News 76ers Team Notes

[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]

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[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

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Maxey drops career-high 54, Cardiac Sixers do it again with OT win over Bucks

It’s possible these jerseys literally turned Tyrese Maxey into 2001 Allen Iverson.

The Sixers outlasted the Milwaukee Bucks to beat them 123-114 in overtime Thursday night.

Maxey looked every bit the franchise icon, dropping a career-high 54 points. He did it so on 18-of-30 shooting along with nine assists.

Paul George was the only other Sixer who remotely had it going on, posting 21 points and five rebounds, shooting 7-of-12 from the field in a little under 25 minutes of play.

Quentin Grimes and VJ Edgecombe were the only Sixers to reach double digits, with 14 and 12 points, respectively. Ryan Rollins led the Bucks with 32.

Joel Embiid missed his sixth straight game with a right knee injury while the Bucks are trudging on without Giannis Antetekoumnpo, who’s out at least a week with a groin injury.

Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.

First Quarter​

• What a way to break in the black uniforms for PG. He scored the team’s first 11 points— going right by Myles Turner for a basket at the hoop before knocking down his first three triples of the game. He continued to be responsible for the scoring, finding Edgecombe in transition for a lob.

Paul George sends VJ Edgecombe soaring early in this one

(Kudos to Andre Drummond on the block to start the possession.) pic.twitter.com/H2mAZF4C3A

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) November 21, 2025

• The offense did slow down after his six-minute shift, but they found some energy in the form of Edwards’ perimeter defense. He was a pest for Ryan Rollins early, nabbing two early steals while picking up a couple more deflections. He wasn’t quite tall enough for Brandon Ingram the night before, but he’s been fairly active on that end the past few games.
• As a whole, the Sixers did a good job attacking the Bucks’ ball handlers to cause six turnovers in the quarter and score 10 fast break points. Jared McCain finally got a bounce to go his way, getting a big friendly hop to give them a 13-point just before the quarter expired.

Second Quarter​

• That defensive cohesion seemed to slip away when they missed their first four shots of the second and the Bucks ripped off a 10-0 run. McCain got picked on a bit but he ended the run with a layup and padded on as he and Grimes each knocked down a three.
• For as well as the Sixers started on the perimeter, the Bucks were able to start shooting pretty well themselves from beyond the arc once they were able to get better looks. Milwaukee made six of their first 10 threes to start the quarter, having a lot of open looks thanks to drives collapsing them.
• Without George and McCain on the floor the Sixers offense became pretty dependent on Maxey, who scored 11 of their last 13 points before the half. He was extraordinary in the half, scoring 23 points on 61.5% field goal percentage. The Bucks continued to take care of the ball and thus kept easily attacking. They took a two-point lead into the half to finish off a big quarter.

Make that 20 (and counting) in the first half for Tyrese Maxey! pic.twitter.com/6O3F9v6c7Z

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) November 21, 2025

Third Quarter​

• The most annoying whistle in basketball is when the ref waits to see if the shot goes in before calling it. That’s not to say that the calls for Andre Drummond’s fourth and fifth fouls were incorrect — they were the right calls — but it’s irritating nonetheless.
• This fast break started by George was the first of a few solid defensive plays the Sixers strung together to bring them back. Dominick Barlow backed up Drummond at the five and picked up a couple blocks in quick succession. Trendon Watford couldn’t buy a bucket but grabbed a steal to help a Maxey fast-break.

Paul George with the strip, Tyrese Maxey with the dime, VJ Edgecombe with the jam pic.twitter.com/DevUTj2Q5N

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) November 21, 2025

• It is totally random, but it is wild how this is the only quarter the Sixers can’t take care of the ball. They gave it away four times after only turning it over three times in the first half. Once again, they could only find one source of scoring — Maxey scored or assisted every field goal of the quarter. The Sixers found themselves trailing by four after George couldn’t get a shot off at the buzzer.

Fourth Quarter​

• Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but so many of the Sixers’ problems are erased when their best player is just unconscious offensively. Maxey started off doing most of his damage inside, but his shot started falling as the game went on, burying a couple threes and a deep midrange jumper. George continued to pull his weight when he was out there, using his gravity to get Barlow a layup then driving for a basket of his own.

TYRESE MAXEY. ABSOLUTELY UNREAL.

40 POINTS WITH OVER 9 MINS LEFT. pic.twitter.com/8bDrIIgyus

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) November 21, 2025

• A big reason so many of the other Sixers had poor shooting lines was that they were just missing their bunnies. After Edgcombe missed his second layup of the night, the offensive rebound found Grimes, who was able to shake his defender for an open layup himself. They finally seemed to find a groove again as Maxey found Edgecombe to redeem himself with an alley-oop on the next possession. They ran another hurdle around this time though as George hit his minutes limit for the night, subbing out with just under five minutes to go.
• The Sixers shooting themselves in the foot out of their use-it-or-lose-it timeout, turning the ball over immediately, allowing the Bucks to hit their second consecutive three to tie up the game. Edwards was replacing George down the stretch and he was really struggling from the floor. He missed a couple threes, one rimming in and out, failing to extend a one-point lead Maxey had given them and falling to 1-of-8 from the floor.
• After drawing an offensive foul, the Sixers still found themselves up one with about 50 seconds to go. Maxey tried to back down Rollins but got his pocket picked. Kyle Kuzma nearly got bottled up but was able to dish it out to Myles Turner for a three that put the Bucks back ahead by two. The Sixers in-bounded to Barlow who screened for Maxey. Maxey snaked his way into the paint and was able to draw a foul on a very contested runner, tying the game up with seven seconds to go. The Sixers didn’t use George for offense but did for the last defensive possession, where they forced a tough stepback three by Rollins that didn’t come close.

Overtime​

• Edwards was able to find a little bit of redemption himself, knocking down his first three of the night when a Grimes drive-and-kick left him fairly open. Maxey crossed the 50-point mark with a pretty left-handed floater and gave his old coach a smile in celebration.

50 BURGER FOR MAXEY pic.twitter.com/bjPOAaJEqW

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) November 21, 2025

• It helped that Turner didn’t hit his threes, but Drummond did a better job having to chase him around in OT. That said, he did still foul out just after a miscommunication caused a turnover with Maxey. For as great as he was, Maxey turned it over for his fifth time shortly after trying to dribble through a double team.
• Maxey’s teammates finally started to hit shots though, as Grimes buried a three with a hand in his face. He would then get to the line, split the pair, but get to the line on the very same possession thanks to Barlow grabbing the offensive rebound. Those free throws were enough of a lead late to get them the win, and Maxey was still able to draw a couple fouls to get to the line to set a new career-high.

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

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers Bell Ringer: Tyrese Maxey dominates with career-high 54 points in OT win vs. Bucks

(Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images).

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer Standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 5
Andre Drummond – 2
VJ Edgecombe – 2
Dominick Barlow – 1
Adem Bona – 1
Justin Edwards – 1
Quentin Grimes – 1
Kelly Oubre Jr – 1
Trendon Watford – 1

---

The Philadelphia 76ers battled for a 123-114 win over the Milwaukee Bucks in overtime on Thursday night thanks to a career-high 54 points from Tyrese Maxey.

The 21 from Paul George didn’t hurt either.

This was the second leg of a back-to-back — yes, another one — for the Sixers, marking their fourth of the season already. Only 12 more to go! Philly remained shorthanded with Joel Embiid missing his sixth straight contest due to soreness in his right knee (not the one that has been operated on). Kelly Oubre Jr. (LCL sprain) and Adem Bona (ankle sprain) were also unavailable.

The Bucks were without leader Giannis Antetokounmpo for Thursday’s contest.

This was yet another Sixers’ game that went down to the wire in the fourth and even into overtime for extra excitement. If you’re looking for a full game recap, you can find that here.

But here, let’s get to the Bell Ringer.

Paul George: 21 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals

Paul George started this one red hot — about as hot as you can get. He hit his first four shots of the evening for the Sixers’ first 11 points of the game all in the first 2:14 of play. For good measure, he assisted the first bucket he didn’t score himself, too.

Loved this start from Paul George.

PG went 4/4 FG, 3/3 3PT to begin the game to score the Sixers' first 11 points. Then, he assisted on the first bucket he didn't score with a dime to a soaring VJ Edgecombe.

Still playing short stints/low minutes, but very promising. pic.twitter.com/8WPu9R1fBI

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) November 21, 2025

George is still playing short stints as he works his way back to full-game readiness. Remember, this is only his second game back after an eight-month hiatus. Even so, it doesn’t seem to be affecting his ability to get into the groove of a game quick, and he’s looked extremely comfortable and healthy doing it.

Make that a 20-piece for Paul George! pic.twitter.com/YmOxXmH8VR

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) November 21, 2025

There’s still a bit to go for PG to look like the nine-time NBA All-Star that he is, but these first few performances back have been extremely promising. The jumpers falling, getting downhill, grabbing boards, playing great defense while looking agile and healthy hopefully all spells the start of great things ahead for George.

PG finished tonight with 21 points, the second-highest scorer for the Sixers behind Maxey’s dominance, on 7-for-12 field goal shooting (58.3%) and was 4-for-7 from long range (57.1%). He also had five rebounds, three assists and two steals in 24:42 played.

Tyrese Maxey: 54 points (career-high), 5 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks

Holy moly, Tyrese Maxey.

The Bucks did not seem to have an answer for Maxey. The guard was extremely aggressive getting downhill early and often, getting through the Milwaukee defense with ease to the cup where he either finished smoothly at the rim, drew fouls, or did both. When he wasn’t doing that, Maxey was sinking silky smooth threes (even from just about the logo) or showing off some great playmaking skills. Maxey was pulling every single trick out of his bag tonight and my goodness, was it dominant.

He also continued to have really solid hands on defense this season, forcing turnovers out of opponents and helping the Sixers get out and running in transition for quick buckets. Maxey had three steals and three blocks in this one.

Even turnovers of his own, something that can happen with Maxey at times, weren’t too much of a factor tonight. He had five turnovers throughout this one in over 46 minutes played. With how involved he was in basically being the Sixers’ entire offense at times, it’s extremely efficient. He was able to be careful with the ball without being reserved or hesitant in the slightest. He had one rough turnover late in regulation, but it looked like he was trying to make something out of a completely broken play from the beginning — plus he scored 54 points — so we’ll give him a break there.

Certainly didn’t look like a guy who traveled overnight after playing more than 38 minutes just 24 hours ago. Not much more you can ask of your point guard. He finished with a career-high 54 points and in an overtime game where the Sixers’ needed every single one, shooting 18-for-30 (60%) from the floor, 6-for-15 (40%) from long range and 12-for-14 (85.7%) from the charity stripe. He also had five boards, nine assists, three steals and three blocks. It was an incredible night for Maxey.

Don’t take my word for it, though, just watch what he was able to do Thursday night below.

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

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...phia-milwaukee-bucks-tyrese-maxey-paul-george

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

If nothing else, let’s appreciate this Tyrese Maxey season

In the wake of Tyrese Maxey’s career-high 54 points in Philadelphia’s overtime win over the Milwaukee Bucks, it’s time to stop and reassess the season we’re watching unfold from the 25-year-old guard.

Now at 33.4 points per game, he’s second in the league in scoring behind Luka Doncic (34.6 ppg). He’s far and away leading the league in minutes played at 40.7 minutes per game, a figure that looks like if you’re playing a hoops video game with fatigue turned off. It’s possible to both acknowledge that Nick Nurse absolutely has to stop pushing his star point guard so hard, and marvel that Maxey is doing it. Despite the extreme workload, Tyrese’s efficiency hasn’t suffered one bit. His 42.1 percent mark from three-point range is well above his career average at a career-high volume (9.7 attempts per game), and his assist-to-turnover ratio is a solid 2.81 mark.

As players have shuffled in and out of the lineup, Maxey has been a constant, with he and VJ Edgecombe the only Sixers to start all 15 games thus far (joined by Quentin Grimes and Jabari Walker in appearing in every contest). With nearly every game for the Cardiac Sixers coming down to the final minute, more often than not, it has been Tyrese who the team turns to with everything on the line.

Although the Sixers have an encouraging 9-6 record to start the season, it would be understandable for fans to be a bit detached when the championship goal still feels extremely far away. Paul George only just returned to game action, logging two appearances on the season. Joel Embiid has a new, vague knee ailment with unclear timelines on when he’ll be taking the court. Kelly Oubre Jr had a tremendous start to the year, only to be felled down by a sprained LCL. Jared McCain has understandably not picked up right where he left off following a lengthy absence due to a meniscus surgery and torn ligament in his thumb. There have been any number of flies in the ointment through just one month of the season, even though the Sixers have won more games than they’ve lost.

And yet, let’s not let any of those potentially negative feelings surrounding the team distract or detract from a historically great season by Maxey. We’re about 18 percent of the way through the season and you can make reasonable cases for him to appear on MVP ballots and be First-Team All-NBA. Franchise legend Allen Iverson was the last Sixers guard to travel in these sorts of stratospheric NBA circles. At his current pace, Maxey is going to be on the top-10 of the Sixers’ all-time points list within the next two years. I hate to get too far ahead of things, but if Tyrese stays healthy and with the franchise, it’s entirely realistic for him to top Hal Greer for the top spot in his early-to-mid 30’s. Obviously, a lot would have to stay going well between now and then, but the point is, it’s not simply fan wishcasting to consider that we’re watching someone who may go down as one of the best Sixers of all time.

So even if you think this Philadelphia team’s ceiling is losing in the first round of the playoffs, or if you’re frustrated at the idea of what the roster could be if the team didn’t have two of what were considered to be the worst contracts in the league, remember to enjoy what Tyrese Maxey is doing at the moment. Plenty of franchises dream about having someone playing as well as Maxey right now, so don’t take a single one of these performances for granted.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...else-lets-appreciate-this-tyrese-maxey-season

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Why Tyrese Maxey’s hot start is a great lesson

It was Game 5 at Madison Square Garden. The Sixers were beaten and battered, trailing the series 3-1 to New York. Joel Embiid was essentially playing on one leg and battling Bell’s Palsy. With the Knicks holding a six-point lead with 28.9 seconds left, it felt like it was over — the series, the season, Embiid’s gutsy effort to come back from yet another meniscus surgery.

Not on Tyrese Maxey’s watch.

The electric guard pump faked a wing three, was bumped into by Mitchell Robinson, and sank the shot. After he made the free throw, Josh Hart split a pair on the other end. With 15.1 seconds left and his team trailing by three, Maxey flew up the court, danced around an Embiid screen, pulled up between the N and the E in the middle of New York’s court, and buried the logo trey over Robinson.

Tracy Morgan flipped him off. Jon Stewart was in disbelief. Ben Stiller looked like he’d arrived on the Severed Floor.

In an overtime win, in the most hostile of environments, Maxey dropped 46 points and nine assists to momentarily keep the Sixers’ season alive. It was a performance not unlike his outing in Milwaukee Thursday, where he put an S on his chest and dropped a career-high 54 points and nine assists in an overtime win over the Bucks on the second half of a back-to-back.

Shame on those who allowed a nightmare 2024-25 campaign to dampen their outlook on a 25-year-old who is on a First Team All-NBA track through 15 games in 2025-26.

Let’s revisit last season for a second. Everything about it was awful. Embiid played 19 games. Paul George, who was signed in a major free-agency splash, played 41 games. Several of the other veterans the team signed were hurt, ineffective or both. It was comically depressing.

To look at Maxey’s numbers, it’s easy to conclude he had a down year. His raw numbers were roughly the same as the prior season, but his efficiency took a major hit. With the team ravaged by injuries — including multiple injuries to Maxey himself — he wasn’t able to consistently find his footing … except for one stretch of the season.

During one 12-game span where Maxey was healthy and had adjusted to life atop the opponent’s scouting report, he was sensational. He averaged 33.7 points on 65.3% true shooting, numbers that align pretty well with the 33.4 points he’s averaging on 61.8% true shooting in 15 games this season.

In actuality, the aberration was the poor play.

That didn’t stop folks from wondering what the organization could get for Maxey in a trade. With the team having albatross contracts in Embiid and George, and an influx of young talent with Jared McCain returning as a sophomore and VJ Edgecombe being selected third overall, some wondered what the team could get for a player seemingly in between the team’s timelines. The Memphis Grizzlies acquiring four first-rounders from the Orlando Magic in a summer blockbuster for Desmond Bane piqued more interest from this segment of people.

Seems kind of insane now, right? People thought about trading this guy?!

The easiest argument against that went beyond stats — counting, analytical or otherwise. Maxey has represented hope from the moment he arrived. To dropping 39 during a peak COVID game to basically winning the team an elimination playoff game, his rookie season was sensational. He handled everything surrounding the Ben Simmons and James Harden situations with aplomb. And remember when Doc Rivers bizarrely lied about Maxey asking to come off the bench? Yeah, super weird, but Maxey never threw his coach under the bus.

And he’s yet again bearing the greatest of responsibilities as Embiid again battles injury issues. Yes, Maxey should mean a lot to Sixers fans, but he means hell of a lot more to his teammates. Watch the way he leads and they follow. This season, more than ever, he’s using his voice, getting on his teammates and setting a standard.

Think about it: who the hell would’ve predicted the Sixers would go 9-6 in their first 15 games with Embiid and George barely seeing the floor? Plenty of others deserve credit, but no one deserves more than Maxey.

This feels like a great lesson for us all to be less reactionary. In our social media world, it’s an easy trap to fall into, but all players have rough moments, games and even seasons. Hell, Maxey is sure to hit a little adversity playing over 40 minutes a night and carrying a team on his back.

The context matters, though. So does the character of the player. Some of you might’ve forgotten who Maxey is and what he’s all about. Whatever it is is ineffable. It’s clear though that Maxey has it in spades.

In Maxey’s second season, as a 21-year-old, he poured in 38 points in his first playoff start against Nick Nurse’s Toronto Raptors. That was a point where this writer decided he wasn’t going to put a ceiling on Maxey.

Perhaps you should all follow suit.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...ints-bucks-joel-embiid-paul-george-nick-nurse

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Edgecombe questionable; Embiid, Bona remain out for Sunday vs. Heat

(Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Philadelphia 76ers injury report for Sunday’s afternoon contest against the Miami Heat is out.

There is a handful of names on it — some expected, some not so expected. Let’s go through it.

Sixers' injury report for Sunday afternoon vs. Heat

Joel Embiid (right knee injury management), Adem Bona (ankle sprain) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (LCL sprain) all OUT.

VJ Edgecombe is QUESTIONABLE with left calf tightness. pic.twitter.com/radKE7lgpJ

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) November 22, 2025

The biggest surprise of the injury report is the appearance of rookie VJ Edgecombe, who is questionable for Sunday afternoon with left calf tightness. Edgecombe has played in all 15 of the Sixers’ contests so far this season and is racking up some serious minutes. The 2025 No. 3 overall pick is averaging 37.4 minutes per night, second highest in the NBA trailing only teammate Tyrese Maxey, who is averaging 40.7 minutes.

Under the “fully expected” injury designation category is Kelly Oubre Jr., who has already been ruled out for a few weeks due to an LCL sprain in his left knee.

Still unavailable for the Sixers come Sunday are Joel Embiid and Adem Bona. Bona, who sprained his ankle last week, was able to do some on-court work but the team said at practice on Saturday that he will be out at least another two games and he’ll be re-evaluated.

Embiid, still considered day-to-day by the team, will miss his seventh game in a row on Sunday, having been sidelined for the past six contests due to soreness in his right knee (not the knee he had surgery on). The Sixers said at practice Saturday that the doctors believe he needs more time, but that he’s progressing. He has not played since Nov. 8.

The Miami Heat are feeling the effects of injuries as well. Tyler Herro (ankle surgery), Nikola Jovic (hip impingement) and Andrew Wiggins (hip flexor strain) are all out for Sunday. Norman Powell is probable with hip irritation. Terry Rozier is… well… not with the team.

The Sixers and the Heat tip off on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...vj-edgecombe-joel-embiid-adem-bona-nick-nurse

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers-Heat: First Half Thread

Game Details​

When: Sunday, November 23, 1 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...s-miami-heat-discussion-thread-first-half-nba

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers Bell Ringer: Sixers can’t recover from sleepy start

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer Standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 6
Andre Drummond – 2
VJ Edgecombe – 2
Dominick Barlow – 1
Adem Bona – 1
Justin Edwards – 1
Quentin Grimes – 1
Kelly Oubre Jr – 1
Trendon Watford – 1

---

The Sixers followed up arguably their most thrilling game of the season with a dud.

They got off to a slow start and never fully recovered in a 127-117 loss to the Heat Sunday at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Fresh off dropping a career-high 54 points, Tyrese Maxey was held below 30 points and seemed to be favoring his right shoulder for much of the contest. Maxey was unavailable postgame, so we’ll update you when more information is available.

The Sixers were without rookie VJ Edgecombe, who missed his first NBA game with a left calf strain. Joel Embiid, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Adem Bona remained out. Miami wasn’t much healthier, missing Tyler Herro, Andrew Wiggins and Nikola Jovic.

The Sixers fell to 9-7. They’ll host the Orlando Magic Tuesday night.

Let’s get to Bell Ringer.

Tyrese Maxey: 27 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals

It was a weird day for Maxey. He had several early attempts rim out on him from deep. He also was seen trying to work out something in his right shooting shoulder.

While Maxey struggled early, he got going a bit with the craziest of shots.

https://t.co/IJnbRENyn7 pic.twitter.com/qQSbU37M6Q

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) November 23, 2025

Better lucky than good.

Maxey would hit another three off a Justin Edwards’ steal in transition. Jared McCain tied the game with a three on the next possession.

But it just felt like Miami had answers all day. Every time the Sixers would get close, the Heat would rip off a big run.

Though he got 10 shots up in the second half, he didn’t seem nearly as assertive as he’s been this season. It didn’t look like the Heat were doing anything overly complicated — Maxey simply couldn’t get going. Was the shoulder affecting him or was it simply an off game? Let’s hope for the latter.

Andre Drummond: 14 points, 24 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 assist

One of the biggest storylines of the young season has been the play of the veteran Drummond. He’s been the version of himself the team thought they were getting last season — and then some.

In a game the Sixers lost by 10, Drummond was only a -2. Kel’el Ware’s size was a real issue whenever Drummond hit the bench. With Embiid and Bona both out, Drummond is playing about as well as the team could hope for. He’s giving them starter-caliber minutes.

It’s also getting to a point where teams might have to start respecting his three ball. He made a pretty big three to close the third quarter, bringing the Sixers within six heading into the final frame. The crowd seems to be gasping a lot less when he hoists them up.

He had 19 rebounds through three quarters and finished with 24. So, yeah, he can still do that.

Trendon Watford: 19 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 1 block

Watford has struggled as of late, so it was good to see him bounce back. This was easily his best game since his first career triple-double against the Raptors a couple weeks ago.

Like with Drummond, the Sixers were simply better when Watford was on the floor. He was a big part of the team’s non-disastrous third quarter. He was able to get downhill and finish through contact on multiple drives.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...t-tyrese-maxey-andre-drummond-trendon-watford

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Where is the national outrage about the Washington Wizards’ rebuild?

The Washington Wizards currently boast the NBA’s worst record at 1-15 after the Toronto Raptors blew them out by 30 points on Friday and they lost a close game to the Chicago Bulls on Saturday. Last Sunday, they got shellacked by the then-1-11 Brooklyn Nets. This slow start hasn’t been an outlier for them, either.

Last season, the Wizards finished with the NBA’s second-worst record at 18-64, ahead of only the Utah Jazz (17-65). The previous year, they once again had the league’s second-worst record at 15-67, ahead of only the Detroit Pistons (14-68). And as Albert Lee of Bullets Forever noted, they’re now threatening their franchise-record losing streak of 16 games—a mark which they’ve achieved three times in the past two seasons.

Why are you reading about the comically bad Wizards on a Sixers blog, you might wonder? Because, dear reader, I’m wondering when it’s time for them to bring in the Colangelos.

During the three years of the Process, the Sixers went 19-63 the first year, 18-64 the second year and 10-72 the third year. In the midst of stumbling out to a 1-30 start in the 2015-16 campaign, the Sixers hired Jerry Colangelo as their chairman of basketball operations. Five months later, Sam Hinkie resigned as general manager, and Jerry tapped his son, Bryan, as Hinkie’s replacement after an exhaustive* search. (They hired him within days of Hinkie’s departure.)

According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, NBA owners had been “lobbying the league’s front office to step in with regard to the direction” of the Sixers since the summer of 2014, which led to the eventual Colangelo Coup. He added that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver “was instrumental in forming the partnership between Colangelo and 76ers owner Joshua Harris.”

“Owners routinely complained about the economic drag the 76ers were inflicting on the league as the revenues of one of the largest-market teams—a franchise expected to contribute more robustly to league revenue-sharing—sagged,” Windhorst reported. “For many teams, games featuring the starless and woeful 76ers as the visiting team have been the lowest-attended of the season, sources said.”

Meanwhile, basketbloggers were referring to the Sixers as “a godless abomination” and a “complete sham.” Howard Eskin was screaming to anyone who’d listen about “Scam Hinkie” and how the Process was the NBA’s version of a Ponzi scheme. The league office clearly wasn’t a fan of that type of bad PR, and thus, the Colangelo Era was born. At least it didn’t end in complete disgrac… oh.

Which brings us back to the Wizards. They’ve put together a worse record over the past two seasons than the Sixers did over the first two years of the Process. They might not start 1-30 this year, but they’ve also embarked upon a systematic teardown in which they’re entrusting most of their minutes to young players who are prone to making boneheaded mistakes. That comes with the natural benefit of high draft picks, which the Wizards used on Alex Sarr (No. 2 in 2024) and Tre Johnson (No. 6 in 2025).

Surely there’s similar outrage about the Wizards’ rebuild, right? If the Process Sixers were an affront to the game of basketball itself, what does that make the Wizards?

Deadspin, which was one of the premier critics of the Process, has admittedly been reduced to a soulless husk of its former self. Most of the previous staff is now at Defector, where they are far too busy writing blogs of actual substance to worry about the Washington Wizards. However, that type of acerbic commentary about the Wizards is nowhere to be found elsewhere on the internet, either.

The blowout loss to the Nets did seem to set off some alarm bells for the Wizards and their beat writers alike. According to Josh Robbins of The Athletic, the Wizards held a players-only meeting after head coach Brian Keefe ripped their effort in his postgame press conference. Varun Shankar of the Washington Post wrote an article titled, “The Wizards’ tank job is working so well, it’s concerning.” However, neither Shankar nor Robbins called for them to deviate from their current path. In fact, Robbins doubled down on what he wrote heading into the season: The Wizards should not give into public pressure and should “stay the course, however unpleasant it may feel to fans in the short term.”

David Aldridge of The Athletic echoed that heading into the season.

“There’s a lot riding on the Wizards’ being really, really bad, one more time, and hoping, yet again, that doing the same thing will, this time, yield a different result,” Aldridge wrote. “Yes, that’s the definition of insanity. How else, though, could Washington’s time in NBA purgatory end but with a wild act of (finally) good fortune, atop a legitimate foundation, on and off the floor, that’s slowly taking shape?”

So, to be clear: It’s a war crime against basketball when the Sixers rebuild for three years, but it’s OK when the Wizards do it? In fact, since the Wizards owe their 2026 first-round pick to the New York Knicks if it falls outside the top eight, media members are actively encouraging them to lose?

Ironically, the Wizards do appear to be on the right path, just as the Sixers were in 2015-16 if you looked past their dismal record. Sarr and Kyshawn George are both taking big steps forward in their second season. Johnson looks like A Dude, too. They still might not have a franchise-centerpiece type of player, but that’s what they’re hoping the 2026 draft can solve.

It’s just curious to see how differently these Wizards are being received compared to the Process Sixers.

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...s-tank-sam-hinkie-bryan-colangelo-adam-silver

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Joel Embiid upgraded to questionable ahead of Magic matchup

Is that an injury report with good news?

The Sixers released theirs ahead of their NBA cup matchup at home against the Orlando Magic, and on it Joel Embiid has been upgraded to questionable. Embiid has missed the last seven games with a right knee injury. He was a late scratch back on Nov. 11 with what was called knee soreness, before it was eventually upgraded to a knee injury.

The Sixers have an injury report for tomorrow’s game vs. ORL:

Joel Embiid — right knee — QUESTIONABLE

Tyrese Maxey — right shoulder — PROBABLE

Paul George — right ankle — PROBABLE

VJ Edgecombe — left calf — OUT

Kelly Oubre Jr. — left knee — OUT

Adem Bona — right ankle — OUT

— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) November 24, 2025

That isn’t necessarily a guarantee the big fella will be in the lineup against Orlando. Amongst one of the seven he missed he was listed as doubtful before being eventually ruled out, but he has been trending in the right direction, fully participating in their last couple of practices.

If he does play, how much he’ll be able to pick up from where he left off will be the question. He was pushing that minutes restriction, playing a little over 25 minutes in each of the last three games he appeared in. In those games he averaged 23 points on 46% shooting.

There were a couple unpleasant surprises on the latest injury report, but neither seem to be serious. Tyrese Maxey was bothered by his right shoulder all day after blocking a shot in the first quarter against the Miami Heat. He’s listed with a shoulder sprain, but is probable.

Paul George is listed with a right ankle sprain, but he is listed as probable as well. After the loss to the Heat, Nick Nurse said that George’s own minutes restriction is what stopped him from appearing in the fourth quarter, not any sort of issue with the ankle.

VJ Edgecombe will miss his second straight game with calf tightness. Again, it’s good to see the Sixers remain cautious with him seeing what playing on calf injuries can do. Adem Bona and Kelly Oubre Jr. also remain out as they recover from ankle and knee sprains, respectively.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...graded-to-questionable-ahead-of-magic-matchup

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Blue Coats Check-In: Tracking Broome, McCain, Bates, and Chandler

Much like the NBA season, the G League schedule is in full swing. And while the Sixers have had mixed results so far, the Sixers of tomorrow are taking shape just down I-95 in Wilmington with the Delaware Blue Coats. The Coats have seen a steady flow of NBA assignments and, as always, feature several prospects on the roster producing at a high level.

In this edition of the Blue Coats Check-In, we’ll break down the Sixers’ recent assignees and highlight which Blue Coat has the potential to become a possible contributor in Philly.

Let’s start with some of the big names:

Jared McCain’s G League Stint leading to NBA production​

McCain hasn’t had an easy start to his pro career. After dealing with a meniscus tear last year, he then suffered a UCL injury in training camp. When he finally made his season debut a few weeks ago, he was wearing a large knee brace similar to what we saw Joel Embiid use last season. Between the rust and limited mobility, he struggled early, which resulted in the Sixers sending him to Delaware for a short assignment.

He played two games with the Blue Coats. In the first, he scored 10 points on 3-for-10 shooting. The second was a noticeable step forward, with 15 points on 6-for-13 shooting and six assists in 20 minutes against the Greensboro Swarm. One thing that stood out was the switch from the bulky brace to an Incrediwear knee sleeve.

It didn’t take long for the Sixers to bring him back, and since then he’s started to look more like the player we saw last season. Most recently, he scored 15 points in 25 minutes against the Miami Heat.

McCain’s G League trip wasn’t about proving anything. It was simply a chance to get his rhythm back. The G League can be valuable in different ways, and for McCain, just getting real game reps and seeing a few shots fall seems to have helped. It’s unlikely he’ll be back in a Blue Coats uniform this season, but the stint clearly gave him a boost he needed.

Johni Broome gaining steam​

The Sixers came away with what you could call 2.5 rookies from the 2025 NBA Draft class: VJ Edgecombe, Johni Broome, and two-way guard Hunter Sallis. Most of the attention has rightfully gone to Edgecombe, but how has the other true rookie looked so far? At the NBA level, we haven’t seen much of Broome yet, even with injuries to Embiid and Adem Bona, he has yet to see a non-garbage time minute.

Broome has played three games with the Delaware Blue Coats, and he’s been doing a lot of what we saw from him at Auburn: putting up big stat lines. In those three games, he’s averaging 22.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, and two blocks while shooting 50% from the field and 37.5% from three. His perimeter shot showed up in Summer League and preseason, and it’s clearly still there.

If you’re not very familiar with Broome yet, or haven’t watched him in Delaware, he’s worth a look. He’s one of the more unusual players you’ll come across. He doesn’t always pass the eye test because his scoring and overall style can look awkward or unorthodox. But when you check the box score, he’s filling it every time.

Johni Broome delivered his best performance as a pro last night for the Blue Coats, posting 30 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal, and a block in 34 minutes. He shot 13-of-23 from the field and 4-of-7 from three.

pic.twitter.com/yVqhHAbOZA

— Harrison Grimm (@Harrison_Grimm) November 22, 2025

Broome’s most recent game was also his best. He finished with 30 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block in 34 minutes. He shot 13-for-23 from the field and knocked down four of his seven three-point attempts. Offensively, he’s a skilled player who can score in a lot of different ways. He has good touch around the basket, and if the outside shot continues to fall, he has enough feel and IQ to develop into a well-rounded offensive big at the NBA level.

The biggest thing to monitor with Broome is his defense. He’s a smart player with a legit seven-foot wingspan, and he uses it well. The challenge is his athletic profile. At times, it looks like he’s moving in cement shoes, and his vertical isn’t far off from most people reading this. Those physical limitations will always be part of the equation, so his path to becoming a reliable defender will come from the mental side. He’ll need to anticipate well, read actions early, and beat players to spots. Given how sharp he is, there’s real reason to believe he can do it given time and proper development.

Broome has put up big numbers at every stop in his career, and the G League has been no exception. The question now is whether this early success eventually translates to NBA minutes and NBA production — either this season or beyond.

The other, other rookie: Hunter Sallis ​

Remember how I said the Sixers had 2.5 rookies? Sallis is the “half,” signing a two-way deal with the team after the draft. We’ve seen almost all of his minutes come in the G League so far, and the results have been mixed.

On the surface, his numbers look fine: 14 points, five rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 32.3 minutes across three games. The big issue has been efficiency. He’s shooting just 34.5% from the field and a rough 12.5% from three. The defensive production hasn’t been there either, with only 0.3 steals and 0.5 blocks per game.

Coming into the year, Sallis projected as a three-and-D style guard who could fill out the box score and generate turnovers. Instead, he’s struggled with his shot almost the entire time he’s been a Sixer. We still haven’t seen him put together a strong performance — not in Summer League, not in training camp, and not yet with the Blue Coats.

Four games isn’t a huge sample, but if we don’t see progress soon, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Sixers start weighing their options. Their guard room is stacked with Maxey, McCain, Edgecombe, Quentin Grimes, and veterans Kyle Lowry and Eric Gordon. Several of those players have already missed time, and the Sixers still haven’t turned to Sallis in any capacity, which likely speaks to where he’s at.

Sallis is overdue for a good showing, and he’ll get plenty of chances in Delaware to earn his spot. If he can’t string something together, it’ll be tough for the Sixers to justify keeping him around considering the roster makeup and minimal production so far. Of the three two-way players — Sallis, Dominick Barlow, and Jabari Walker — he’s the biggest question mark by a wide margin.

Emoni Bates and the Sixers might be a match​

We’re only a few years removed from Emoni Bates being viewed as the top prospect in the 2022 or 2023 draft class. But an inconsistent season at Memphis, lack of explosiveness, poor efficiency, and legal trouble from a concealed weapon charge tanked his stock. It fell so far that Cleveland grabbed him in the second round at 49th overall. Bates spent two seasons with the Cavaliers — mostly with their G League affiliate — seeing very little NBA action. Cleveland chose not to bring him back, and the former top prospect signed an Exhibit-10 deal with the Sixers in late September.

Bates has suited up for two Blue Coats games so far, and he’s lit up the box score. He’s averaging 28.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and two steals per game while shooting 42.5% from the field and 44.8% from three. Even more eye-opening: he’s taking 14.5 threes per game across those two outings.

Emoni Bates has been outstanding for the Delaware Blue Coats. In 2 games, he’s averaging 28.5 points and 5.5 rebounds on 52.2% shooting. He’s hitting 44.8% from three on 14.5 attempts per game, including a 36-point performance in his latest outing.pic.twitter.com/HJeVK6IvVo

— Harrison Grimm (@Harrison_Grimm) November 24, 2025

Two G League games isn’t enough to firmly stamp anyone, but it is enough to turn heads — mine included. Usually, when a guy is a “real” NBA-level talent, he’ll have nights where he just looks a tier above everyone else on the floor. So far, Bates is that guy. He’s absolutely a name to monitor moving forward. If the efficiency holds, there’s a legitimate chance the Sixers look at converting him to a two-way deal. They’ve been searching for forwards for what feels like years, and Kelly Oubre Jr.‘s injury only cranks up that need.

I still have long-standing concerns about his burst and overall defense. But he has a real NBA frame, and if you pair that with legitimate shooting and shot-making, you get someone who could absolutely stick in the league. For Bates, the path to a two-way contract comes down to holding the efficiency and proving he can defend well enough to survive on the floor. So far, the shooting is there. If he can take a step defensively and continue hitting shots, whether it’s the Sixers or another team, someone is going to take a serious look at the upside he still has. Keep in mind: Bates is still only 21 years old.

MarJon Beauchamp hitting shots early​

Speaking of another fallen prospect, is MarJon Beauchamp; who has signed with the Sixers to an Exhibit-10 deal. Before that, Beauchamp was selected in the first round by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2022, where he didn’t play much beyond his rookie season. He was traded and has since bounced around a few teams, including the LA Clippers and New York Knicks.

Beauchamp now finds himself in a similar spot to a few years ago: the G League. Some may remember he spent his rookie year with the now-defunct G League Ignite. This time, he’s in Delaware with the Blue Coats.

The biggest question with Beauchamp has always been his shot — or the lack of it. The sample size is small, but so far, he’s been knocking them down. He’s shooting 59.3% from the field through two games and 58.3% from three on six attempts per game. While it’s only two games, his other skills — athleticism and defensive ability — are evident enough that adding a reliable shot could turn him into an NBA-caliber player. The inability to shoot consistently has been the main barrier to his success at the NBA level.

Like Bates, Beauchamp will be a Blue Coat to watch in the coming weeks, especially if the Sixers are looking to add forward depth from within their own system.

Kennedy Chandler making noise​

Kennedy Chandler originally caught eyes in the Sixers training camp, as he was one of the fringe roster guys to seriously get time. Even getting the nod over two-way player Sallis in a few of those contests. Out of all the guys on the training camp Sixers, he appeared to be the main surprise that the coaching staff noticed.

Since training camp, Chandler has taken on a major role with Delaware. He’s started five games so far, averaging 19.9 points, 8.8 assists, and 1.2 steals in 34.6 minutes per game. He’s shooting 43.5% from the field, though his three-point shooting has struggled, connecting on just 13.6% of his 4.4 attempts per game.

Chandler’s season has had its ups and downs, which shows in the numbers. On one hand, he’s a high-usage player who scores efficiently and ranks among the best facilitators in the G League. On the other, his three-point shot has been nearly nonexistent thus far. At six feet tall, he’s also undersized for the NBA, making it hard to see where he’d fit with the Sixers. Still, he consistently produces, brings effort, and acts as a sparkplug whenever he’s on the floor for Delaware or Philadelphia.

While it’s difficult to envision a long-term spot for him on the Sixers roster, he has clearly outplayed Sallis so far. If the team plans to devote a two-way spot to a guard, Chandler has made a strong case and hasn’t shown signs of slowing down.

The next chance to see Sallis, Bates, Chandler, and likely Broome will come on Wednesday, Nov. 26, when the Blue Coats travel to White Plains, NY, to face the Westchester Knicks. The game will be streamed on ESPN+, with tip-off at 7 PM EST.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...-in-tracking-broome-mccain-bates-and-chandler