still have talent, and maybe Harden will whip up a monster game against his former team to single-handedly make things more interesting. It won’t be an easy night with new injuries to deal with, too. But against a tired team that’s largely struggled to start the new season, and the potential for George’s season debut/revenge game, this contest could still be a chance for the Sixers to get back on track with a win.

Game Details​

When: Monday, November 17, 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...ers-aim-to-bounce-back-vs-struggling-clippers

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Cardiac Sixers complete another late comeback vs. Clippers

This team just loves winning in the most dramatic fashion, huh?

The Sixers came from behind to beat the LA Clippers 110-108 in another game that came down to the wire Monday night

Tyrese Maxey again put in quite the effort to be the game’s leading scorer, going for 39 and six assists shooting 13-of-27 from the field, but he also turned it over twice in the final 14 seconds of the game.

Quentin Grimes went for 19 points on top of phenomenal defense once he was switched onto James Harden, even if he got away with one on the last possession of the game. VJ Edgecombe again had his moments, going for 14 points on 6-of-13 shooting along with six rebounds and six assists. Andre Drummond had 14 points and 18 boards.

Paul George, in his season debut had nine points, shooting 2-of-9 from the floor along with seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 21:06 of playing time. Harden led the Clippers with 28.

Joel Embiid missed his third straight game with a right knee injury. Kelly Oubre Jr. (knee) and Adem Bona (ankle) were both out as well after suffering injuries last week vs. Detroit. On the second night of a back-to-back, the Clippers were without Kawhi Leonard as well as Bradley Beal and Derrick Jones Jr.

Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.

First Quarter​

• George couldn’t have asked for a better first minute of the season. He came around a screen to knock down a three for the game’s first points of the night. On the following possession he caught Kobe Sanders’ hand in the cookie jar, and made two of his subsequent three free throws. It took the rest of the Sixers another three minutes to score though, and the Clippers ripped off a 14-0 run in the meantime to get ahead early. George’s first shift of the night lasted about five and a half minutes.

WELCOME BACK, PG!

Paul George gets right to work with a board and a triple in his first minutes of his season debut pic.twitter.com/I39cwyEcVm

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) November 18, 2025

• The rest of the team finally got on the board with a nice little Edgecombe pull up in the paint, but that didn’t exactly open the floodgates. When the Sixers did try to move the ball they were just a tick late on passes — that, or the read wasn’t as open as they thought it was.
• Offensively, they weren’t able to shake that clunkiness as they shot 37.5% from the field in the quarter. Defensively, they didn’t have much of an answer for Ivica Zubac and even less for Harden. They tried a lot of options early, even throwing a box-and-1 at him. It was Justin Edwards who ended up getting that assignment for an extended stretch. Once some threes fell for Harden, Edwards had a hard time staying in front of him. Harden’s 17 helped the Clippers get out to an eight-point lead.

Second Quarter​

• Back from his two-game G-League assignment, Jared McCain was out there to start the quarter. It looks like the Sixers are using George’s minutes similar to Embiid’s at the start of the season, getting his shifts out of the way to start the quarter. McCain once again struggled to get involved, not even getting a shot up in his five minutes. George was able to get an eight-footer to go as both teams traded baskets.
• The only positive about the offense early was that it was perhaps the most aggressive Edgecombe has looked in some time — that and the offensive rebounding efforts of Edwards and Dominick Barlow. Edgecombe had a couple of good looking makes in the paint and wanted to get it early, but like his teammates, struggled to create quality attempts. He went 3-of-7 in the half for seven points.
• Thanks to some difficult shot-making from Maxey, the Sixers were able to claw back as the Clippers’ offense came back to earth a little bit. The Sixers got their first easy basket of the night when Maxey found Barlow for a push shot, but they erased that momentum by picking up a defensive three-second violation. A couple LA threes got their lead right back up to 10 at the half.

The triple doesn't fall, but Tyrese turns it into a 3-point play anyway! pic.twitter.com/U5Y40LGQZF

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) November 18, 2025

Third Quarter​

• Desperate for offense, the Sixers opened the second half with Grimes in place of Barlow. It still took them over four minutes to get a field goal that wasn’t in transition, but it was a highly contested three by Grimes with a hand in his face and the shot clock winding down.

A beautiful VJ Edgecombe-Quentin Grimes give-and-go pic.twitter.com/ggekSGfttY

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) November 18, 2025

• A big reason to have any kind of optimism about George for this year is he is just too good of a shooter to shoot as poorly as he did last season. It wasn’t very reassuring then when he had missed three free throws by the halfway mark of the third. The Sixers just kept shooting themselves in the foot, which helped the Clippers extend their lead anytime it got within a possession or two.
• It was concerning to see the Sixers struggle to make progress because they tightened up a lot defensively. Switching Grimes onto Harden worked — he only scored one point since the first quarter until Grimes checked out of the game. It felt like even getting paint touches was daunting for the Sixers and the Clippers knew it and punished them for it. After an even quarter, the Sixers still found themselves trailing by 10.

Fourth Quarter​

• A pindown screen freeing Maxey for an open three was just what the Sixers needed to open the quarter, as was the Edgecombe floater and corner three from Drummond on following possessions. After a couple back-and-forth possessions LA called timeout up six hoping to stop any momentum.
• One bummer of a rotation note is that it did appear that McCain’s night was done after playing just those five minutes in the second quarter. How he’s supposed to get in a rhythm playing less than 10 minutes a night is anyone’s guess. It also appeared that George’s night was done when he checked out with just under nine minutes to go.
• Coming out of that timeout, the Sixers had easily their best possession of the night. Grimes was able get to the paint, kick out it out, and have the ball swung to an open Maxey three-pointer. Maxey followed it up with an incredibly tough and-1, and it felt like they were trying their hardest to capture the energy of the building. It wasn’t resulting in a ton of steals, but they got their hands on a lot of Clippers’ passes and shots which was plenty disruptive.
• In a rare moment this season, the burden of coming up with baskets down the stretch was not placed solely on the shoulders on Maxey. Edgecombe knocked down a three to retake the lead and Grimes followed that up with a block from behind on Harden. Grimes seemed to be having the easiest time getting to the rim off the dribble, and he showed it off with a layup, then on a dunk on ensuing possessions.

https://t.co/KsP8hejDjd pic.twitter.com/0ElpNs3FpT

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) November 18, 2025

• After that flurry from Grimes, the Sixers were in good position, up four with Edgecombe going to the free throw line. The rookie missed both. That was a big four-point swing as the Clippers successfully got two at the line next their next trip down the floor. They got those points back though when a challenge went their way. A loose-ball foul originally called on Drummond was overturned to a foul on Zubac, and Drummond sank his pair.
• With the potential to seal the game, Harden got his hand on a Maxey pass, getting the ball back to the Clippers who cut the lead to two with 14 seconds remaining. They were able to steal the inbound from Maxey on a play that was also overturned by review. Harden went for the three and the win, he missed and even got his own rebound, but his second attempt was off as well and the Sixers again, somehow, were able to survive.

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

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers Bell Ringer: Clutch performances deliver win over Clippers

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer Standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 4
Andre Drummond – 2
Dominick Barlow – 1
Adem Bona – 1
VJ Edgecombe – 1
Justin Edwards – 1
Quentin Grimes – 1
Kelly Oubre Jr – 1
Trendon Watford – 1

---

The cardiac Sixers strike again, defeating the Los Angeles Clippers 110- 108 after being down by 13 points in the third quarter. They have now won seven clutch games this season, second in the league behind the Detroit Pistons.

It was Paul George’s season debut, which resulted in nine points on nine shots in a limited 21 minutes. Outside of his shot, he appeared to be in good shape physically and moved well defensively. His early shot attempts were not necessarily forced, but it did take the team’s offense out of rhythm at times.

The Clippers visited Philly on the second night of a back-to-back, but their play in the first half hid any fatigue they may have had effectively.

They were without the services of Derrick Jones Jr, Kawhi Leonard and Bradley Beal. The Sixers were missing Joel Embiid (right knee), Kelly Oubre Jr. (knee), and Adem Bona (ankle).

The Sixers’ second half comeback was fueled by improved defense, which led to more transition opportunities. Playing an older team on the wrong end of a back-to-back, playing fast favored the Sixers the rest of the way. Add in some clutch performances from our Bell Ringer nominees, and you have yourself another Sixers comeback win.

Tyrese Maxey: 39 points, 6 assists, 1 steal, 13-of-27 FG, 4-of-11 3pt

This was a game where you can see just how versatile Maxey’s offensive bag really is. His three was not falling for most of the night, but he was still able to drive and convert effectively. When the defense would play too far up on him, he would take it all the way to the rim with his speed. If the defense respected his drive, he would pull up or fadeaway in the midrange.

Then he turned it on in the fourth quarter. Maxey hit a couple deep threes early in the frame, including a huge one that cut the lead down to three with under eight minutes remaining.

He then hit a ridiculously difficult acrobatic layup, converting the and-one at the free throw line to cut their lead down to three. Two possessions later, he drove to the paint for two to give them the lead.

Can't stop thinking about this finish from Maxey pic.twitter.com/EAsqvICWkZ

— Drew Peltzman (@dapeltz13) November 18, 2025

With just a couple minutes left in the frame, he assisted on a Quentin Grimes triple to stretch their lead to four. Then, following a John Collins converted and-one, Maxey drilled a massive three to push the lead back to four again. It would be the last field goal the Sixers would make, as their defense brought them home the last couple of minutes.

Tyrese Maxey absolutely had a few bad turnovers down the stretch, but the Sixers don't win that game without his Q4 performance!

14 PTS (5-8 FG, 3-5 3PT, 1-1 FT) in the final frame

Here are those buckets! pic.twitter.com/YKpndhTXjK

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) November 18, 2025

Andre Drummond: 14 points, 18 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 foul

Drummond notched his fifth double-double of the season against the Clippers. He continues to be a lifeline for the Sixers on the boards, and remains an effective scorer in the dunker spot. Both off drop offs from driving ball handlers and from offensive rebound chances.

Drummond has historically been a great rebounder, but his play this season gives you brief flashbacks to his time in Detroit, a welcome feeling for a big man in the back half of his career. Albeit adding the corner three to his repertoire is a key differentiator.

ANDRE DRUMMOND TRIPLE ALERT pic.twitter.com/ae7S7q6nbg

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) November 18, 2025

After going 1-of-2 on his attempts from deep tonight, Drummond now has more threes in a single season (6) than he has in any season of his career.

In the fourth quarter, he would force a critical loose ball foul on Ivica Zubac that lead to two free throws, which he drained to give Sixers a four-point lead with a minute remaining.

Quentin Grimes: 19 points, 3 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal, 6-of-10 FG, 3-of-6 3PT

Grimes was responsible for the Sixers’ bench offensive output vs. the Clippers, and was crucial in aiding Maxey during the second half comeback. He would drain a huge three with a few minutes left, after scoring in the paint on the previous two possessions, all helping the Sixers maintain their slim lead down the stretch.

His shooting off the catch and shot creation ability was evident in this one, critical in relieving Maxey in spots while McCain gets back into full swing.

More notably, however, was his defense on James Harden in the second half. His ability to play him tight while not fouling, and repeatedly forcing him to his right hand or into the help defender was pivotal in the Sixers’ comeback.

THE SIXERS HOLD ON! PLAY THE SONG! pic.twitter.com/CAQW1aTYMa

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) November 18, 2025

He was largely responsible for holding Harden, who had a strong first half, to 2-of-17 from the field in the second half.

More nights like this from Grimes could go a long way for the Sixers, but also for himself as he will be a free agent this upcoming offseason.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...clutch-performances-deliver-win-over-clippers

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Paul George’s debut offers (very) cautious optimism

There was hope going into the 2024-25 season for the Sixers. Daryl Morey used the cap space he created to lure nine-time All-Star Paul George away from the West Coast to play with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.

That hope dissipated before opening night.

Embiid missed the first nine games of the season because of injuries and suspension. He played just 19 games overall and was shut down by February.

For George, it was much more of a rollercoaster. After looking sharp in his preseason debut and to start the following game, George hyperextended his knee, forcing him to miss the first five games of the regular season. After playing in just four games, George re-aggravated the injury in his fifth contest. Between the knee and groin and finger injuries, he played in just 41 games, rarely resembling the player the Sixers thought they were getting. He was mercifully shut down for the season on March 4.

And just when George thought all of that was behind him, he suffered another injury to his knee during an offseason workout that required surgery back in July. That delayed his 2025-26 debut.

Two hundred fifty-nine days after his last game, P.G. returned to an NBA floor.

“It felt great to finally play basketball again,” George said. “It was a long journey — a lot of ups and downs, a lot of hiccups, but it felt good to finally get out there. I felt good — just rusty, but I felt good.“

As expected, it was a modest season debut for the six-time All-NBA performer. On a minutes restriction, George scored nine points on just 2-of-9 from the field, but stuffed the stat sheet with seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks in a little over 21 minutes.

Much like with Embiid this season, Nick Nurse got George’s minutes out of the way to begin quarters and the big wing didn’t close the contest. Tyrese Maxey and company took care of business against George’s former team, staging another late comeback to eke out a 110-108 win at Xfinity Mobile Arena Monday.

There was obvious rust for George to work through, but he looked fluid. He said he felt good physically, able to trust his body and movements and play free.

He was aggressive in looking for his shot on offense, making a three on his first attempt less than a minute into the game.

“There were so many emotions inside, there was zero emotions outside,” he said. “Honestly, I was just trying to focus on the game, staying locked in and engaged, but it felt great to make the first shot.”

It’s easy to see how the 35-year-old can make a massive impact for this current roster, even if he’s not quite the player of old and scoring at an All-Star level. He made a legitimate impact on defense and aided a team desperate for help on the glass.

Even if he’s not fully himself, George’s return couldn’t have come at a better time. Embiid remains out while dealing with soreness in his right knee, though Nurse did say the team considers the big man day-to-day.

What’s funny is the bigger injury might be starting wing Kelly Oubre Jr. suffering a sprained LCL. Oubre has been as important as any player on the roster outside of Maxey for the team’s strong start. The 29-year-old was averaging 16.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while frequently being asked to guard the opponent’s best perimeter player. He’s been far and away the team’s most effective wing.

Though Justin Edwards seems to be finding his game a bit, having a player with George’s size, experience and basketball IQ is massive for a guard-heavy team.

And George himself sees what Maxey and his teammates have been building. He’s been eager to be a part of it.

“It was challenging because I want to be out there with the guys,” George said. “I wanted to play, watching days go by, games go by where I couldn’t compete. It’s tough to want to compete, play and be part of something we’re trying to do here, be a part of that.”

The offseason ahead of 2025-26 was mostly full of dread, with nobody knowing for sure when/if Embiid and George would be ready. Well, it’s Nov. 18 — both players have played games and the team is 8-5.

Don’t map out the parade route just yet, but this beats the hell out of the alternative for George and the Sixers.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...-clippers-nick-nurse-joel-embiid-tyrese-maxey

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Starting today, comments and Feed posts on Liberty Ballers will have activity notifications

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So starting today, whenever a user replies to your comment or to your post on the Feed, you’ll see a notification at the top right corner of the page.

And of course, this means that when you engage with other community members, they’ll get an alert too.

Our goal is to create more and better conversations on Liberty Ballers and elsewhere across the SB Nation network. Anytime someone engages with your comments or Feed posts on another SB Nation community, you’ll see it in your notifications.

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Jump into the comment section below or post on The Feed to see notifications in action.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/gene...erty-ballers-will-have-activity-notifications

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Latest comeback comes up short as Sixers doomed by another bad third quarter

As it turns out, some third quarters can be bad enough to completely sink you.

The Sixers fell 121-112 to the Toronto Raptors Wednesday night.

Tyrese Maxey, once again the game’s leading scorer, went for 24 points shooting 8-of-14 from the floor along with two boards and nine assists. Quentin Grimes went for 21 — 15 of those points coming in the fourth quarter.

VJ Edgecombe had 21 points as well, shooting 8-of-20 while also grabbing six rebounds and four assists. Jared McCain finally got on the board for the year, scoring five points on 2-of-7 shooting in 13:55 of play. Brandon Ingram led the Raptors with 22.

Joel Embiid, Paul George, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Adem Bona all missed this game with injuries, as did Collin Murray-Boyles for Toronto.

Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.

First Quarter​

• Aside from a couple turnovers, the Sixers opened the game fairly well offensively as Maxey started hot from three. He crossed over his buddy Immanuel Quickley to get the crowd on its feet, and blocked his friend’s jumper a few possessions later. That was as much resistance as Toronto met early though as they made seven of their first 1o shots of the game.

Tyrese Maxey slams the brakes for an early step-back triple pic.twitter.com/B6hNXPQa3k

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) November 20, 2025

• Based on who was out tonight, the Sixers really lacked for playmaking ability in their starting lineup outside of Maxey. This was evident early — they went nearly three minutes without a field goal. Trendon Watford, who’s struggled a bit the past few games, was able to pick things up again with a bucket from the post and a three from the break.
• Maxey’s excellent quarter came to an end when McCain checked into the game, finally seeing some first quarter minutes. He finally got his first points of the season with a midrange pull-up, throwing both arms in the sky when it went down. Both looks on the following possession were his as well, but Gradey Dick blocked his drive and his three towards the end of the shot clock didn’t fall. The Sixers were still searching for answers defensively though as the Raptors finished the first well over 50% from the field, giving them a five-point lead.

Second Quarter​

• The good continued to outweigh the bad for McCain. He got turned over on a drive, but also knocked down his first three of the season and also was able to steal a rebound from a much taller Raptor. Speaking of rebounding, Jabari Walker seemed to have an extra pep in his step pulling down his three rebounds in the first half. He had five points in his first shift as the backup five, knocking down a three for himself as well.

and Jared McCain's first triple of the season! pic.twitter.com/k51MUggIKy

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) November 20, 2025

• The Sixers’ defense did look better on the perimeter, but they started to get beat up inside a bit. Jakob Poeltl and Andre Drummond couldn’t keep each other off the offensive glass, but the Raptors won points in the paint 30-24 in the half.
• The Raptors also forced more turnovers and had more fast break points in the half, but the Sixers were able to use transition opportunities to swing momentum back to them. Maxey was really trying to get his hands into passing lanes — he had three stocks in the half. Edgecombe looked all out of sorts for much of the half, but he was able to finish a fast break caused by an Edwards steal with a big dunk. A few possessions later he finished a tough floater in the lane that helped put the Sixers up by three at the break.

Third Quarter​

• The Sixers avoided their third quarter struggles the previous two games, but they were on display early as the Raptors ripped off a 10-2 run to start the second half. They just came out sloppy again, turning it over three times and sending the Raptors to the line eight times within the first four minutes of the third.
• It was good to see Nick Nurse go to McCain as he looked to his bench to fix a struggling offense. With how often the offense gets stuck into isolations and how he can go possessions at a time without touching the ball, it makes off-ball movement either ineffective or flat out impossible.
• As it has so often this season, the Sixers offense’s only plan for getting out of a rut was hoping on whatever Maxey could cook up. He shot 3-of-4 in the quarter, but that was hardly enough to keep up with the eight turnovers they committed in the quarter. The Raptors also enjoyed some positive shooting regression after making only two threes in the first half, taking a 15-point lead into the fourth.

Maxey moves pic.twitter.com/0wPmyFEBOJ

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) November 20, 2025

Fourth Quarter​

• Edgecombe had really looked lost offensively for much of the night, but he seemed to be putting things together in the third. He continued to attack the basket to start the fourth, and had success just about every time either finishing with a layup or getting to the line. He didn’t quite get the poster he’s been hunting, but Sandro Mamukelashvili getting a hand up here was maybe his first contested dunk of his young career.

VJ EDGECOMBE COMIN THROUGH pic.twitter.com/2xlIdQEAkT

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) November 20, 2025

• That Edgecombe dunk was in the midst of an 11-0 run to bring the Sixers back in the game. It was once again helped by their limited transition opportunities, Drummond came up with steals on consecutive possessions. They also needed someone else to find their shooting stroke and Grimes was able to do just that.
• The Raptors were able to briefly halt that run with a couple open baskets thanks to defensive breakdowns, and those mistakes are what slowly helped them put the game away. Whether it was an offensive rebound or a missed double team, they just always were able to get a basket anytime the Sixers got it within a one or two possession game. This time, not being able to put a full game together cost them.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...s-final-score-recap-tyrese-maxey-vj-edgecombe

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers hope to finish back-to-back strong vs. Giannis-less Bucks

The Sixers put together another late, hard-fought effort on Wednesday, but ultimately still lost to the Raptors, 121-112, after clawing their way back in the fourth. After a host of turnovers and losing the third quarter 44-26, their scrappy effort in the final period just wasn’t enough to make up for it.

Now, to complete this week’s back-to-back, the Sixers are on the road against the 8-7 Bucks.

We’ll have to wait until closer to tip-off for an official Sixers injury report, but on Wednesday, Joel Embiid (right knee), Kelly Oubre Jr. (knee), Paul George (knee) and Adem Bona (ankle) were all out. It wouldn’t be surprising to see George back against the Bucks, though, as he never would’ve been expected to appear in both ends of a back-to-back right after returning from injury.

This Bucks matchup will be entirely different than how it was looking a few days ago. On Tuesday, we found out that Giannis Antetokounmpo will be missing 1-2 weeks with a low grade left groin strain. Giannis has been having an incredible season so far. Arguably being even more pivotal to the Bucks’ competitiveness than he has been before — seeing as they’ve still only managed the 11th seed in the Eastern Conference so far.

Giannis has averaged 31.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.2 blocks per game with the best efficiency (a 66.2 true shooting percentage) of his career.

In his absence, the Bucks are going to need to lean far more heavily on the likes of Kyle Kuzma, their new center Myles Turner, and Ryan Rollins. Rollins in particular has stepped up so far this season for the offense, becoming the Bucks’ second-leading scorer and taking on far higher usage at 17.4 points per game on strong shooting splits of 51.3/46.3/77.4.

The other names on the Bucks’ injury report who won’t be available either are Kevin Porter Jr. (right knee meniscus surgery) and Taurean Prince (neck surgery).

It goes without saying that no Giannis makes this contest far more winnable for these Sixers. So far this year, the Bucks have had a +8.0 net rating with Giannis on the floor and an ugly -13.0 net rating without him. That just about sums it up.

With less rim protection to worry about now that Giannis won’t be helping around the paint alongside Turner, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes should be spurred on to aggressively attack the rim even more than normal. George ideally suiting up again will help too, giving the Sixers a boost at a time when they desperately need more help on the wing without Oubre.

The Sixers will need to clean up their passing and care of the ball as well, following 21 turnovers on Wednesday against Toronto.

and Jared McCain's first triple of the season! pic.twitter.com/k51MUggIKy

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) November 20, 2025

It’ll also be interesting to keep an eye on Jared McCain. He was able to get his first points of the season in just under 14 minutes against the Raptors.

Playing on tired legs — especially on the road — is never easy, but the Sixers should have a decent chance to grab a win and rediscover some momentum against a faltering Bucks team without its anchor at both ends of the floor.

Game Details​

When: Thursday, November 20, 8:00 p.m. ET
Where: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...ish-back-to-back-strong-vs-giannis-less-bucks