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  • Sixers takeaways: Inability to close out games and stop dribble drives are glaring in loss to Raptors

    Sixers takeaways: Inability to close out games and stop dribble drives are glaring in loss to Raptors

    The 76ers still have a problem closing out games.

    Their guards also need to do a better job of preventing straight-line drives.

    But on the positive side, Kelly Oubre Jr. is back to contributing on both ends of the floor.

    Those things stood out in Sunday’s 116-115 overtime loss to the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena.

    Inability to close out

    The Sixers (21-16) were trending in the right direction after winning two straight and five of their last six games heading into this matchup. And with Tyrese Maxey scoring a game-high 38 points, they appeared capable of overcoming the huge absences of Joel Embiid (left knee injury management/left groin soreness) and Paul George (left knee soreness).

    Don’t look now but the Sixers have turned a dire situation into a hopeful one behind their new Big Four

    But an inability to close out the game reared its ugly head.

    Maxey hit a what appeared to be a 29-foot dagger three-pointer to give the Sixers a 107-103 cushion with 20.1 seconds left.

    However, they failed to inbound the ball. The Raptors (24-16) won two challenges and made two baskets to force overtime.

    The Sixers built a 112-108 lead with 2 minutes, 23 seconds remaining in overtime. But the Raptors responded with a 7-0 run to take a 115-112 lead after the Sixers missed two shots and committed a costly turnover.

    Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (left) led the team in points with 31 against the Sixers.

    VJ Edgecombe made a 30-foot three-pointer to knot the score at 115. However, Scottie Barnes got away with initiating contact with Oubre, who was called for a foul, on a drive with 0.8 seconds left.

    Barnes, who finished with 31 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds, made the first foul shot and intentionally missed the second to win the game.

    The Sixers committed 22 turnovers and made just 8 of 31 three-pointers. But they were ultimately doomed by poor late-game execution. Something they need to correct.

    “We just got to be better, be more disciplined and stay together in those moments where we’re facing a little bit of adversity, because we both made runs,” Oubre said to reporters. “But you know, theirs was the final shot.”

    Scottie Barnes hits tiebreaking free throw in final second of OT as Raptors beat Sixers, 116-115

    Too many straight line drives

    Barnes will get the credit for winning Sunday’s game. However, the Raptors backcourt of Immanuel Quickley and Jamal Shead had their way with the Sixers guards. Quickley finished with 20 points and seven assists, while Shead had 22 and six assists.

    The duo had several downhill drives in the lane. If they couldn’t score, they kicked the ball out to teammates. Late in the game, Shead and Quickley drove the lane. Once the Sixers provided help defense, the guard would dump the ball off to a big man for a dunk.

    “We just got out of position on some of that,” coach Nick Nurse said to reporters. “I felt we went to help a little too early, and obviously left too big a passing lane for those dumboffs late.”

    But it started with the Sixers guards needing to do a better job of keeping opposing perimeter players in front of them.

    Oubre’s impact

    Before missing 22 games with a sprained left knee ligament, Oubre was the quiet assassin for the Sixers. The 6-foot-8 small forward averaged 16.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in his first 12 games. In addition to excelling when the ball was moving, Oubre did a solid job of guarding the opposing team’s best perimeter player.

    He returned on Wednesday and provided solid defense that night against the Washington Wizards and again on Friday vs. the Orlando Magic. However, he averaged one point on a combined 1-for-9 shooting in those two games.

    Toronto Raptors guard Alijah Martin, left, strips the ball from Sixers’ Kelly Oubre Jr. during overtime.

    He had the complete package against the Raptors.

    Oubre finished with 13 points on 5-for-10 shooting to go with five rebounds and season highs of four steals and three blocks in his third game back. Nine of his points came in the third quarter.

    “He hasn’t really scored much since being back, so that’s obviously nice to see,” Nurse said. “He even hit a three, but had some really nice drives. He had a couple of good blocks and steals as well, which is why we ended up playing him as much as we did down the stretch.”

    He’ll go back to being an X-factor if he can keep this up.

    “It definitely felt good,” Oubre said. “It’s just, I think I could be better. I got blocked because I’m not trusting myself and the work that I put in.

    “So you know, just watching film, continue to just show up every day and get better. That’s all I can do. But it definitely felt good to get some run.”

  • Scottie Barnes hits tiebreaking free throw in final second of OT as Raptors beat Sixers, 116-115

    Scottie Barnes hits tiebreaking free throw in final second of OT as Raptors beat Sixers, 116-115

    TORONTO — Scottie Barnes hit a tiebreaking free throw with 0.8 seconds remaining in overtime and the Toronto Raptors beat the 76ers 116-115 on Sunday night in the first of back-to-back meetings between short-handed teams.

    Barnes made the first of two from the line and intentionally missed the second as Toronto won its third straight home meeting with the Sixers. He finished 10 for 12 at the line.

    Barnes scored 31 points, Jamal Shead added a career-high 22, and Immanuel Quickley had 20 as Toronto won its third straight at home. Collin Murray-Boyles had 17 points and matched his career-high with 15 rebounds.

    Tyrese Maxey scored 38 points for the Sixers and VJ Edgecombe had 17. Kelly Oubre Jr., Dominick Barlow and Quentin Grimes each scored 13 points but Philadelphia lost for the second time in seven games.

    Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey (right) scored a game-high 38 points.

    Joel Embiid (left knee and left groin) and Paul George (left knee) both sat out on the first night of this back-to-back.

    Barnes returned after sitting out Friday’s loss at Boston because of a sore right knee but RJ Barrett was inactive because of a sprained left ankle. Brandon Ingram (right thumb) missed his second straight game and Jakob Poeltl (lower back) missed his 10th straight. There is no timetable for Poeltl’s return.

    Ja’Kobe Walter started for the Raptors but exited four minutes into the first quarter because of a sore right hip.

    Joel Embiid, Paul George miss Sixers’ game against the Raptors in Toronto

    Philadelphia had 22 turnovers, one shy of matching a season-high. The Sixers’ 11 assists were a season-low.

    Toronto finished 5 for 32 from three-point range, its worst shooting percentage from distance this season.

    Up next

    The 76ers and Raptors play in Toronto again on Monday night (7:30 p.m., NBCSP).

  • Joel Embiid, Paul George miss Sixers’ game against the Raptors in Toronto

    Joel Embiid, Paul George miss Sixers’ game against the Raptors in Toronto

    TORONTO — Joel Embiid missed Sunday’s game against the Raptors with left groin soreness and left knee injury management. Paul George was a late scratch for the game with left knee soreness.

    Embiid had played in six consecutive games — and hit 40 minutes Monday in an overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets — for the first time since the 2023-24 season. Embiid had been listed Saturday as questionable on the injury report for left knee injury management ahead of this back-to-back in Toronto on Sunday and Monday. The groin soreness, which coach Nick Nurse said emerged following Friday’s victory at the Orlando Magic, was added to the report on Sunday.

    Embiid, the former MVP who is coming off multiple knee surgeries, is averaging 23.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 19 games. George has averaged 16 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.4 steals in 20 games.

    Don’t look now but the Sixers have turned a dire situation into a hopeful one behind their new Big Four

    Without Embiid, the Sixers will turn to Andre Drummond and Adem Bona at center against the 23-16 Raptors, who sat a half-game ahead of the Sixers (21-15) in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings entering Sunday. Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker are also small-ball options at that position.

    Nurse said after Sunday’s overtime loss that George, who was not listed on the injury report at any point leading into the game, felt stiffness in his knee while attempting to warm up “two different times, and he just couldn’t get to where he could push off it enough or accelerate.”

    Kelly Oubre Jr., who returned earlier this week from a knee injury, slid into the starting lineup in place of George.

    Sixers second-year wing Justin Edwards, meanwhile, has been recalled from the G League’s Delaware Blue Coats and will be available for Sunday’s game.

  • Don’t look now but the Sixers have turned a dire situation into a hopeful one behind their new Big Four

    Don’t look now but the Sixers have turned a dire situation into a hopeful one behind their new Big Four

    Well, it’s not the same season it was seven weeks ago, is it?

    On Nov. 26, the 76ers were in 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings with a 9-8 record. They also were a day removed from a 144-103 loss to the Orlando Magic at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

    The 41-point drubbing was their worst home loss since a 135-87 drubbing at the hands of the Boston Celtics on Feb. 15, 2022. At the time, Joel Embiid missed eight consecutive games with right knee soreness. Kelly Oubre Jr. also was sidelined with a sprained left knee ligament. And Paul George had only played in three games because of left knee injury management and a sprained ankle.

    Whatever their chances were of contending for a conference championship, they’re drastically improved.

    Sixers takeaways: Paul George keeps taking over, Kelly Oubre Jr.’s energy outweighs shooting woes, and more in win over Magic

    In the team’s first meeting since the November rout, the Sixers defeated the Magic, 103-91, on Friday at the Kia Center. The fifth-place squad has a 21-15 record and is a half-game game behind the fourth-place Toronto Raptors entering the teams’ two-game series on Sunday and Monday at Scotiabank Arena.

    Embiid is listed as questionable for Sunday’s matchup against the Raptors (23-16) with left knee injury management. Not having been cleared previously to play on back-to-back nights, Embiid is expected to miss one of the matchups in Toronto. However, his current six-game streak is the longest since playing six straight from Jan. 15-25, 2024.

    Meanwhile, Oubre returned on Wednesday after missing 22 games. And now healthy and back to playing at a high level, George has shown signs of why the Sixers gave him a four-year, $211.5 million contract last summer to form a Big Three with Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.

    But …

    Rookie shooting guard VJ Edgecombe has been playing so well that we might want to reconsider adding him to the group and renaming it the Big Four.

    Not only are the Sixers the healthiest they’ve been in some time, but they all know and have accepted their roles, which has enabled them to thrive. And from a team culture standpoint, the Sixers have come a long way from the squad that had a well-publicized team meeting after a 106-89 road loss to the Miami Heat on Nov. 18, 2024.

    Joel Embiid has played in six consecutive games. It is his longest streak since playing in six straight from Jan. 15-25, 2024.

    In that meeting, Maxey called out Embiid for being late for team functions. Players also told coach Nick Nurse and his staff that they wanted to be coached harder. In turn, the coaches said they wanted the players to practice with purpose and attention to detail.

    So far this season, things have seemed like a love fest. Players have built bonds playing video games and blossomed into each other’s biggest supporters.

    On the court, Maxey, who entered Saturday as the league’s third-leading scorer at 30.7 points per game, has supplanted Embiid as the No. 1 option.

    But Embiid is moving better, and George is excelling in his role. The Sixers have benefited from those things.

    After starting 0-4 in games the Big Three played in this season, the Sixers have gone 5-1 with them.

    “I think Tyrese is kind of always going to be like explosive and scoring, pretty much, his speed and energy,” Nurse said. “But when we get to Joel in a few situations, you know he’s either going to get a bucket or a foul for a stretch. That gives our team a lot of confidence. And you shift over and give PG the ball a couple of times, then he gets a couple of buckets. And [the opposing players] are not quite sure where you are going to hit them from. … You still have to worry about some of the other guys out there, too.”

    Paul George thinks Sixers’ defense has ‘special’ potential after victory at Orlando Magic

    Nurse could be referring to Edgecombe, sixth man Quentin Grimes, and Oubre, once he regains his rhythm.

    Embiid (23.5 points per game) is the team’s second-leading scorer, followed by Edgecombe (16.1), George (16.0), Oubre (14.5), and Grimes (14.5).

    But now that they’re healthy, the Sixers have a chance, on paper, to be the deepest squad of Nurse’s three-year tenure.

    Dominick Barlow, Jared McCain, Andre Drummond, Adem Bona, Jabari Walker, Trendon Watford, Justin Edwards, and Eric Gordon also have made solid on-court contributions.

    Quentin Grimes has provided a huge lift off the Sixers bench.

    In addition to staying on the Raptors’ heels, Friday’s victory gave the Sixers the 2-1 head-to-head tiebreaker over the Magic. That could be valuable if the Sixers and Orlando finish the season with the same record.

    “It’s still early in the season,” Embiid said. “It’s kind of hard to start thinking about tie breaks and all that, but it’s good. Obviously, we’re right there with them. Our aim is to keep winning and keep climbing up the standings, and they happen to do the same thing, and if that’s needed. I guess that’s a good thing.”

    But it’s even better for them that the season is not the same as it was seven weeks ago.

    The Sixers have hope.

  • Paul George thinks Sixers’ defense has ‘special’ potential after victory at Orlando Magic

    Paul George thinks Sixers’ defense has ‘special’ potential after victory at Orlando Magic

    ORLANDO — Nick Nurse called a timeout about two minutes into Friday’s matchup at the Magic, frustrated that his 76ers were “standing up straight and not moving great” defensively.

    The coach continued to cycle through personnel groupings, searching for a spark on that end of the floor. He found it at the top of the final period, with guards VJ Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes, wings Paul George and Kelly Oubre Jr., and center Andre Drummond.

    Their suffocating, versatile defense turned a four-point Sixers lead into a 13-point advantage in an eventual 103-91 victory at Kia Arena. It helped the Sixers (21-15) overcome a night when they shot 4-for-28 from three-point range to secure the tiebreaker against a potential Eastern Conference playoff opponent. And the almost-five-minute surge happened with stars Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid getting their customary rest.

    After the game, George said he believes the “scrappy” effort from that fourth-quarter lineup was only a flash of the Sixers’ potential on the defensive end of the floor.

    “I think we can be special defensively,” said George, a four-time, all-defense selection during his standout career. “And that’s where the praise needs to be.”

    Sixers takeaways: Paul George keeps taking over, Kelly Oubre Jr.’s energy outweighs shooting woes, and more in win over Magic

    The Sixers exited Friday ranked 12th in the NBA in defensive rating, with 113.3 points allowed per 100 possessions. Yet in their last five games, which have coincided with a return to a fully healthy roster for the first time since December of 2023, they are sixth (109.1 points per 100 possessions).

    Nurse’s teams have regularly been lauded for an aggressive defensive style, anchored by playmakers who can deflect passes and generate takeaways. Yet this season’s Sixers also exited Friday ranked 12th in opponent turnovers (15.2 per game) and steals (8.7 per game).

    Though the Sixers did not force a turnover during Friday’s decisive fourth-quarter stretch, Oubre and Grimes disrupted ballhandlers with their perimeter pressure. That allowed George and Drummond to “[patrol] in the back” near the basket. And it was a block party at the rim, with Drummond, George, and Oubre all rejecting one shot during the Magic’s 1-for-12 stint from the floor.

    “We were just really keeping the ball in front,” Nurse said. “And when it did get past us, we always were sending a crowd to it.”

    It was the second consecutive game that Nurse turned to the lineup that began the fourth quarter, after it blew open Wednesday’s home victory against the Washington Wizards. In 14 minutes across those two victories, that lineup has a stunning defensive rating of 48.1 points allowed per 100 possessions and a net rating of plus-74.9.

    Even with that minuscule sample size, that group’s success perhaps represents a more under-the-radar benefit to the Sixers regaining health.

    Sixers guard VJ Edgecombe was part of a game-altering defensive effort.

    Outsiders may believe roster continuity is most helpful on the offensive end, where timing and chemistry between teammates are critical. But Nurse said last week that it also would allow the Sixers to add defensive schemes to complement the offensive firepower of Maxey, who dropped another 29 points Friday, the returning-to-form Embiid (22 points, nine rebounds) and George (18 points, nine rebounds), and the complementary scoring potential of Edgecombe, Oubre, and Grimes.

    When George was sidelined to begin the season, for instance, Nurse said the wing would be especially valuable to this team as a defensive communicator. Oubre, who earlier this week returned from a month-plus-long absence with a knee injury, also welcomes guarding wings and switching onto multiple positions. Edgecombe is already an impact player on that end, a rarity for a rookie, while Maxey is a noticeably improved defender. And if Embiid continues to improve physically, he could become an impact rebounder and rim protector again.

    Those options mean the Sixers can contest outside shots and “make it a tight paint” on drives, George said. At other points Friday, the Sixers shifted into a zone defense and used Drummond to “blitz” out on perimeter ballhandlers. The next step as a group, George said, is to become even more comfortable playing “on a string” and rotating sharply with teammates.

    Nurse, though, may have discovered a lineup that can provide a defensive spark. And George believes Friday’s five-minute effort is only a glimpse at the Sixers’ capabilities on that end of the floor.

    “I know it’s tough to do — especially more now than ever in this league,” he said. “But I think the versatility that we have, we should be able to do it.”

  • Sixers takeaways: Paul George keeps taking over, Kelly Oubre Jr.’s energy outweighs shooting woes, and more in win over Magic

    Sixers takeaways: Paul George keeps taking over, Kelly Oubre Jr.’s energy outweighs shooting woes, and more in win over Magic

    Paul George keeps taking up the slack.

    The center rotation between Joel Embiid remains in flux.

    And Kelly Oubre Jr. must regain his shooting rhythm. But in the meantime, his effort has been a huge asset.

    Those things stood out in the 76ers’ 103-91 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday night at the Kia Center.

    George continues to shine

    The Sixers (21-15) need someone to take over when Tyrese Maxey and Embiid are on the bench at the start of the fourth quarter. Based on Friday, George is determined to fulfill that role.

    NBA official Bill Kennedy taken off court in wheelchair with injured leg in 76ers-Magic game

    The nine-time All-Star scored eight of the Sixers’ 11 points to put them up 94-82 before Embid and Maxey checked in with 6 minutes, 48 seconds remaining. George made 4 of 7 shots, grabbed four rebounds, blocked two shots, and assisted on Andre Drummond’s layup during the stretch without the two standouts.

    After he went to the bench briefly at the 6:18 mark, Maxey and Embiid continued where he left off. They combined to score seven points before George returned with 3:35 remaining. He added his 10th point of the quarter on a layup with 2:57 left.

    “He was really good in the fourth,” Maxey told the media. “Really good! He played defense all game. Then in the fourth, he made shots.”

    Sixers’ Tyrese Maxey drops to third in East in All-Star voting; Joel Embiid remains 17th

    The 6-foot-9 small forward finished with 18 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and three steals to go with his two blocks. This is the second consecutive game that George dominated a quarter. He scored 13 of his 23 points in the second quarter of Wednesday’s home victory against the Washington Wizards.

    The Sixers need him and rookie VJ Edgecombe to keep dominating quarters, especially when Maxey and Embiid are resting.

    George didn’t shoot the ball well, missing all seven of his three-point attempts. But he played with poise and got to his spots for key buckets, especially in the fourth quarter.

    Maxey finished with a game-high 29 points and three steals. Embiid added 22 points, nine rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block. Edgecombe had just six points on 3-for-8 shooting. But the shooting guard finished with nine rebounds, a team-high seven assists, and two steals.

    The Sixers will be tough to beat if their four best players continue to display this type of balance.

    Center rotation

    When healthy and available, Embiid will always get the start at center. And that’s understandable, considering he’s the 2023 MVP and a seven-time All-Star. Who backs him up, however, often depends on the matchup.

    Adem Bona usually gets the nod when the Sixers are playing an athletic team that likes to play an uptempo style. Meanwhile, Drummond assumes the role whenever they need rebounding against a towering team.

    ‘That’s the PG we all know and love’: Paul George is finding a rhythm and changing the narrative of his Sixers tenure

    So against Orlando (21-18), Drummond was the first player off the bench, subbing in for Embiid with 5:47 left in the opening quarter. This marked his second consecutive appearance after not playing in the previous two games.

    Drummond quickly made an impact, grabbing an offensive rebound and scoring a putback at the 5:12 mark. He played well, finishing with seven points and six rebounds, and was a plus-8 in 16:37. Bona did not play.

    Oubre’s shooting

    Oubre is rusty. And that’s understandable.

    Friday marked his second game back after missing 22 games with a sprained left knee ligament. The small forward failed to score while missing all five of his shots. But what Oubre lacked in shooting, he made up for in other areas. The 6-8, 203-pounder finished with six rebounds and one block.

    He’s shooting 1-for-9, including missing all four of his three-point attempts, in his return.

    But his energy and solid defense have made Oubre an asset off the bench in the last two games. And he should make an even larger impact once he regains his shooting rhythm.

    Before the injury, Oubre averaged 16.8 points on 49.7% shooting — including 34.3% from three-point land.

    The Sixers expect him to regain his shooting form over time.

  • Tyrese Maxey’s 29 points leads Sixers past Magic despite both teams struggling on offense

    Tyrese Maxey’s 29 points leads Sixers past Magic despite both teams struggling on offense

    ORLANDO, Fla. — Tyrese Maxey had 29 points and three steals, Joel Embiid added 22 points and nine rebounds, and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Orlando Magic 103-91 on Friday night in a game in which the teams combined to make 8 of 57 3-point shots.

    Paul George scored 12 of his 18 points in the second half and added nine rebounds for the 76ers, who won for the fifth time in six games. Philadelphia has won four straight on the road.

    Desmond Bane led Orlando with 23 points. Anthony Black added 21 points and Paolo Banchero finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.

    Philadelphia shot 4 for 28 (14.3%) from long range to Orlando’s 4 for 29 (13.8%).

    Maxey, the NBA’s third-leading scorer at 30.7 points per game, made only 3 of 12 shots in a 12-point first half and missed all four of his 3-point attempts. He finished 10 for 22 overall and 3 for 8 on threes.

    When Maxey hit his second 3-pointer of the game with 1:36 remaining in the third quarter, the 76ers were 3 for 22 from 3-point range and had a seven-point lead. His final 3-pointer came with 3:42 left and gave the 76ers their largest lead, 101-85.

    Referee Bill Kennedy left the court in a wheelchair after suffering an apparent leg injury during the first quarter.

    The Magic played without Tristan da Silva (back spams) and Jalen Suggs, who missed a fourth straight game with a right knee contusion.

    Up next

    76ers: Play at Toronto on Sunday and Monday.

    Magic: Play at home against New Orleans on Sunday.

    ___

    AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/nba

  • NBA official Bill Kennedy taken off court in wheelchair with injured leg in 76ers-Magic game

    NBA official Bill Kennedy taken off court in wheelchair with injured leg in 76ers-Magic game

    ORLANDO, Fla. — NBA official Bill Kennedy left the court in a wheelchair after suffering an apparent leg injury during the first quarter of the Sixers at Orlando Magic game on Friday night.

    Kennedy appeared to start limping as he was running down the court during a 76ers fastbreak with about 2 1/2 minutes remaining in the first quarter. He was seen hopping on the baseline as Paul George made a layup to cut Orlando’s lead to 22-20. He then called for assistance as the Magic called a timeout.

    His right leg was tended to for several minutes before he was wheeled off the court.

    Kennedy’s departure left officials James Williams and Michael Smith to work the rest of the game. The 76ers won the game 103-91.

    ___

    AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/nba

  • The Big Picture: Eagles are everywhere, young stars shine, and the best Philly sports photos of the week

    The Big Picture: Eagles are everywhere, young stars shine, and the best Philly sports photos of the week

    Each Friday, Inquirer photo editors pick the best Philly sports images from the last seven days. This week, we’ve got Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe leading the way for the Sixers, while Trevor Zegras and the Flyers get some revenge on Cutter Gauthier. And, of course, we’ve got the Eagles — both on the field and on the steps of the Art Museum …

    Joel Embiid and the Sixers cruised past the Washington Wizards, 131-110, on Wednesday night.
    The Sixers finally have a full roster. Now it’s time to see how all the players fit.
    VJ Edgecombe hangs on the rim after dunking past Denver Nuggets guard Bruce Brown on Monday, but the Sixers lost in overtime.
    Sixers’ Tyrese Maxey drops to third in East in All-Star voting; Joel Embiid remains 17th
    Tyrese Maxey couldn’t lift the Sixers over the Denver Nuggets this week, but he does remain one of the Eastern Conference’s top All-Star candidates after finishing third in the second round of fan voting.
    As Tyrese Maxey ascends, his shotmaking in ‘clutch’ scenarios is still a work in progress
    A member of the Sixers dance team waves the team flag before the Sixers game against the Nuggets.
    VJ Edgecombe tried to dunk over Washington’s Marvin Bagley III, but instead was called for an offensive foul in the first half of the Sixers’ latest win.
    VJ Edgecombe’s short career is full of milestones. The Sixers think there are more to come.
    Former Flyers prospect Cutter Gauthier (not pictured) struck first, but Trevor Zegras answered with two first-period goals of his own Tuesday night. The Flyers went on to beat the Ducks, 5-2.
    Trevor Zegras’ knack for the big moment and three other reasons this team has staying power
    Trevor Zegras nearly had a hat trick against the Ducks, but was denied by Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal in the third period.
    Flyers fans still don’t like Cutter Gauthier. Trevor Zegras has made it sting a little less.
    Fans behind the Anaheim bench try to catch a stick that left the ice during Tuesday’s win over the Ducks.
    Contract grades: Was signing Christian Dvorak for the long haul the right move for the Flyers?
    Peter Chang plays basketball during a mild winter afternoon Monday at Charles T. Mitchell Jr. Park in Philadelphia.
    Temple guard Jordan Mason drives past East Carolina guard Jordan Riley during the second half. Temple’s 75-67 victory pushed its winning streak to seven games.
    Despite sluggish second half, Temple prevails over East Carolina to extend winning streak
    Earlier this week, Masiah Gilyard (10) and the Temple Owls beat UTSA at the Liacouras Center in their conference opener.
    A late fourth-quarter push isn’t enough as Temple falls in conference opener to UTSA
    Large cutouts of Eagles players like Jordan Mailata and Jalen Hurts decorate the steps at the Art Museum on Wednesday, ahead of Sunday’s wild-card game against the San Francisco 49ers.
    Philly bar Ladder 15 turns away 49ers fans who were planning a playoff takeover: ‘We were backing our city’
    Eagles fans were bundled up Sunday, with the team’s loss to the Commanders likely making it feel even colder at the Linc.
    Potential Eagles coaching changes, Jalen Hurts’ evolving style, and what else the national media is saying
    Eagles tight end Grant Calcaterra left Sunday’s game after he was injured on this tackle by Washington Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves in the third quarter.
    Eagles vs. 49ers predictions: Our writers pick a winner for the wild-card round
    Eagles defensive tackle Byron Young (left) and linebacker Joshua Uche (right) tackle Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt. They were two Birds who saw extended playing time with the starters resting.
    Eagles’ odds vs. 49ers improve for Sunday; plus updated player props for wild-card weekend
    Eagles general manager Howie Roseman runs off the field after the loss to the Commanders on Sunday. Next up? A playoff game against the 49ers.
  • The Sixers finally have a full roster. Now it’s time to see how all the players fit.

    The Sixers finally have a full roster. Now it’s time to see how all the players fit.

    About 70 minutes before tipoff Wednesday, Kelly Oubre Jr. let out a scream when he popped into the 76ers’ locker room. A few minutes later, Tyrese Maxey announced that “12 [is] back” while settling into his seat next to Trendon Watford.

    They were, indeed. Oubre and Watford both returned from lengthy injury absences in the Sixers’ comfortable 131-110 victory over the Washington Wizards at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Their modest stat lines — Oubre totaled two points, three rebounds, and two steals in 20 minutes, 16 seconds; Watford three assists and did not attempt a shot in 4:45 — reflected that they had been sidelined for more than a month.

    But their outings were an appropriate first step for the 20-15 Sixers, who had their full roster available for a game for the first time since December 2023.

    Sixers takeaways: Joel Embiid is a mainstay, Paul George still has it, and more from win vs. Wizards

    “It’s been a long journey to get back out there,” Oubre said postgame. “And it felt amazing, just to even be able to just touch the court and be able to do anything out there.”

    Coach Nick Nurse’s eyes widened when informed that, according to research by PhillyVoice, it had been more than two calendar years since the Sixers had not ruled out any players before a game because of injury or personal reasons. When the public address announcer shared that the Sixers had “no injuries” a few minutes before tipoff, cheers erupted from the crowd.

    There was another big ovation when Oubre initially checked in during the first quarter, wearing a knee brace under a leg sleeve that provides proper support but “just [messes] my swag all the way up,” he quipped.

    Kelly Oubre Jr. averaged 16.8 points on 49.7% shooting along with 5.1 rebounds in the season’s first 12 games.

    Oubre airballed his first shot, an elbow pull-up off a rebound that he said he rushed because he “was so happy and geeked” to be back on the court. After two more misfires — which the 11-year veteran attributed to fatigued legs — Oubre’s fourth-quarter jumper in the lane bounced in just before he exited for the final time.

    But on the defensive end, the Sixers consistently felt Oubre’s full-court pressure. That was where he was most eager to test that knee, he said.

    “He just started going out there and picking his guy up,” Nurse said. “And everybody behind him saw how hard he was working, and I think they picked it up, too.

    “I think he was a big spark tonight, even though it doesn’t look like his offense is anywhere near his capabilities yet.”

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    While rehabbing the knee sprain he suffered on Nov. 14, Oubre said he felt “no pain” but added that he needed to regain his stability and strength. When he finished “like my 1,000th sprint,” however, Oubre said he was “so done.”

    “I just wanted to get out there and play basketball,” Oubre said, “and test my wind out there on the court.”

    Next, Oubre will be tasked with recapturing his career-best play, when he averaged 16.8 points on 49.7% shooting along with 5.1 rebounds in the season’s first 12 games. He was more in control with the ball in his hands on offense and was another defender who could guard bigger wings and switch on to multiple positions.

    Oubre also has been a consistent starter when healthy throughout his two-plus Sixers seasons. Dominick Barlow, who had become a terrific fit as a rebounder and cutter in Oubre’s absence, maintained that first-team role Wednesday.

    Nurse said before the game that he would prefer to eventually become “a little more fluid” with lineup combinations, depending on opponent matchups. Personnel tweaks also could affect players further down the rotation, such as Jabari Walker and Jared McCain.

    Watford, who averaged 8.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 14 games before suffering an adductor strain in his thigh, put himself in the category of needing to earn one of those spots again.

    He believes his three assists in Wednesday’s short stint are evidence of his playmaking as a 6-foot-8 “point” forward. He said he needs to get more comfortable playing off former MVP center Joel Embiid, who is looking far more like himself than earlier in the season.

    Yet after Watford also missed training camp and the preseason with a hamstring injury, Nurse said he needs to evaluate the forward for “a long stretch of games.”

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    “We certainly like his size, his skill, his kind of versatility,” Nurse said. “But I just haven’t seen enough of it yet to really understand where he’s going to help us and fit into this thing.”

    That process will continue when the Sixers hit the road for a Friday matchup against the Orlando Magic before two straight games against the Raptors in Toronto. Nurse knows Oubre and Watford regaining their conditioning, rhythm, and “peak performance” will take time. And the coach does not want to disrupt the cohesion that has been building as Embiid and Paul George have become more available, mobile, and productive alongside the dynamic backcourt of Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.

    But Wednesday was the first step with the Sixers’ full roster.

    Finally.

    “I feel fine,” Oubre said. “I feel amazing, actually. So I’m just happy to get one under my belt and just continue to grow from there.”