RSS 76ers Team Notes

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Joel Embiid out vs. Hawks as he deals with shin soreness

PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 11: Joel Embiid #21 and Kyle Lowry #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers look on during the game against the New York Knicks on February 11, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Well, that’s not going to help start the second half on the right foot.

The Sixers have ruled Joel Embiid out for their first game back out of the All-Star break against the Atlanta Hawks with shin soreness. While he hasn’t been ruled out for any further games, the team has released a short update.

“While participating in a right knee injury management program during the All-Star break, Joel Embiid reported soreness in his right shin,” the team’s release said. “Following a consultation with doctors, Embiid has received daily treatment, while progressing through on-court work and strength and conditioning.

“He will be OUT of tomorrow’s night game vs. Atlanta and will be reevaluated ahead of the team’s back-to-back this weekend. Further updates will be provided later this week.”

Joel Embiid reported soreness in his right shin. Following consultation with doctors, Embiid has received daily treatment, while progressing through on-court work and strength and conditioning.

He’s OUT tomorrow, reevaluated ahead of the back-to-back this weekend, per Sixers.

— Paul Hudrick (@PaulHudrick) February 18, 2026

So it would appear this shin soreness popped up in his right leg. That one hasn’t been plagued by injuries or required a number of surgeries, but it has caused Embiid problems as of late. He missed the last two games before the break with right knee soreness.

It’s especially unfortunate because the Sixers have really needed him on the court as of late, losing six of their last seven games without him in the lineup. Those last two games before the break were especially bad blowout losses, including a 49-point drubbing at home against the New York Knicks.

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For more on how the Sixers front court depth can hold up behind Embiid, this very blog covered the topic earlier as a part of a second-half preview.

At least the rest of the Sixers’ injury report is clean, with only Johni Broome and MarJon Beauchamp doubtful on G-League assignments. That means Quentin Grimes is good to return — he missed the last two games before the break as well with an illness.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...d-out-vs-hawks-as-he-deals-with-shin-soreness

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers host Atlanta Hawks coming off All-Star Break

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 30: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers guards Jalen Johnson #1 of the Atlanta Hawks during the game on November 30, 2025 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The NBA is back, and so is Sixers basketball as the regular season heads into its final stretch. After the All-Star break, where VJ Edgecombe earned Rising Stars MVP honors and Tyrese Maxey’s team won the All-Star Game, the Sixers return looking to snap a two-game losing streak. They begin by hosting the Atlanta Hawks before heading out on a three-game road trip.

The Sixers and Hawks last met in December, when Atlanta escaped with a narrow 120–117 win. A lot has changed for the Hawks since then. Trae Young is gone, now in Washington, and in his place are CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. Meanwhile, Jalen Johnson has taken a major leap. In the middle of a breakout season, he has emerged as the franchise cornerstone as the organization shifts its focus toward building around him.

Philadelphia did a strong job containing Johnson in that previous matchup, holding him to 5-for-17 shooting. Slowing him down again will be a priority. Johnson has been outstanding this season, averaging 23.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 8.2 assists through 50 games while shooting 50.2 percent from the field, 35.3 percent from three, and 77.8 percent from the free-throw line.

Even without Young, Atlanta still has plenty of scoring around its new centerpiece. Nickeil Alexander-Walker has revitalized his career and developed into a legitimate two-way threat, putting up 20.1 points per game while shooting 37.3 percent from deep. McCollum is adding 18.8 points per contest, and recent addition Jonathan Kuminga will be looking to make his mark after moving on from Golden State.

On the Sixers’ side, things have been just as fluid. Over the past few weeks, they’ve basically held open tryouts, cycling through two-way and 10-day contracts while the roster sorted itself out after an eventful, or depending on your perspective, completely uneventful trade deadline. Stability has not exactly been the theme.

Charles Bassey and Patrick Baldwin Jr.’s 10-day deals have expired. In their place, Cameron Payne returns from overseas, Jabari Walker is back in the mix, and two-way players Dalen Terry and Tyrese Martin join the fold (though the Warker and Martin moves are not official yet).

Now that things are beginning to stabilize, this matchup feels like a chance for the Sixers to reset before heading out on the road. With the revolving door of short-term additions finally slowing down, they’ll look to build some continuity and turn the page heading into the trip.

Prior to the break, Joel Embiid missed two games for knee management. The team downplayed any real concern, but Embiid will not suit up for this game with a different reasoning (more on that below). Without Embiid, and with Paul George serving his suspension, the offense has leaned heavily on Tyrese Maxey and whoever else could generate a decent look. It hasn’t exactly been a formula for consistent firepower or playmaking.

The time off should help across the board, not just for Embiid. Maxey has been logging a league-leading workload, and VJ Edgecombe hasn’t been far behind. For the 20-year-old, this is the most basketball he’s played at any point in his life. Getting close to a full week off should give the Sixers’ backcourt some much-needed fresh legs heading into the stretch regular season run.

The Sixers will be without Embiid (knee management, shin soreness) and George (suspension). Johni Broome and MarJon Beauchamp are doubtful with G League assignments. For Atlanta, Kuminga is the only key player out, as he rehabs from a knee injury.

The Sixers looked like a shell of themselves heading into the All-Star break. Maybe it was tired legs. Maybe it was trade deadline whiplash. Maybe it was the constant roster shuffle or the lack of availability. Most likely, it was all of the above. Either way, this is a chance to reset and get back on track, starting tonight.

As it stands, they sit just 1.5 games above the final playoff spot in the six seed, so there isn’t much room for error. The upcoming road trip includes some very winnable games, making this stretch even more important. A win at home followed by at least a 2-1 showing on the trip would put them in solid position as they push to secure a playoff berth.

Now it’s about which version of this team shows up. Do they look refreshed and reenergized after the break, or does this turn into a repeat of their earlier matchups with Atlanta, when they fell just short? We’ll soon find out.

Game Details

When: Wednesday, February 19, 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...-host-atlanta-hawks-coming-off-all-star-break

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers Bell Ringer: Sixers simply not good enough in third loss of season to Hawks

PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 19: Jalen Johnson #1 of the Atlanta Hawks drives to the basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on February 19, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 20
Joel Embiid – 9
VJ Edgecombe – 7
Paul George – 6
Dominick Barlow – 2
Andre Drummond – 2
Jared McCain :’( – 2
MarJon Beauchamp – 1
Adem Bona – 1
Justin Edwards – 1
Quentin Grimes – 1
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1

---

The Philadelphia 76ers fell 117-107 to the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday in their first game back from the All-Star break.

Joel Embiid was out for this one after reporting shin soreness over the hiatus. The Sixers said at practice on Wednesday that the big fella will be re-evaluated before the team’s weekend back-to-back after missing the Sixers’ first game back from the All-Star break.

And boy did this look like the first game after some time off. Just ugly all-around, honestly, with the feeling of a random pick-up game more so than an NBA contest. The Hawks never got too far ahead but the Sixers just couldn’t seem to make up much ground at any point until it was too late — it probably didn’t help that they shot 38.4% from the floor (33-for-86). Atlanta wasn’t much better, but clearly they were better enough.

This is the Sixers’ third loss this season to a now 27-30 Hawks squad.

The Sixers will now hit the road for a weekend back-to-back, visiting the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday and the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.

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

VJ Edgecombe: 20 points, 9 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block

The rookie looked fresh and energetic coming off the All-Star weekend where he was the MVP of the Rising Stars game last Friday evening. Edgecombe led the Sixers in the first period with 11 points on 4-for-7 field goal shooting (2-for-4 from long range) and was really the only offensive juice Philadelphia had in an ugly 26-point first.

Speaking of long range, he hit this triple to beat the buzzer at the end of the opening frame.

VJ Edgecombe with 11 points in Q1 after sinking this ridiculous buzzer-beater three! pic.twitter.com/MU8k822v1u

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 20, 2026

Edgecombe cooled off a bit after that hot start, but the rookie didn’t stop contributing. Per usual, he was the best when the Sixers’ backs were against the wall. He had seven points and a few great defensive plays in the fourth as the Sixers were trying to pry a victory from the jaws of defeat.

The rookie finished this one with 20 points (7-for-15 field goal shooting, 3-for-8 from long range) with nine rebounds, a steal and a block.

Adem Bona: 9 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks in 19:40

I don’t think you could possibly ask for more hustle from a guy. Adem Bona came out with a fire for this contest and was absolutely all over the court. By halftime, he had already racked up four blocks and four rebounds (three on the offensive end) in under 10 minutes on the floor. That doesn’t happen by coincidence. It happens from making sure you’re at the right place at the exact right times (with precise execution on the blocks) to make the plays.

In addition to putting up five points of his own in that first half, there’s one play I specifically want to highlight on the offensive end that turned what would have been Atlanta ball into three points for the Sixers.

Excellent awareness/hustle from Adem Bona giving the Sixers possession and Quentin Grimes sinks the triple off the Cam Payne inbound! pic.twitter.com/NKwYTf62R9

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 20, 2026

That’s an Adem Bona play. The hustle, the awareness and the execution.

And it’s a play that won’t show at all on a stat sheet. That’s what Bona does, the energy and hustle plays that don’t always show in the form of eye-popping stat lines — but if you’re watching, you know exactly what he’s bringing for the Sixers, especially in games like Thursday’s.

Bona finished this one with nine points, seven rebounds and four blocks in 19:40 on the floor.

Don't ask me why Adem Bona was on the bench to close out Sixers-Hawks I thought he was an absolute monster on the floor tonight.

9 PTS (3-5 FG), 7 REB (3 OFF), 4 BLK and a number of hustle plays that'll never show on a stat sheet, in 19:40

Here's some highlights from Bona… pic.twitter.com/I8diwY7Wdk

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) February 20, 2026

Tyrese Maxey: 28 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block

Tyrese Maxey is far from perfect right now. His shot selection has been leaving a lot to be desired and is leading to some really inefficient shooting lines, but he is undeniably still able to string together bursts of scoring for this Sixers’ squad and leads the offensive production when Embiid is sidelined. Tonight was another one of those nights. He shot just 34.8% from the floor (8-for-23) — but he also led the Sixers with 28 points.

Maxey had an especially strong third period — the period where it typically all gets worse somehow for the Sixers — with 11 points on 4-for-7 field goal shooting with a few timely triples to keep Philadelphia within striking distance of Atlanta. However, he then put up just three points (all free throws) in the entirety of the fourth.

Tyrese Maxey with his own 5-0 run with a slam and a step-back triple pic.twitter.com/j53iZYZO1I

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 20, 2026

I’m conflicted personally putting Maxey here. I feel like I have to, because he did lead the Sixers scoring and had a number of good defensive plays… but his game continues to be off in a concerning way. From the shot selection and poor shooting to his demeanor and emotional reactions throughout games, it just feels like Maxey is far from at his best right now.

But here we are. Maxey finished the night with 28 points, three rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block. He played nearly 39 minutes.

Quentin Grimes: 14 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block

Someone is feeling good after some time in the sun! Quentin Grimes has not been having a ton of success as of late making much impact for the Sixers, especially struggling shooting, so seeing him start tonight going 3-for-3 from the floor (2-for-3 from three) for nine points was an encouraging sight.

And five more quick points from Quentin Grimes! pic.twitter.com/ptCqe1aRBR

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 20, 2026

It didn’t feel like Grimes was forcing things on Thursday and he was actually one of the more efficient shooters for the Sixers, ending up 5-for-9 (55.6%) on field goals (2-for-4, 50% from long range). It wasn’t anything that’s going to break records or majorly turn heads, but getting 14 points off the bench from Grimes feels like a step in the right direction — hopefully a direction he can keep moving in.

He finished Thursday with 14 points, two rebounds, one assists and a block.

Kelly Oubre Jr.: 17 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 block

Felt like this was a quietly decent game from Kelly Oubre Jr. This certainly wasn’t his best game shooting, going just 4-for-13 on field goals, but it wasn’t really anyone on the floor’s best game shooting. Even with that inefficiency, Oubre was able to score 17 points tonight, including five in the final frame as the Sixers attempted to mount a comeback.

In that same late stint, he also came up with a number of massive defensive plays, including a block and a steal, to give Philadelphia even the suggestion of a chance.

Oubre finished the contest with 17 points, three rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...nta-hawks-adem-bona-vj-edgecombe-tyrese-maxey

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

The NBA’s new anti-tanking rules are a mess

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 14: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks at a press conference during 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend at Intuit Dome on February 14, 2026 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Yep, that will definitely fix it this time.

More changes to combat tanking are coming to the NBA next season, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Trying to combat year-over tanking, they’ll be cracking down on what protections you can put on a traded pick, how many consecutive years in a row you can land a top-4 pick, and another flattening of the lottery odds. Here are the specifics.

Multiple sources with knowledge of Thursday's GM meeting as well as a late January Competition Committee meeting told ESPN that the following concepts have been discussed to curb tanking:

•First-round picks can be protected only top-4 or top-14+
•Lottery odds freeze at the… https://t.co/Vk2n1cSzde

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 19, 2026

The Sixers hope that these changes won’t really impact them any time soon, but given their history, it felt worth touching on.

Preventing teams from tanking for multiple seasons is clearly what the league is trying to crack down on. That’s why teams will no longer be able to pick in the top-4 in consecutive years, especially if they’ve been a bottom three team in consecutive years.

The league so desperately doesn’t want teams to do what the Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz have over the past few years, yet they are doing the opposite of addressing that problem. One of the biggest reasons why those two teams in particular have punted season after season is because the lottery continues to give them nothing to show for it.

Of the past five drafts, those two teams have only gotten one top-5 pick, when the Wizards won the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 draft, the weakest draft by any measure of the last decade. Now the odds have only gotten worse for the bottom of the league.

The flattened lottery odds that were introduced back in 2019 were so harmful to both of those franchises that they said screw it and abandoned that plan altogether. Instead the Wizards and Jazz both made pre-agency trades to acquire Trae Young, Anthony Davis and Jaren Jackson Jr., respectively.

Another measure they’ve taken to prevent this from happening year over year is lottery odds being allocated on two-year records.

Each season is its own story with its own wrinkles. Using a two-season record to determine one year’s drafting doesn’t account for any of the outliers. What about last year’s Sixers team, thrust into the top of the lottery because of an injury-riddled season?

That same logic went into the rule that teams can’t pick in the top-4 after making the conference finals the year prior. Again, there’s a great example, one happening right now, that shows the flaws in this idea.

Of course that would be the Indiana Pacers. No one said it better than the god of Pacers coverage, Caitlin Cooper, who tweeted that it takes something pretty bad happening for a team to make it to a top-4 pick after making the conference finals — why should they be penalized twice?

Something pretty bad would have to happen for a team to be bad enough to pick top-4 the year after making the conference finals (like a franchise player tearing their Achilles). Why should that team be double penalized? https://t.co/YpweF6SAtp

— Caitlin Cooper (@C2_Cooper) February 19, 2026

Most of these changes fall apart when given a second thought. It only makes sense when you realize the league isn’t trying to cater to the Pacers fan still watching them in March, but rather the fan who is willing to gamble on the Pacers in March.

The integration of sports betting has long been a priority for this league’s administration, and when Ben Golliver reported that angry sportsbooks were part of this renewed anti-tanking push, it felt like the quiet part was being said out loud.

That is really the only reason this has become the talk of the league. It’s not like tanking is some great offense to fanbases they can’t stand going through. Most well adjusted fans would rather their team try to build something meaningful rather than be the Chicago Bulls.

Tanking isn’t a real problem, but it will cause the league real issues as long as they continue to panic about it.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/nba-rumors-news/86714/the-nbas-new-anti-tanking-rules-are-a-mess

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Joel Embiid ruled out for Sixers’ Saturday visit to Pelicans

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - FEBRUARY 19: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers sits on the sidelines during the game against the Atlanta Hawks at Xfinity Mobile Arena on February 19, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Well, this isn’t optimal.

Joel Embiid has been ruled out for the Philadelphia 76ers’ visit to the New Orleans Pelicans set for Saturday evening according to the team’s injury report. The news comes after the team announced back on Wednesday that Embiid had reported right shin soreness over the All-Star break and would be re-evaluated before this weekend. He is officially listed as out for both right knee injury management and right shin soreness.

This will be Embiid’s fourth straight game sidelined, missing two before the break and now at least two following it. The Sixers have gone 0-3 in the last three without him. Before this hiatus, the big fella had gone about a month of consistent playing without missing games unplanned (planned absences being one leg of each back-to-back).

This doesn’t bode well for the Sixers who have looked an absolute mess without Embiid. Earlier in the season, the squad was finding ways to win some games even without the star center. More recently? Not so much. Since Dec. 23 (when his most consistent playing stint began), Embiid has averaged 30.0 points on 52.7% field goal shooting with 8.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.0 block across 20 games. That’s not even to mention the non-statistical contributions his presence provides on the floor such as game-changing spacing thanks to the attention he commands from opposing defenses. Without him, the Sixers’ threats are limited, and it makes them much easier to defend against (as we’ve all seen as this point).

It certainly doesn’t help that Paul George is also unavailable to play due to his suspension, too, but it really feels like the Sixers squad had gotten very comfortable with specifically Embiid being out there with them. Now, they’re scrambling and struggling again without him, and it hasn’t been pretty. Most recently, on Thursday night, they lost to Atlanta, making the sub-.500 Hawks team look a lot better than they actually are in the process.

Saturday’s matchup against the Pelicans is the first leg of a road back-to-back for the Sixers, and there’s no word yet on whether the team is considering re-evaluating Embiid before the second leg visiting the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.

Either way, the rest of the team is going to have to figure out a way to put up some level of a fight without him.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...ladelphia-nba-injury-paul-george-tyrese-maxey

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers (sans Joel Embiid) visit Pelicans to start road back-to-back

This could prove to be a very long weekend for the Philadelphia 76ers if things don’t turn around quickly.

After dropping their last three contests, the Sixers kick off a road back-to-back with a visit to the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night. This is the start of their 11h back-to-back of the season so far, with the squad headed to visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday for the second leg.

The problem? Joel Embiid has already been ruled out for the Sixers for at least the Saturday leg. Embiid had reported right shin soreness over the All-Star break, missed Thursday’s contest against the Atlanta Hawks and was set to be re-evaluated before this weekend’s back-to-back. On Friday evening, he was officially listed as out to face the Pelicans for both right knee injury management and right shin soreness. No word on whether the team is even considering re-evaluating him for Sunday.

The Sixers did beat the Pelicans 124-114 in their last meeting back on Jan. 31 in South Philadelphia, but Embiid contributed a 40-point, 11-rebound double-double to help them along. Recent performances without the star center have been a different story, though, with the Sixers going 0-3 in their last three games with Embiid sidelined. None of them have been particularly inspiring losses either, including their most recent loss to the sub-.500 Atlanta Hawks on Thursday.

Only Paul George (suspended) joins him on the Sixers’ injury report as of Saturday morning.

The Pelicans are coming into this one on the second leg of a back-to-back for them, so we won’t know their official injury statuses until this afternoon. That being said, New Orleans was without their top scorer in Trey Murphy III (22.1 points per game) last night, who missed that Friday game with a shoulder contusion. The Sixers should cross their fingers he’s unable to go again Saturday, because it seems they need all the help they can get right now.

The bottom line of this one is honestly going to be the Sixers needing to find a way to play some level of competitive basketball when Embiid is unavailable… what else is new? The squad had clearly gotten much more comfortable with the strategies and spacing of playing with him out there, but now they are back playing an unsustainable, borderline 2024-25 season level of basketball with him sidelined. It’s deja vu all over again.

The Pelicans will give them the perfect opportunity to right the ship, though. New Orleans is 14-42 on the season, and currently rank 25th in offensive rating (112.4) and 27th in defensive rating (118.3). They are coming into Saturday on the second leg of back-to-back after they lost by 21 to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night. They might even be without their top scorer in Murphy.

If you can’t win this one without Embiid, I’m not sure where Philadelphia goes from here.

At 30-25, the Sixers are currently in sixth in the Eastern Conference, but there’s only a handful of games separating them from the ninth or 10h seed in the East. Things could go south — well, more south — for the Sixers very quickly here if they aren’t careful.

The Sixers and Pelicans will tip off at 7 p.m. ET.

Game Details

When: Saturday, February 21, 7 p.m. ET
Where: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...-embiid-new-orleans-pelicans-game-preview-nba

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers Bell Ringer: Sixers’ second half woes continue in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 21: Kelly Oubre Jr. #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on February 21, 2026 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 20
Joel Embiid – 9
VJ Edgecombe – 8
Paul George – 6
Dominick Barlow – 2
Andre Drummond – 2
Jared McCain :’( – 2
MarJon Beauchamp – 1
Adem Bona – 1
Justin Edwards – 1
Quentin Grimes – 1
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1

---

The Philadelphia 76ers lost their fourth straight game Saturday night, falling to a New Orleans Pelicans team that still has the second-worst record in the Western Conference even after the 126-111 victory, played one night earlier, and started DeAndre Jordan in the year of our lord 2026. To the surprise of exactly no one, the Sixers were horrendous in the third quarter, allowing the Pelicans to drop 40 points in the period, turning a double-digit lead into a deficit in the process. All the good vibes from the first half of the season are long gone at the moment, and even if Joel Embiid suits up again as early as Sunday against Minnesota, it’s pretty clear there are some glaring holes with this Philadelphia roster. So with all that doom and gloom out of the way, let’s momentarily focus on the spare positives and talk Bell Ringer.

Kelly Oubre Jr.: 25 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 0 turnovers

Oubre, who grew up in New Orleans, had a nice homecoming to the Big Easy, shooting 7-of-15 from the field with four made threes for a team-high 25 points. The most memorable of those three-pointers was a buzzer-beater to end the first half, after which he blew a kiss to the crowd in true Kelly fashion. In addition to his shooting prowess from the perimeter, Oubre continued his attack mentality from the Atlanta game a couple nights ago, repeatedly initiating contact to get to the charity stripe; he is now 16-of-19 from the free throw line across the past two games. Really, it was a three-level scoring game for him, as Kelly also chipped in a few middies of the floater and fadeaway variety. Saturday was another good example of Oubre’s ability to scale up his usage when the team is missing some pieces.

The Nola native nails his third three at the buzzer and the Sixers take a 65-57 lead into the locker room. pic.twitter.com/ynDmwWwAkB

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 22, 2026

Jabari Walker: 9 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 0 turnovers

Walker has replaced Trendon Watford in the rotation since signing his standard NBA contract and returning to action. He made that decision look good again on Saturday, giving the team a nice lift off the bench in his 16 minutes and recording a team-best plus-five plus-minus. Normally not a reliable outside shooter, Walker canned two of his three triples, knocking one down in transition in the first quarter and later spotting up from the corner. He also did rugged work on the glass, most evident when he battled for an offensive rebound late in the first half and finished through contact for a three-point play opportunity. With the Sixers looking to be a player or two short on a lot of nights, it’s at least good to have Jabari back in the fold.

Anyone else you felt had some nice moments in the midst of this mess? Let us know in the comments.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...econd-half-woes-continue-new-orleans-pelicans

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Losses keep mounting as Sixers embarrassed by lowly Pelicans

NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 21: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on February 21, 2026 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Even if Joel Embiid does return for their next game, it’s time to raise some alarm bells.

The Sixers lost their fourth game in a row, embarrassingly falling 126-111 to the New Orleans Pelicans Saturday night.

Tyrese Maxey again ended up with game-high 27 despite a crooked shooting night, going 9-of-23 from the floor along with seven assists.VJ Edgecombe put up 14 points and five rebounds on 5-of-14 shooting off a strong first half.

Kelly Oubre Jr. had a solid scoring night in his home state, finishing with 25 points shooting 7-of-15 from the floor while Zion Williamson led New Orleans with 21.

Embiid (shin soreness) missed his fourth straight game while the Pelicans were down Trey Murphy III and Yves Missi.

Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.

First Quarter​

• Somehow this was an even clunkier start than the game prior, with it taking nearly three minutes to record the game’s first field goal. The Sixers were only able to parlay ugly shot attempts into free throws, starting the game on an 8-0 run. Not that it was smooth sailing from the liner either, with Dominick Barlow bricking two in a row there after sinking his first two attempts.
• Edgecombe had a mini burst of aggression, hoisting up two threes in a row, but it was Oubre who was getting up the most shots for the Sixers early. He knocked down a three and was able to get to his push shot on a drive. Quentin Grimes got things going a bit when he knocked down two of his first three three-point attempts.

Could use more of this from Q pic.twitter.com/VZoudeqTSw

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 22, 2026

• Sticking with bench contributions, Adem Bona gave the Sixers good energy upon checking into the game, blocking one shot and altering a couple more. He wasn’t able to complete his shift though after picking up two fouls. Grimes padded out his quarter nicely at the line. Maxey appeared to finally get his first field goal with a three at the buzzer, but he didn’t get it off in time and the Sixers had to settle for a five-point lead after one.

Second Quarter​

• The Sixers opened the quarter with their cleanest stretch of the game so far offensively, even if they weren’t able to sustain it. Edgecombe was feeling comfortable with his turnaround jumper, hitting another one to start the second. Cam Payne drilled a three for his first points back as a Sixer (again) but missed his next two attempts.
• New Orleans found a groove offensively as well, with Williamson going to work in the post at will. Just as the Sixers appeared to weather that storm, the game was halted by referee nonsense. After Andre Drummond got T’d up for a hard foul on Derik Queen, the Sixers got called for a delay of game as it took a long time for play to resume. Even the official scorers were confused, according to the Sixers’ broadcast.
• Once that dust settled the Sixers were able to find their footing with an Oubre three halting the Pelicans’ momentum. Edgecombe continued to have success putting the ball on the floor, drawing a foul on one of those turnaround jumpers and finishing a pretty layup with his left hand a few possessions later. Maxey finally got some jumpers to fall and had a nifty and-1 drive himself. This quarter ended with a Sixers three as well, though Oubre got it off in time, giving the Sixers an eight-point lead at the break.

Midrange cookin pic.twitter.com/6i35urOnn4

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 22, 2026

Third Quarter​

• In a rare change of pace, the Sixers were able to keep that momentum to open the second half, at least on the offensive end of the floor. Oubre continued to get to that push shot with ease, Maxey got another basket running that give-and-go, and Barlow made his presence felt in transition. With Williamson and Queen still having success on the interior though the Sixers weren’t able to extend their lead any further.

Dom doing Dom stuff pic.twitter.com/A9gORAv0Kx

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 22, 2026

• After that strong start, the third quarter woes reared their ugly head as the Pelicans ripped off a 10-0 run. Maxey was able to halt that with a contested three in transition, and a quick timeout from New Orleans stopped the momentum of both teams.
• For all his struggles, the Sixers offense really stalled out as Maxey went to the bench and they fell cold from three. Bona got a putback and Jabari Walker hit a three, but the Sixers went without a field goal for the final 2:45 of the quarter. Edgecombe was able to rush up and get to the line right before the quarter ended, but his pair of free throws only pulled the Sixers within six after the Pelicans’ run.

Fourth Quarter​

• Despite Maxey’s return to the floor, the Sixers’ offense continued to look woefully inept. Once this team gets cold they just look like they’ve run out of ideas, making everything look really uninspired. Meanwhile, New Orleans’ offense wasn’t lighting the world on fire, but they were competent enough to keep extending their lead.
• As the Pelicans continued to drain three after three the Sixers’ offense continued to look like a chicken with its head cut off, falling into a 20-point deficit. Maxey started to play with the required urgency to start a comeback, but he still was ice cold.
• A steal leading to an Oubre three showed the briefest signs of a fake comeback, but the Sixers didn’t even have that in them. All it did was ensure that Maxey and Edgecombe would once again eclipse 35 minutes. Shots weren’t falling, but this was an embarrassing no-show effort from the Sixers in the second half.

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

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers Bell Ringer: Sixers guard trio shines to defeat Wolves, first victory in over two weeks

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 22: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on February 22, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 20
Joel Embiid – 9
VJ Edgecombe – 8
Paul George – 6
Dominick Barlow – 2
Andre Drummond – 2
Jared McCain :’( – 2
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 2
MarJon Beauchamp – 1
Adem Bona – 1
Justin Edwards – 1
Quentin Grimes – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1

---

The Philadelphia 76ers have snagged their first win in over two weeks, taking down Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves 135-108 on Sunday night.

The Sixers had a decent first half of basketball, seemingly getting more in rhythm as the break approached. They entered the second half with a 10-point lead over the hosting Timberwolves. By then, four Sixers were already into double-digit scoring (Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Quentin Grimes and Kelly Oubre Jr.). The consistent scoring and even effort from the Sixers continued throughout the second half and Philadelphia amassed a lead of more than 20 points.

Tyrese Maxey put up his best performance in what feels like a long time with a game-high 39 points on 18-for-28 field goal shooting. Rookie VJ Edgecombe added a new career-high six triples for 24 points and Quentin Grimes added 19 points with five threes of his own. It was the best widespread effort we’ve seen from this team by a fair margin in weeks.

The Sixers get Monday off before continuing their road trip with a visit to the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday.

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

Tyrese Maxey: 39 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, 1 block

Tyrese Maxey got off to a sloppy start in this one with two quick turnovers on bad passes in the first two minutes, and it was looking like it might be another tough night for the guard. After that though, he seemed to settle in, especially toward the end of the second frame. Maxey scored 11 of the Sixers’ last 17 points to close the first half after starting to have success getting downhill and weaving into the paint against a Timberwolves team without a real center available (Rudy Gobert, suspension, and Naz Reid, shoulder soreness, were both out). Maxey shot 8-for-15 from the floor and 2-for-5 from long range in the first half, tying with fellow NBA All-Star Anthony Edwards in leading the floor with 19 points at halftime.

From then on, Maxey seemed locked in, playing with a bit of fire we haven’t seen from him in a little bit. He added 13 more points in the third including two from an absolute poster on Anthony Edwards.

Exactly the kind of sequence the Sixers needed! The absolute poster from Tyrese Maxey, a quick turnover, and another bucket from Andre Drummond pic.twitter.com/oTYY14byda

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 23, 2026

This was one of the best overall Maxey performances we have seen in a bit, with great energy level and body language coming with it. He was aggressive without forcing opportunities that weren’t there. He seemed not to succumb to frustration as much, even if he wasn’t getting the foul calls he wanted. He just stuck to his game and kept doing what worked, taking advantage of the Wolves lack of rim protection on Sunday.

After a really tough few weeks, Maxey might have needed this kind of night personally, mentally, even more than the Sixers needed it.

Maxey finished this one with 39 points on 16-for-28 (57.1%) field goal shooting and 5-for-7 (51.7%) shooting from long range. He also had eight assists, three rebounds, two steals and one block.

What a game for Tyrese Maxey. The guard has been seemingly struggling as of late with inconsistency and frustration on the court… Not tonight.

39 PTS (16-28 FG, 4-7 3PT), 3 REB, 8 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK

Here's some of the highlights from Maxey's performance pic.twitter.com/FNvyYnZuXA

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) February 23, 2026

VJ Edgecombe: 24 points (career-high 6 triples), 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals

VJ Edgecombe got the night off to a hot start, taking advantage of some open looks to put up 10 points (two triples) in the first frame. The three-point shooting of the rookie would become the cornerstone of his night, with Edgecombe sinking 3-of-4 in the first half. Following halftime, he was completely locked in, looking confident and smooth pulling up from distance whenever he could find or create an open look. It paid off.

Edgecombe ended up with a new career-high six triples on seven attempts. That’s 85.7% shooting from beyond the arc. Not only that, but he was also active on the boards throughout, trailing only Andre Drummond for the Sixers in the category with seven. The rookie also put up a solid defensive performance and committed just one turnover the entire contest, with that single error not occurring until the final minutes of the game with the Sixers up over 20 points.

This performance was another example of Edgecombe seemingly playing beyond his years when it comes to rising up to the moment, too. He got the fourth off to a hot start with a high-flying alley-oop and yet another triple to extend the Sixers’ lead early in the final frame — the beginning of putting the game out of reach for the Timberwolves and finally snapping the losing streak for the Sixers.

Edgecombe finished the night with 24 points, seven rebounds, one assist and two steals.

Next up, we have the rookie VJ Edgecombe, who shot the lights out from long range for a new career-high six triples

24 PTS (6-7 3PT), 7 REB, 1 AST, 2 STL

Here's some Edgecombe highlights from the Sixers' win over the Timberwolves! pic.twitter.com/SvtXJ4kdVM

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) February 23, 2026

Quentin Grimes: 19 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal

Quentin Grimes made a quick impact off the bench for the Sixers early in this one, hitting two threes and grabbing a steal not long after checking in for the first time in the opening frame. Grimes not only was scoring well in the first half, putting up 10 points on 4-for-8 field goal, 2-for-4 three-point shooting, but was contributing well as a playmaker. He had five assists by halftime, with three coming off similar plays ending in finding Adem Bona under the net for open dunks.

This performance was the perfect example of what the Sixers need from Grimes coming off the bench. It doesn’t have to be massive scoring bursts or all highlight reel level plays. He simply provided a consistent offensive boost for the Sixers on Sunday, whether scoring himself or just keeping his head up and making the right passes for some absolute dimes for his teammates. For a team that has been struggling with assists as of late, that playmaking alone is worth its weight in gold… but the five triples certainly didn’t hurt either.

Grimes finished Sunday with 19 points on 7-for-12 field goal shooting and 5-for-8 shooting from three-point range. He also had three rebounds, seven assists and one steal.

Last but not least, we have Quentin Grimes. This was one of Q's best performances for Philly as of late, providing a boost off the bench the Sixers needed from scoring to some beautiful assists.

19 PTS (7-12 FG, 5-8 3PT), 3 REB, 7 AST, 1 STL

Here's some Grimes highlights pic.twitter.com/SHqAuPyLd5

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) February 23, 2026

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

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers hope big win is a lift both on and off the court

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - FEBRUARY 22: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers smiles in the second quarter of the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on February 22, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There’s never a bad time to snap a four-game losing streak, but the Sixers 27-point win over the Minnesota Timberwolves felt like one of their most needed of the season.

Not only were they reeling, but with Joel Embiid suddenly missing five straight games with various sore body parts, Paul George suspended, and no additions made at the trade deadline all emphasized the fact that there was no help on the way either.

On top of all that, the All-Star break coming in the midst of this losing streak made it linger longer than a typical four-game skid would, with the Sixers going over two calendar weeks in between wins.

They looked rather helpless going into that game against Minnesota as well. Not only was it the second night of a back-to-back, but they were coming off what head coach Nick Nurse called the worst loss of the season, a second half collapse to the lowly New Orleans Pelicans.

With their backs against the wall they turned in one of their best offensive performances of the season, with their reeling backcourt leading the way. Both Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe had been showing signs of wear and tear due to their heavy workloads. They looked recharged in Minnesota, with Maxey dropping an efficient 39 points while Edgecombe put up 24 thanks to a new career-high six made three-pointers.

In the walk-off interview for NBC Sports Philadelphia, Maxey pointed out a return of positive energy. As watching the previous four games wasn’t enough, there were plenty of signs off the court that the vibes were off, from Embiid’s trade deadline plea being thoroughly rejected to Maxey voicing confusion of his role. It felt like the lowest point of the season spirit-wise as well, and its departure was noticed in the win over the Wolves.

“We got back to playing with a little bit of spirit, you seen guys smiling a bit,” he told Kate and Alaa before praising the individual performance of Quentin Grimes.

If anything this win may have showed just how tall of an order it is for the Sixers to keep themselves afloat with Embiid out of the lineup just as much as the losing streak did. They need both Maxey and Edgecombe to be unconscious to give themselves a chance.

What’s made this stretch even tougher is that they’ve had to go through that a really demoralizing trade deadline as well. Despite the best player on the team begging for a serious deadline, all they did was dump a fan favorite player and add one guard who was playing Europe on the buyout market.

The reality that there were no reinforcements on the way was intensified during the losing streak. They weren’t just losing games, but they looked hopeless in doing so. Their only way through is to power through but in Minnesota, they were able to channel that in a positive direction.

“We didn’t have a choice, we don’t got an option man,” Maxey told the broadcast when asked how the team flushed the New Orleans loss so quickly.

Embiid’s return is the only tangible on-court change this team has left up its sleeve. The losing streak has shown the flaws in this roster and the deadline to try to improve them has come and gone. They have one intangible up their sleeves though and that is a positive spirit.

They’ll certainly need to sustain for more than one game and of course nothing is as good for the spirit as winning ball games. The only other change the Sixers can make though finding good vibes again and blowing out the Timberwolves was a step in the right direction.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76er...e-big-win-is-a-lift-both-on-and-off-the-court

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Newsflash: Joel Embiid is still really valuable

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 07: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the first half against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 07, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The 76ers defeated the Suns 109-103. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Entering Sunday’s game in Minnesota, Philadelphia had lost nine of its last 10 games without Joel Embiid in the lineup. His absence was clearly felt by rookie VJ Edgecombe who said, “We miss Joel. It’s that simple. He’s a walking 30 points,” after a bad loss at home against Atlanta on Thursday night coming out of the All-Star break.

It’s particularly relevant that Edgecombe was the one to make those comments. Edgecombe is a rookie who wasn’t in Philadelphia for Embiid’s MVP season and some of his other high-end seasons that were statistically better than the one he’s having right now, which has still been very good. This is not to contest that Embiid is the same player now that he was before the knee injury two years ago that plagued him for all of last season. But it is to say that he’s playing at a much higher level than many anticipated in 2025-26.

Perhaps that’s the primary source of disappointment this season for Philly. There are still two months left in the regular season, but it’s becoming clear that the Sixers are probably a tier below the East’s top group of contenders. On a good night, they’re right there with the upper echelon of the conference. But there just aren’t enough good nights it feels like and a lot of the good nights that do exist are courtesy of a big game from Embiid.

Embiid has given the franchise more than any other player has since Allen Iverson wore the uniform. Time and time again, the organization has failed to empower him, and this month’s trade deadline was just the latest example. Embiid returning from his knee injury and being this good, say 75-85% of the player he used to be, should be considered an overwhelming success. It wasn’t long ago that medical retirement was being discussed as a potential option for Embiid in his early 30s. If there was ever a season in which the Sixers could find a way to be good enough in the games Embiid isn’t on the floor and give the big man at least one more crack at a deep playoff run, it would be this one.

Embiid’s injury history is obviously long, and unfortunately, the bigger problem is that he’s suffered several fluke injuries that have impacted his postseason availability. Yes, there have been bigger injuries that have called into question the viability of building a contender around Embiid. Early in his career particularly it was fair to question his commitment to rehabbing those injuries. But how many times have we seen Embiid wearing a mask in the playoffs? How many times does it feel like he has taken a fall or been fallen on by another player that resulted in a minor injury that would flare up and force him to miss a playoff game here or there or perform at less than 100%?

Hopefully this season is a sign of good things to come for Embiid and he can play at this level for at least a few more seasons. Maybe there’s a longer runway for him to win a championship with the Sixers than we all thought. But at this time one year ago, it felt like there was no runway at all. That’s what makes it so disappointing that losing in the second round again feels like the ceiling for this year’s team. Whatever happens in the next couple months, be sure to appreciate the fact that Joel Embiid is having the season he’s having.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/76ers-analysis/86769/newsflash-joel-embiid-is-still-really-valuable