After 12 games on the shelf recovering from offseason knee surgery, Paul George finally made his season debut Monday night against the Clippers.
Nick Nurse doesn’t expect George to play both legs of the Sixers’ upcoming back-to-back against the Raptors and the Bucks, but he said his star forward exited the game feeling healthy.
“He was good,” Nurse said Tuesday. “Came out good. Felt good. Feels good. Today he was a full participant in practice.”
George, who signed a four-year max contract ahead of last season, played 21 minutes and scored nine points against his former team. Nurse said before George’s season debut that the forward would be on a minutes restriction but did not get into specifics.
Although George shot 2-for-9 from the field, including 1-for-4 from three-point range, the Sixers are already feeling his impact on both ends of the floor.
“We all know [what] he can do as far as on-ball defending, but he’s also a great off-ball defender, being there for us, being able to help, being loud,” Trendon Watford said. “I think that’s what we’ve been missing. With Kelly [Oubre Jr.] going out, Kelly being the vocal guy on defense, and obviously the guy who takes the toughest matchups, Paul can fill that void for us.”
Sixers forward Paul George had nine points, seven rebounds and three assists in his season debut on Monday.
Dominick Barlow, who played his second game since returning from an elbow laceration, idolized George growing up. He said the spacing George brings on the floor helped open up the game for the entire team.
“It’s going to make our lineups a lot more interesting, and it’s going to be fun,” Barlow said.
Barlow’s return
Speaking of injuries, Barlow said he’s at full strength and not restricted in any way after a procedure to repair the cut in his elbow. He is working with the medical team to prevent the cut from reopening but said he’s not overly concerned about it.
Barlow believes his vision on the court already is improving.
“Seeing driving angles, I had a couple of straight line drives that I was able to attack, so I’d probably say that was the biggest thing,” Barlow said. “I’m just trying to get some more pop back in my legs.”
The Sixers did not have updates on the health status of Oubre or Joel Embiid, Nurse said. Embiid was a full participant in practice Tuesday but has missed four consecutive games because of soreness in his right knee.
“He’s OK, I would say,” Nurse said ahead of Monday’s game. “Just not quite pain-free. Still day to day. I think it’s getting better. I don’t think he’s far away from playing.”
Oubre missed Monday’s game with a lateral collateral ligament injury in his left knee, which he suffered Friday in a loss to the Detroit Pistons. Nurse said the team is still waiting for an update on his status.
For the second week in a row, it was the Eagles defense leading the way as the Birds scraped past another NFC North opponent, this time in a 16-9 win over the Detroit Lions.
Last week after their win over the Green Bay Packers, the Eagles (8-2) seemed to confuse those who compile weekly NFL power rankings. Some saw the victory over another NFC contender as a reason to move the Eagles up. Others, however, saw the narrow victory as a reason to drop the Birds, largely because of the questions surrounding their lack of offensive output.
Did another defensive win confuse the list makers even more? Or did the impressive showing by Vic Fangio’s defense — against one of the NFL’s best offenses — confirm that this team doesn’t need to score a lot of points to win? Here’s a look at where the Eagles stand in the latest round of power rankings as the season enters Week 12 …
ESPN: Second
Our first outlet, and we’re already seeing the Eagles drop despite their win. Last week, ESPN was one of the sites that moved the Eagles up to the top spot. This week, they’re back to No. 2, and the team that leapfrogged them — the 8-2 Los Angeles Rams — is one the Eagles already have beaten this season, albeit on a last-second blocked field goal.
So what was the difference? The Eagles offense, according to Tim McManus, who also says that offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo is under the most pressure.
“The offense has been a disappointment,” McManus wrote. “The Eagles rank 25th in total yards (300.1 per game), 28th in passing (184.9) and 29th in third-down conversion rate (33.87%). They’re averaging 115 rushing yards per game (17th in NFL), compared to 179 in 2024 (second). They are, however, the best red zone offense (75% conversion rate) and have a league-low four giveaways. That, paired with a defense that has played lights out as of late, has been enough to keep Philly atop the NFC. But the offense has not yet reached its potential, and it falls on the first-year play caller to help remedy that.”
We’re more than halfway through the season. At what point do we stop talking about the Eagles’ offensive “potential” and just come to terms with the product they put out there each week? You are what you repeatedly do, right?
The Eagles beat the Rams this season — barely — but still trail them in most national power rankings.
Yahoo! Sports: First
The tight win on Sunday Night Football wasn’t enough for Yahoo! to drop the Eagles from the top spot, even if it openly acknowledges that the already struggling offense just took another hit with the loss of right tackle Lane Johnson to a Lisfranc injury.
“Lane Johnson’s injury will knock him out 4-6 weeks and everyone by now knows the Eagles aren’t nearly as good without their All-Pro right tackle,” Frank Schwab wrote. “Still, the Eagles are becoming masterful at overcoming adversity. Their defense is finally hitting its stride, too.”
No surprise that the Rams are right behind the Eagles, with the Indianapolis Colts in third and the Seahawks in fourth after each dropping a spot after being leapfrogged by the Rams.
The Athletic’s Josh Kendall and Chad Graff offered a seemingly simple suggestion to the Eagles, one that is hard to argue with after watching their last two games: “Be more interesting.” But boring football wasn’t enough to drop the Birds from the top spot.
“Thank goodness for A.J. Brown,” Kendall and Graff wrote. “The wide receiver’s weekly passive-aggressive complaints about his role in the offense are the only things making this team worth watching anymore. Jalen Hurts completed 14 passes for 135 yards Sunday night. The sublime Saquon Barkley averaged 3.2 yards per carry and is 14th in the league in rushing (662 yards). Yet the Eagles and their smothering defense are marching joylessly back toward the Super Bowl.”
The Rams held steady at No. 2, while the idle Colts climbed to No. 3, and the Denver Broncos, courtesy of their win over the Kansas City Chiefs, moved into the fourth spot.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts hasn’t posted big numbers this season, but he’s been efficient and avoided turnovers.
The Ringer: Second
Unlike ESPN, The Ringer didn’t drop the Eagles to second after their win; it elevated them from third to second. “This team is finding its 2024 form again, and I’m starting to believe,” Diante Lee wrote.
“As the ugly wins stack up in 2025, it’s hard not to think about the similarities to last year and whether all the issues will iron themselves out once we get to the playoffs,” Lee added. “If this defense keeps playing this well, I’m inclined to believe that the answer is an emphatic yes.”
The Rams have held steady in The Ringer’s top spot for several weeks. Meanwhile, the Seahawks (No. 3), Broncos (No. 4), and Colts (No. 5) round out their top five.
The Rams were already well ahead of the Eagles at Sports Illustrated — they moved from second to first this week — but the Birds were one of the outlet’s biggest risers, climbing five spots, up from seventh, to second.
“The clips of Nakobe Dean staying stride for stride with all of Detroit’s best players was just another reminder of how weaponized this Eagles defense is,” Conor Orr wrote. “Can’t we understand now that the team’s best talent and coaching resides on that side of the ball, which is why the offense is being used as a game-shortening tool rather than an elevator of personal feelings and your fantasy team?”
The Eagles jumped over the New England Patriots, Seahawks, Broncos, Colts, and Lions to claim that second spot.
The Eagles moved up one spot at NFL.com, thanks to the Seahawks’ loss. But that also meant that the new No. 1 team, the Rams, and the new No. 2, the Colts, also moved up a spot each as Seattle fell to fourth.
“The Lions might have hurt themselves with their own overaggressiveness, but the Eagles certainly had a lot to do with that,” wrote Eric Edholm. “Philadelphia’s relentless pressure has been the new calling card of a defense that has reached another plateau since the bye. That’s now two straight games in prime time where the Eagles have held a playoff-contending opponent to single-digit points. The trade acquisition of Jaelan Phillips looks like a gem of a pickup, with the edge rusher making his impact felt in both games since his arrival in Philly. … Doubt them at your own risk.”
The Eagles added linebacker Jaelan Phillips at the trade deadline, and he has made an immediate impact on the defense.
CBS Sports: Third
A big tumble by the previously top-ranked Seahawks (now No. 7) meant a lot of teams moved up, including the Eagles, who climbed one spot to third, behind the Rams and the Patriots, respectively.
“The offense still isn’t great, but they are winning games,“ Pete Prisco wrote. ”The defense has really stepped up the past two weeks.”
The Colts (No. 4), and Broncos (No. 5) also cracked the top five.
The Eagles remained in the fourth position at USA Today, as there was very little movement among Nate Davis’ top five teams.
“A replenished defense has held two high-octane offenses to single-digit points in successive weeks − which is even better news with injured RT Lane Johnson set to miss a chunk of time with a Lisfranc injury for an already sputtering offense,” wrote Davis.
The Rams, Patriots, Seahawks, and Broncos — in that order — make up the rest of their top five, with the only change this week being the Patriots and Seahawks swapping spots.
Tyrese Maxey hurt Big Bro’s feelings Sunday night. When James Harden and the Clippers flew in from Boston on Sunday evening, Harden expected Maxey to have called and left a message, or to at least have sent a text, inviting Harden to meet Maxey somewhere in Philly for food and fellowship.
But then the plane touched down, and Harden turned on his phone and … crickets.
The Beard was bummed. After all, he’d mentored Maxey for the 18 months they’d been 76ers teammates in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. It was a mentorship Maxey rode to his All-Star appearance the very next season.
They are similar, and they remain close. When Harden began battling the Sixers’ front office in 2023, Maxey defended him and called him “my big brother.”
On Sunday, though, Big Bro was left to his own devices, and he mentioned that to Maxey before they faced each other Monday night: “Bro, you didn’t call me. I mean, like when I landed … nothing.”
Maxey replied, “Yeah, I thought you were gonna go to sleep. Back-to-back. [You’re] getting old now.”
Harden might be old — he’s 36, and he’s playing in his 17th season — but he’d dropped 37 on the Celtics, he entered Philly averaging 26 points in his 12 games this season, and he’d averaged 34.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 8.8 assists in his last four games. This, after making his 11th All-Star team last season.
Harden managed 28 points Monday, but 18 of those came in the first half. Then the Sixers threw a few junk defenses at him, and he missed 14 of 16 shots in the second half and went 0-for-6 in the fourth quarter, when the Clippers blew a 10-point lead. The Sixers muzzled Harden and won, 110-108, serving the Clippers their eighth loss in their last nine games.
It wasn’t just the box-and-one and double-team schemes that diminished Harden’s effectiveness. Playing without Kawhi Leonard and Bradley Beal, Harden had averaged 39 minutes per game in his last five games. He played almost 37 minutes Monday.
“The minutes he’s been playing … I think he got tired,” coach Tyronn Lue said. “Got worn down.”
Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey drives to the basket against Clippers guard James Harden (1).
Afterward, Harden, who has the fashion sense of a Muppet, put on his fuzziest sneakers, used a pick to groom his luxurious facial fur, shook his head, and said, “I’m not tired. I wasn’t exhausted.”
In fact, he said he has not felt this good since the 2019-20 season, his last full season in Houston, when he won his third consecutive scoring title. A raft of injuries, he said, hindered his efforts to both perform consistently and to reach his physical peak.
But then, Harden has faced years of criticism about his conditioning — he once was accused of wearing a fat suit to force a trade from Houston to Brooklyn — so he will forever challenge any hint that he might ever get tired.
Little Bro certainly wasn’t tired.
After missing eight of 12 shots in the first half, Maxey scored 27 of his game-high 39 points in the second half, including 14 in the fourth quarter. It was the eighth time in his 13 games that he’s scored at least 30 points and the fifth time he’s scored at least 39.
The student has surpassed the master. Of course, the student is 11 years younger, and, as ever, affectionate:
“I love James,” Maxey said.
The rest of Philadelphia does not share his Brotherly Love.
Harden was roundly booed every time his name was mentioned Monday night, and the ire came across generations. When Harden bobbled a loose ball near the sideline in the fourth quarter, a middle-aged businessman in a tailored suit rage-cheered from the third row. Ten seats down, a 20-something in a fancy sweatsuit leaned over fans in the second row so he could hard-clap and taunt Harden from a few feet closer.
This is all lingering residue of Harden’s acrimonious departure from Philly in the late summer of 2023, when he forced a trade to his hometown Clippers. He burned the bridge between himself and Sixers president Daryl Morey, who acquired and enriched Harden in Houston and Philly but declined to overpay him two years ago. In response, Harden ended his brief and disappointing time with the Sixers by opting into the final season of his deal and leveraging his way home.
He’ll always be shown a little love in Philly as long as Maxey’s around.
“James has done a lot for me,” Maxey said. Like every little brother, Maxey relishes the chance to outperform Harden: “He scored on me once today. The other times he couldn’t score on me. I tell him, ‘You can’t score me. I know everything you do!’”
That’s because, from crossover drives to step-back threes to wrong-footed finishes, Harden taught Maxey so much. More than anything, Harden said, he is most impressed that Maxey took to heart the message to always stay hungry.
“Just the aggressiveness that he has,” Harden said, “whether you’re missing or you’ve got it going, he keeps shooting. He had that big fourth quarter. So, I’m just proud of the jump that he’s made and the continuous success that he had.
Lower Merion’s two high school football teams won’t be merging, for now.
At a school board meeting Monday night, Lower Merion School District Superintendent Frank Ranelli made an official recommendation that the district not merge Lower Merion and Harriton High Schools’ football programs despite a coordinated push by parents to combine the teams.
“I don’t feel it’s [Lower Merion’s] responsibility to give up their team identity … and playoff chances to merge with Harriton,” Ranelli said. “Lower Merion High School would be giving up a great deal for a problem that they do not need to solve.”
Parents of Lower Merion and Harriton football players in recent months have petitioned the school board to allow for a merger. They argue that a lack of youth football infrastructure in Lower Merion Township has contributed to a steep decline in player interest, leaving both high school teams under-rostered and unable to compete with neighboring schools. Neither high school has a freshman or junior varsity team, leaving 14-year-old freshmen to play alongside 18-year-old seniors and, the parents argue, increasing the risk of injury.
Amy Buckman, director of communications for the Lower Merion School District, said any further action or vote on a potential football merger would be the school board’s decision.
Last fall, Lower Merion went 1-8 in the Central League, the 12-school athletic conference that stretches across parts of Montgomery and Delaware Counties. Harriton went 0-9.
Ranelli said the issues described by parents were “more of a Harriton problem than [a Lower Merion] problem.”
Explaining his recommendation, Ranelli cited a potential loss of age-old traditions, school spirit, and playoff eligibility. He expressed concerns that the district’s two cheerleading teams would not combine, creating potential issues.
Ranelli also cited a survey sent out to football players and parents. He said 95% of Lower Merion High School football players rated “having their own school team [as] important” and 74% of Harriton players “want to maintain the program at their school.” Thirty-nine percent of middle school players were in favor of merging the teams, Ranelli said.
Parents, students, and alumni, however, called the survey “misleading” and said Ranelli’s comments ignored the safety concerns at the core of their argument. Many urged the school board to take an official vote on the merger.
“To say I am unhappy and a little shocked with the decision is an understatement,” said Michelle Miller, a Lower Merion football parent.
Miller called the survey questions “confusing and up for interpretation.”
About a dozen football players attended the meeting, and four addressed the school board, advocating for their teams to merge.
“You’re shorting a lot of students this opportunity to develop,” Tommy Burke, a Lower Merion High School football player, said. “You’re shorting them development as players and as young men. A lot of them quit because of it. It’s a complete detriment to both programs.”
Rahul Mistry, the parent of a Harriton football player, told the board: “We’ve been trying to have a conversation for months. Let’s talk about it. Let’s open the books and have a conversation.”
This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
When Paul George received an opening-minute pass from Tyrese Maxey and let the three-pointer fly from the right wing, his stoic backpedaling as the ball splashed through the net did not exactly convey his actual feelings.
“I watched it, and there were so many emotions inside,” George later said. “There were zero emotions outside. Honestly, I was just trying to focus on just the game and staying locked in and engaged, but it felt great to make the first shot.”
Monday was far from the first time George has taken the floor after a monthslong injury recovery, but he used the words “rusty” and “rewarding” to describe his first NBA game action since early March. He totaled nine points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in 21 minutes, 6 seconds of the 76ers’ 110-108 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
“It was a long journey,” George said at his locker following the Sixers’ win over his former team. “A lot of ups and downs. A lot of hiccups. But felt good to finally get back out there.”
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue — who is more than familiar with George’s game and injury history — quipped before tipoff that he “just [hopes George is] not himself tonight.” Yet it would be unreasonable to expect a 35-year-old George to immediately return to All-Star form following a July arthroscopic knee surgery — and while limited to roughly five-minute stints at the beginning of each quarter.
It took George less than 60 seconds to record his first block, rebound, and points of the season. Sixers coach Nick Nurse said he considered running plays specifically for George, but instead opted to see what opportunities the 6-foot-8 wing would organically discover in a revamped offensive scheme that emphasizes pace and passing.
George went 2-of-9 from the field, an indicator of that rust. Yet Nurse appreciated George’s commitment to rebounding and instantly slinging the ball ahead in transition — like in the second quarter, when he found a streaking Quentin Grimes, who drew a foul. The lack of offensive rhythm, George said, could be attributed to pushing to regain his game-level cardio and conditioning in those abbreviated stints.
“Before you know it, five minutes is up, and then [you’re] getting subbed out,” George said. “I’ve always kind of let the game come to me. I thought today I was a little rushed, trying to make the most of that five minutes every quarter. A lot of possessions were kind of uncomfortable from just how I play.”
Paul George showed rust in his return but contributed as the Sixers moved to 8-5.
The internal reviews for George were higher on defense, the end of the floor where Nurse was more eager to observe George’s impact. George said he rolled through a mental checklist, clocking that he could slide his feet, stay in front of ballhandlers, and “just fly around.” In the third quarter, for instance, George elevated to block a John Collins floater and pinned the ball to the side of his body.
“Right away,” George said, “it was like, ‘All right, I’m ready for this. I can move. I can react. I can play physical. I can beat the guy to his spot. I can rebound.’”
Monday’s outing marked George’s latest comeback in a decorated career interrupted by injuries. In his first season with the Sixers, he battled multiple knee issues — plus a finger injury that eventually required painkilling injections in order to play — before being shut down after 41 games.
Then came a “freak accident” during an offseason workout, restarting George’s recovery timeline after knee surgery.
George made his presence felt on defense, including in a block of a John Collins shot.
Though George had been practicing with the Sixers for about a month, his left quadriceps muscle “was just weak from being shut down for so long,” he said. George went through a strengthening program targeting that muscle, with extra reps on the left side of squats and leg extensions. He said he had a “huge breakthrough” a few days ago, when the measurable data on his left quad finally matched his right.
“That was kind of the stamp,” George said, “to go along with how I felt on court and to be clinically cleared.”
From here, George and the Sixers’ medical team will monitor how his body tolerated Monday’s workload. The Sixers already have evidence that long-term injury recovery does not always occur in a straight line.
Joel Embiid missed his fourth consecutive game Monday with right knee injury management, even amid a cautious plan with minutes restrictions and scheduled absences to aid his left knee that has undergone multiple surgeries. Jared McCain, who missed nearly 11 months after knee and thumb surgeries, has not scored a point in four games since his return earlier this month.
The Sixers’ injury history with Joel Embiid and others shows that recovery timetables are not always linear.
And there are legitimate questions about George’s ability to ever rekindle his perennial All-Star production or whether he will be more of a veteran role player with this iteration of the Sixers’ roster. After signing a max contract as the NBA’s most coveted free agent during the 2024 offseason, George struggled to get by defenders in his first season in Philly. He averaged 16.2 points — his lowest scoring average over a full season in more than a decade — along with 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.8 steals.
When asked about his role at media day in late September, George said, “I do think I’ve still got a lot of game in me.” Following Monday’s game, George added that he hopes his offensive creation can take some pressure off Maxey, who amassed another 39 points and six assists in 40:57 against the Clippers. But George also recognizes that teammates, such as Grimes and rookie VJ Edgecombe, also can put the ball on the floor and make plays for a Sixers squad that is off to a surprising 8-5 start and entered Tuesday ranked seventh in the NBA in offensive efficiency (117.8 points per 100 possessions).
“That’s really why our team is special and so versatile,” George said. “So [I’m] just trying to fit into what the guys are doing now.”
George, though, still holds gravitas within the Sixers locker room. Fellow veteran Andre Drummond called him “very smart” on both ends of the floor. Maxey praised George’s defensive presence. And Edgecombe said sharing the floor with George for the first time brought out his “inner child” who was a “big fan” of his while growing up in the Bahamas.
“I wanted him to get going early,” Edgecombe said of George. “At least feel the ball, feel the flow of the game.”
By crunch time, though, George had a towel draped over his shoulders while standing with teammates to watch the final possession unfold. When the Clippers’ James Harden missed two potential game-winning three-pointers, George lifted his arms into the air in celebration.
Finishing the game on the bench illustrated how much reacclimation remains for George. But making his season debut — and that first shot — was a start.
“It felt great to finally play basketball again,” George said.
They are now 8-2 after their latest defensive master class, a 16-9 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday night. But for every week that the defense has taken strides lately, the offense seems to stray further from the flashes it showed coming off the mini-bye week in early October.
Week 12 might not be the get-well game the Eagles offense could use. The 4-5-1 Dallas Cowboys clobbered the lowly Las Vegas Raiders, 33-16, on Monday night. Is it a mirage or a sign of a defensive turnaround for the Eagles’ NFC East foe?
Here’s what we know (and what we don’t) about the Eagles entering their final matchup of the regular season against the Cowboys, who are coming off a short week:
A.J. Brown (11) was more involved in the offense on Sunday night against the Lions.
Band-Aids galore
Last week, A.J. Brown stood at his locker stall in the NovaCare Complex and identified the crux of his frustration about the state of the Eagles offense.
He expressed a desire to make an impact on the Kevin Patullo-led offense, just a couple of days removed from a 13-yard performance against the Green Bay Packers. But he also didn’t make his frustrations solely about him. He had grown increasingly tired of the defense bailing out the listless offense and sought to play complementary football as a collective.
“I think if we’re really focusing on winning and doing our job; we can’t just keep slapping a Band-Aid over the defense doing their job and getting us out of trouble,” Brown said Wednesday. “At what point are we going to pick a box as an offense and say, ‘We’re so great?’ That’s what I’m getting at.”
That point didn’t come Sunday night against the Lions. Vic Fangio and the Eagles defense opened up another box of Band-Aids, limiting the league’s second-ranked scoring offense entering Week 11 to just nine points, the Lions’ lowest total since 2023.
The Eagles offense, meanwhile, scored one touchdown and settled for three field goals. The group mustered just six points (two field goals) off five fourth-down stops generated by the defense.
According to Next Gen Stats, the Eagles offense registered the third-worst expected points added per play in the league in a win this season (-.28). The statistic measures the average points an offense generates on a play.
“We want them to continue to play at a high level,” Brown said postgame of the defense. “We’ve still just got to do a better job on offense and get our stuff going. It’s a lot of room for improvement. A lot of self-inflicted wounds. But hats off to the defense because they are playing their butts off.”
Brown might not be satisfied — and he’s certainly not the only one on offense — but what if the offense can’t get off the ground? Is the way the Eagles are winning right now sustainable?
Will the Cowboys defense provide an avenue for Saquon Barkley to break off some major runs on Sunday?
Unsurprisingly, recent history suggests it’s unlikely. In the last seven seasons, only one Super Bowl champion offense generated a negative EPA per play during the regular season — the 2023 Kansas City Chiefs (-.04).
The Eagles offense sits at -.02 this season. While the offense may be able to get away with being inconsistent if the defense continues to excel, the offense can’t be consistently as bad as it was on Sunday night for the rest of the season.
Offensive line attrition
The offense’s quest to improve won’t get any easier in the absence of Lane Johnson. The 35-year-old right tackle suffered a Lisfranc injury and is likely headed to injured reserve, where he could spend the next four to six weeks.
It goes without saying that the Eagles are a better team when the two-time All-Pro right tackle is on the field. According to StatMuse, the Eagles are 110-57-1 in games that Johnson plays. They are 15-23 in games he does not play.
Cam Jurgens also exited Sunday’s game with an undisclosed injury. The center had previously been sidelined for the last two games with a knee injury. His status against the Cowboys is unclear.
There’s a chance that two backups start on the offensive line in Week 12. Fred Johnson and Brett Toth generally have fared well in place of Johnson and Jurgens this season.
But the overall performance from the offensive line has been substandard, particularly in the running game. Saquon Barkley has eclipsed 100 rushing yards in just one game this year so far. He’s averaging 2.5 yards per carry before contact this season, down from 3.8 last year.
Barkley had a pretty average day when the Eagles faced the Cowboys in the season opener, finishing with 60 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.
Since the Eagles last saw them, the Cowboys have been atrocious overall on defense, ranking No. 31 in the league entering Monday night’s game. The Raiders couldn’t get much going on the ground against the Cowboys, but it’s also worth noting that Las Vegas played from behind for most of the game and boasts the league’s worst rushing offense.
The Cowboys also acquired defensive tackle Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets before the trade deadline. He dominated in his Dallas debut and recorded 1½ sacks and five quarterback hits. He will be a tough assignment for the interior offensive line, regardless of whether Jurgens or Toth starts.
Quinyon Mitchell’s work against the Cowboys’ receiving corps in Week 12 figures to be important.
Right on Q
The last time the Eagles played the Cowboys, Quinyon Mitchell didn’t shadow CeeDee Lamb. But when he was in coverage against the Cowboys receiver, he kept him in check, conceding one reception on four targets for 13 yards, according to Pro Football Focus.
It was a precursor to a strong sophomore season for the 24-year-old outside cornerback. According to Next Gen Stats, Mitchell has allowed receptions on just 41.9% of his targets, which is the lowest by any player with at least 50 targets in a season since 2018.
Mitchell played up to his standard again on Sunday night. He didn’t allow a catch on any of his six targets, according to Next Gen Stats, which is tied for the most targets without conceding a reception in a game over the last two seasons.
He even played 39 coverage snaps, tying the third-most by an outside cornerback in a game this year without giving up a catch.
Fangio has been utilizing Mitchell as a boundary cornerback over the last couple of weeks, often leaving him on an island on the short side of the field. Given the Cowboys’ dual receiving threats on the outside in Lamb and George Pickens, Fangio may take that approach with Mitchell this week.
Pickens was quarterback Dak Prescott’s favorite receiver on Monday night. The 24-year-old receiver had 144 yards and a touchdown on nine receptions, while Lamb finished with 66 yards and a touchdown on five catches. Both receivers are on track to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards this season.
Nakobe Dean has been a key part of a tremendous Eagles defense of late.
Dazzling Dean
Just over a month ago, it seemed uncertain if Nakobe Dean was going to have a role in Fangio’s defense upon his return from the physically unable to perform list. Jihaad Campbell, the No. 31 overall pick out of Alabama, was off to a solid start in his rookie season at inside linebacker alongside Zack Baun.
But over the last four games, Dean’s snap count has steadily increased, peaking at 67.8% of the defensive snaps against the Lions. Meanwhile, Campbell’s has decreased, reaching a season-low 33.9% on Sunday.
Dean has earned the opportunity to play, picking up where he left off before his knee injury. His excellence was illustrated by a two-play sequence late in the fourth quarter against the Lions, when he covered Jameson Williams on a crossing route to force an incompletion on first down and sacked Jared Goff on a simulated pressure on second down.
No matter how the Cowboys and their top-ranked passing offense tries to attack the Eagles, Dean will provide a boost to Fangio’s group on Sunday.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — It only took Phillies outfield prospect Dante Nori 14.76 seconds to leg out an inside-the-park home run in one of his final games in the Arizona Fall League.
On Nov. 6, Nori blasted a ball 414 feet into deep right-center field at Salt River Fields, the spring training home of the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks. Off the bat, Nori thought it was a no-doubter that would certainly carry over the wall.
“Out of the box, I was like, ‘Aw, it’s gone,’” Nori said. “I’ve seen some balls that I’ve hit that well. I was like, ‘All right, that’s going to get out.’ And I remember, right as I passed first base, I saw it clank off the wall. And I was like, ‘Uh-oh, we’ve got to go.”
Despite getting a slow start, the speedy left-handed hitter clocked one of the fastest times recorded around the bases in 2025. Only Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran (14.71 seconds) circled the bases at a faster pace in a major league game this year.
The Phillies’ 2024 first-round pick dazzled in his short time in the AFL, a six-week showcase for some of baseball’s most promising minor league prospects.
Nori, 21, impressed scouts with his defense and baserunning, while batting .308 with a .386 on-base percentage, .822 OPS, seven RBIs, and two stolen bases in 12 games. But his time was limited due to an undisclosed leg injury that he suffered in his first AFL game on Oct. 7.
Phillies 2024 first-round pick Dante Nori, shown playing for single-A Clearwater, stole 52 bases across three levels of the minor leagues this season.
Nori said he “tweaked something” on a steal attempt, and chose to play it safe, taking the next two weeks off.
He returned to the Surprise Saguaros’ lineup Oct. 21 and saw regular playing time as the leadoff man and center fielder, a spot he hopes to occupy one day for the Phillies. His presence in the Saguaros’ lineup helped them win the AFL championship.
“I think I find ways to help my team win,” Nori said. “If it’s not with your bat, it’s with your glove, it’s with your speed. You know, you’re not always going to have your bat every single day. Sometimes, it might be the opposite. You might not have your glove, but you’re going to find a way to help your team win.”
Nori’s first full season in the Phillies organization started slowly — he batted just .221 through his first 50 games at single-A Clearwater — prompting him to modify his approach, as well as his bat selection.
“After the first two months I was struggling, so we made an adjustment,” Nori said. “I moved closer on the plate, and I switched to the torpedo bat, and since then, it’s been good.”
Nori saw immediate results, batting .300 with a .410 OBP and .860 OPS over his final 58 games in single-A, earning him a promotion to high-A Jersey Shore in mid-August, before finishing his regular season at double-A Reading.
Nori said the torpedo bat made an impact.
“Honestly, [the bat] just brings the barrel closer to my hands,” Nori said. “All my mishits are usually close to the hands, so it’s one of those things where it’s like, ‘Hey, if I’m missing there, why not bring more of the barrel in, up closer to the plate, so it just brings the barrel closer to me?’ And I’m able to contribute more. So, I like it way more. It’s been fun.”
Late in July, Nori was thrilled to receive a call about playing in the Fall League. He believes he made the best of the experience, and said his favorite part was making connections with other players and coaches, and learning from them.
“Honestly, just the relationships,” Nori said. “Just hearing how different organizations work, and just keep playing the game. We’ve been playing since January, and I think it’s a privilege to be here, and just to finish the year on a high note against some top competition, that’s all I could ask for.”
With his first full season of pro ball behind him, Nori will head home for the winter. He hopes to start 2026 in double A.
“I could see myself starting in double A,” Nori said. “That’s the goal. [I wanted to] come down here and prove that [I] can play at that level. So, start in double A, and then you know, you just take it one step at a time. So, the next one’s triple A, and then after that, it’s the big leagues.”
But before beginning his next minor league assignment, Nori has his eyes fixed on another objective: playing in the World Baseball Classic for Team Italy. While his addition to the team has not yet been finalized, Nori, who is of Italian heritage, has been in contact with the Italian national team and is excited about the potential opportunity to play in the WBC.
Dante Nori slashed .261/.361/.372 across three levels of the minor leagues in 2025, his full season in professional baseball.
Nori, the son of longtime NBA assistant coach Micah Nori, was born in Canada and spent most of his childhood in the United States. His grandfather is a longtime baseball coach who helped recruit Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber to play at Indiana University.
“I worked out with Schwarber in the offseason these past three seasons,” Nori said. “So, I’m at his facility hitting with him, so I know I have a great bond with him.”
And he added about the National League home run king, who is a free agent: “I’m really hoping he comes back.”
There is one thing Eagles fans want to know: How long is Lane Johnson going to be out?
It’s a relevant question when you consider that the Eagles have a 12-23 record in games Johnson hasn’t started since the beginning of the 2016 season. And he won’t be starting this week after league sources confirmed to The Inquirer that Johnson suffered a Lisfranc sprain in his foot on Sunday night.
The injury in the middle of his foot is named after a Frenchman who was a field surgeon under Napoleon, which is your fun fact of the day. Anyway, the All-Pro tackle is awaiting results from X-rays to determine whether he needs surgery, which probably would end his season. Johnson is likely to miss at least 4-6 weeks with a sprain.
His replacement at right tackle, Fred Johnson, has filled in well when Lane Johnson has missed time, but he is not an All-Pro. Several Eagles have had Lisfranc injuries in the past, including Nakobe Dean in 2023. The linebacker needed surgery and it ended his season. Here’s more to know about Lisfranc injuries.
A.J. Brown famously called the Eagles offense “a [bleep] show” last week, and the attack is not likely to get any better with the news about Johnson, Marcus Hayes writes.
The worries about the offense will continue, but it is important to remember that the defending Super Bowl champions are 8-2. Nick Sirianni continues to be second-guessed, Jeff McLane writes, but all he does is stack up wins.
Sixers forward Paul George missed the first 12 games of the regular season after offseason knee surgery.
The 76ers’ season began with questions about the health of Paul George and Joel Embiid. The answer came quickly on Embiid, who has averaged 19.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists while playing limited minutes.
George had to wait longer to return as he recovered from offseason surgery on his left knee. The official word that the former All-Star forward would play Monday came moments before the Sixers’ home game against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Sixers have waited months to reach full strength. And while Embiid now has pain in his right knee, this is the closest the Sixers have come this season.
George scored nine points in his return as the Sixers rallied to beat the Los Angeles Clippers, 110-108. Tyrese Maxey led the way with 39 points.
Phillies outfield prospect Dante Nori had an .822 OPS in 12 games at the Arizona Fall League after playing across three levels of the minor leagues in 2025.
Dante Nori, the Phillies’ first-round pick in 2024, rose through three levels of the minor leagues in his first full season of professional baseball, which concluded this month at the Arizona Fall League. An adjustment and a new bat made a big difference for the speedy outfielder, who hopes to start 2026 in double A.
But before beginning his next minor league assignment, Nori has his eyes fixed on another objective: playing in the World Baseball Classic for Team Italy.
Penn State coach James Franklin reacts after a loss to Northwestern on Oct. 11, his final game with the Nittany Lions.
About five weeks after James Franklin lost his job at Penn State, he landed another one at Virginia Tech. Franklin finalized a deal Monday to become head football coach of the Hokies, who are 3-7 and have not won an ACC title since 2010. The good news for Penn State? His buyout with the Nittany Lions, once valued at $49 million, reportedly will be reduced to $9 million.
Penn State ended a six-game losing streak on Saturday and interim coach Terry Smith is hoping the Nittany Lions can win two more and become bowl eligible.
Speaking of bowl eligibility, Temple can get there with one more win. Tulane offers a tough test in the Owls’ home finale on Saturday.
Alex Bump is lighting up the AHL and could be poised to make his NHL debut soon.
The Flyers could use an offensive bump as they are averaging the fourth-fewest goals in the NHL (2.61). Enter … Alex Bump?
Bump, one of the team’s top prospects, is lighting up the American Hockey League with 13 points in 15 games, and 10 points in his last seven games. Could a call-up be on the not-so-distant horizon? Jackie Spiegel thinks so.
The Flyers made a move Monday, swapping AHL defensemen. Here’s what the Flyers are getting in Maxence Guenette.
Sports snapshot
U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino at Monday’s practice in Tampa, Fla.
Tough test: The U.S. men’s national team closes its year by facing South American superpower Uruguay tonight in Tampa, Fla.
We asked: How can the Eagles offense get going? Among your responses:
How about if Hurts starts running again? Not saying a lot of runs — we can’t afford to have Jalen hurt — but how about a few designed run plays??? They were so successful in getting the run game moving last year and would spring Barkley when opposing defenses had to bring a safety down to cover one of them. — Lynda M.
Stop running Barkley directly into the line. — John B.
I’ve been saying this from day one. The offensive coordinator has not a clue on how to manage a game. But how can you fire someone when you are 8-2? You can’t! The QB1 overthrows his wide-open receivers by at least 10 yards in fear of throwing a interception. We lost three opportunities for a first down at fourth and one when the offensive line jumped offsides. But we’re 8-2! One thing I notice is the defense keeps talking to each other after each play. Not so much the offense if ever. — Ronald R.
We desperately lack creativity in our offense. Our inability to get the ball to our wide receivers is inexplicable. You just can’t run a play and hope someone gets open, you have to scheme them open. Misdirection, motion, quick hitters will get the defense to back off and open up some running lanes for Saquon and Tank. — Bill B.
Hurts needs to pretend he is Josh Allen and learn to be consistent. We need to see that Super Bowl winning QB again. The offensive line is also not what we saw in that SB victory. Injuries of course, but they really need to notch it up. They are not providing the openings for Barkley they did last year. The receivers are outstanding, but Patullo has to come up with better game plans and Hurts has to execute much better. — Everett S.
We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff Neiburg, Marcus Hayes, Jeff McLane, Keith Pompey, Jackie Spiegel, Gustav Elvin, Jack Vita, Devin Jackson, Greg Finberg, Ryan Mack, and Jonathan Tannenwald.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
That wraps up your Tuesday newsletter. Thanks for reading. Bella will be in charge of Sports Daily on Wednesday. — Jim
Don’t let a five-goal outburst on Friday night fool you; the Flyers’ offense has stalled.
Entering Tuesday, the Flyers averaged 2.61 goals per game. It is the fourth-lowest average in the league, with only the Calgary Flames (2.10), Nashville Predators (2.40), and the New York Rangers (2.50) between the Orange and Black and the cellar.
Maybe this team needs an infusion to spark things.
Maybe they need a bump.
Maybe they need an Alex Bump.
“He started out really slow, and I really attribute this [improvement] to Snowy,” Flyers coach Rick Tocchet said Monday, referring to Lehigh Valley Phantoms coach John Snowden.
“I think he’s an excellent coach. He knows how to develop, but he’s got a little bit of, not sternness, but he’s good at getting to a player without crushing the guy’s confidence.
“I think Bumper needed that two, three weeks ago, and his play is getting better. So I attribute it to Bumper, obviously, it’s all him, but I have to give a lot of credit to Snowy for what he’s doing with him down there.”
On Sept. 30, Bump was loaned to the Flyers’ American Hockey League affiliate. Maybe the demotion was a hard pill to swallow for a player many, including The Inquirer, inked into a spot on the opening night roster.
As Tocchet said, the left winger did start slowly. Bump didn’t score his first goal until Game 3 and had one goal and three points in the first eight games. Across his past seven games, he has three goals and seven assists.
“The moment that it really clicked for him was after the second Wilkes-Barre game. I challenged him in a different way,” Snowden told The Inquirer, referencing the fifth game of the season.
“We all know that he has the offensive ability — he can hold onto the puck, he can beat you one-on-one, he can score with his shot, he can beat you with a pass, he’s got all those qualities — but the one thing that he was lacking was the abrasiveness in playing inside of contact and getting guys on your back and in finishing hits when it’s time to finish a hit, and valuing the defensive side of things. All those little things that are going to create more offensive opportunities for him, we need to get those better.”
In his first year as the Phantoms’ bench boss, after serving as an assistant coach for two years, Snowden challenged Bump in areas like winning pucks back, getting through contact, puck retrieval, and working to get inside and into dangerous areas.
“In order to play in the NHL … everybody’s going to finish their hits, everybody’s going to be incredibly hard in battles, and 50-50 pucks on the wall,” Snowden said. “You have to be able to do that here [in the AHL]. If you can’t do that here, you’re not going to do it there. So what do we have to do?
“And for him, it starts in practice. How are you getting in and over pucks? How are you coming outside of pucks? What are you doing to get those opportunities back, and defensively, are you sprinting back to your spot? Are you closing plays out? Are you in shot lanes? Are you doing all those things to give you all the offensive opportunities that you have?
“And we challenged him with that, showed him some video, and all credit goes to him. He’s like, ‘Yep, no problem. I completely understand it.’ And he’s taken that advice and that challenge, and he’s really run with it. And as you can see, now he’s starting to get offensive production, and he’s a threat in most every game when he wants to play that way. And that’s given him an opportunity to set himself up to eventually become an NHL player when that time comes.”
Alex Bump is starting to pair more consistency away from the puck with his offensive dynamism.
Bump’s become a more well-rounded player lately, and the uptick in his defensive play has, according to Snowden, led to more touches offensively.
The 21-year-old entered Tuesday tied for third among AHL rookies in points (13) and is the co-leader with nine assists. His 45 shots on goal rank No. 1 among rookies and 10th overall.
Bump’s been skating on a line with fellow rookie Denver Barkey, whom Tocchet complimented as well. Barkey has 10 points in 15 games.
Alex Bump with some great work to set up a pretty wacky second goal of the night for Denver Barkey (this line is really buzzing!) pic.twitter.com/xCirSjFMT4
And, yes, the Flyers’ bench boss is keeping close tabs on the Phantoms.
“You know what, lately, a lot more,” Tocchet said Monday when asked how much he pays attention to Lehigh Valley, maybe hinting at an upcoming move. “Talked to Snowy the other day. He checks in. I’ll check in with him. We talk systems. We talk about what he’s seeing, which is great, who’s playing well, and then usually we’ll have the game on, working out or something. So as much as we can.”
After Bump averaged over a point a game (47 points in 42 games) and won a national championship with Western Michigan, and then impressed during a nine-game stint with Lehigh Valley at the end of last season, many expected him to slide right into the NHL this fall.
But he didn’t. Despite having a strong development camp in July and another impressive spin at rookie camp in early September, the forward didn’t have a great training camp.
Skating alongside guys like Sean Couturier, Trevor Zegras, and Travis Konecny, he showed flashes of what he can bring, namely a big-time shot, playmaking ability, and high hockey IQ.
However, across three preseason games, Bump was minus-6 with seven shots on goal, and one bad miscue that led to a Boston goal. According to Natural Stat Trick, which tracked two of the games, he had seven individual chances with several hitting the post or getting sent straight into the goalie, and the sixth-highest individual expected goals (0.68) on the team.
There is a brightness to Bump. He brings not just youthful exuberance, but a giant chip on his shoulder — the 2022 fifth-round pick told The Inquirer at the Frozen Four in April that he was “definitely not a fifth-round player” — and that chip probably got bigger with not making the roster.
But don’t confuse it with ego. Bump has talent, and he knows he has talent. It’s not ego. It is a confidence in himself and his game.
He’s been playing that way of late. His puck control and possession numbers have been strong with his increased focus on using his 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame to dominate the boards, steer away from opponents, and weave his way through defenses.
“When you get Bumper a puck on like the second or third touch of an offensive-zone sequence, that’s when [his line with Barkey and Lane Pederson are] dangerous, because he’s got that ability to shoot the puck in the net from anywhere. And now he’s extending possessions, and he’s attacking the interior,” Snowden said.
“As a line, they’re doing a lot of good things, but in order to do that, Bumper had to get to the place of like, he needs to go win pucks back, too. And when he wins pucks back, he gets maybe his second or third touches in the Grade A area, and, boom, it’s in the net.”
Snowden said that Bump is 90% consistent with how he plays the game. But is he ready for that NHL debut?
The Flyers certainly could use his offense, but the biggest conundrum for the team’s brass is where he would fit in the lineup. Right now, the only spot that looks to be open is on the fourth line, and Bump is too skilled to slot in there. But he looks like he’s not inching, but taking giant leaps to be ready to make the jump if and when that opportunity comes.
“I think he’s a pretty cerebral person,” said Snowden, adding that Bump is “starting to problem-solve the American League.
“I think he studies his game, and he watches his shifts, and he understands when he can be dynamic and when he needs to obviously live to fight another day with a situational play. It’s only going to be more magnified there. So can he do what he’s doing now and up that 25, 30% 40% to be able to do it in the NHL?”
Sixers coach Nick Nurse acknowledged before Monday’s game that the minutes for Maxey and VJ Edgecombe are piling up, and they are expected to carry the scoring load.
Nurse thinks things may settle down for the duo when George gets up to speed, as they do when Joel Embiid is playing.
The coach actually spoke to both of them on Sunday. He asked them four questions: Are you OK? Are you playing too many minutes? You sure? Are you looking for some help?
Maxey and Edgecombe responded “yes” to the first question and “no” to the other three.
“I said, ‘Because we don’t know when it’s going to come,” Nurse said. “’Get ready to go out there and do whatever is necessary.’
“And they’re both on board. I said, ‘Whenever these guys come back to help, we’re going to welcome them with open arms. But until that point, let’s stay focused on doing what needs to be done.”
On Monday, the Sixers (8-5) needed Maxey to take over while playing the entire second half.
That’s when he scored 27 of his game-high 39 points. It was the fifth time this season that the sixth-year guard scored at least 35 points. He also finished with three rebounds, six assists, one steal, and four turnovers while logging a game-high 40 minutes, 57 seconds.
Maxey scored 13 points in the third quarter before tallying 14 in the final quarter. But he must do a better job handling the ball in clutch situations. All four of his turnovers came after the intermission.
There’s no denying that he’s having a special season, though.
Maxey’s 39 points were the most by an NBA player on Monday night.
He ranks second in the league in scoring at 32.5 points per game, fourth in made three-pointers (50), and first in minutes (40.4).
What is Nurse looking at in the big picture with the kind of season Maxey is putting together?
“I don’t know if I think about that at this particular time,” Nurse said. “I think that you know what I talked about before … that was pretty evident tonight. You’ve got to go, and the minutes are going to be 40. And you are going to have to carry a bunch of the load. And you are going to have to figure it out.”
Sixers forward Paul George (center) scored nine points in his season debut.
PG’s debut
George hadn’t played in a game since March 4. Yet he’s been a full participant at practice since Oct. 19. As a result, it was hard to predict how the 35-year-old would perform against the Clippers (4-10).
He moved well. He got his shots. He bulked up. And, as expected, he was rusty.
George finished with nine points on 2-for-9 shooting along with seven rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in 21:06 of playing time. He also made 4 of 7 free throws.
“It felt great to finally play basketball again,” he said. “It’s been like eight months since I played. So 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.”
He played in only 41 games last season — his first as a Sixer — while hampered by various injuries. George was ruled out for the remainder of that season on March 17, the day he received injections in the left adductor muscle in his groin and left knee.
He was expected to return in time for training camp. However, the nine-time All-Star had arthroscopic left knee surgery in July, which caused him to miss additional time.
On Monday, George scored a three-pointer on his first shot attempt 34 seconds into the game. On the next possession, the 6-foot-8, 220-pounder was fouled while attempting a three. He made two of three foul shots to give the Sixers a 5-0 advantage.
Paul George played 21 minutes in his season debut for the Sixers.
George missed his subsequent five attempts before turning the ball over and later scoring on a three-foot driving floater.
He missed three shot attempts after intermission. But George stepped up his game in other areas in the second half with three rebounds and a block.
Defensively, he looked comfortable and appeared to have lateral quickness.
“Yeah, it was definitely a trusting — it was definitely a trust factor,“ George said. ”When I first went out there to see what all I could do, and right away, ‘I’m ready for this.’ You know, ‘I can move, I can react, I can play physical, I can beat the guy to a spot. I can rebound.’ So that was, I think, a huge checklist for me personally, that I was able to slide my feet, stay in front of guys, and just fly around. Be reactive.”
It’s too early to know if he can be the dominant wing of the past. However, his basketball IQ, defense, rebounding, and leadership could help the Sixers once he gets in basketball shape.
Drummond’s play
Drummond is the Sixers’ lone healthy center.
Embiid missed his fourth consecutive game on Monday. It will be the third game he has missed due to right knee injury management. The 2023 MVP also sat out the Nov. 8 home loss to the Detroit Pistons to rest his surgically repaired left knee.
Sixers center Andre Drummond had 14 points and 18 rebounds against the Clippers.
And reserve center Adem Bona missed the first of at least three games with a sprained right ankle.
The 6-11, 279-pound Drummond held his own against Clippers center Ivica Zubac with 14 points and a game-high 18 rebounds for his fourth consecutive double-double and fifth of the season.
Zubac, who had 14 points and 13 rebounds, was outplayed by Drummond in the fourth quarter. That’s when the Sixer tallied seven points and five rebounds.
Drummond even made a pair of clutch foul shots to give the Sixers a 110-106 cushion with 1:08 remaining. Then he grabbed his 18th rebound on the ensuing possession.
Controversial ending
The Sixers will tell you a win is a win. And they probably couldn’t care less if people speak negatively about the controversial ones.
Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey and Trendon Watford celebrate their 110-108 victory over the Clippers on Monday.
And that’s what they escaped with against the Clippers.
With the Clippers down two points, video footage showed James Harden being fouled on a three-point attempt by Quentin Grimes with 6.3 seconds remaining. Crew chief Curtis Blair was asked after the game why the foul wasn’t called on the play.
“During live play, it was deemed that Grimes legally contested Harden’s three-point shot,” Blair said.
Based on the wording “during live play,” one has to believe there’s a great chance we’ll see a different answer Tuesday on the L2M report.
But the Sixers still celebrated this victory. Maxey and Trendon Watford even sprinted down the court after time expired on the final possession.
