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Tag: Jared McCain

  • Sixers mailbag: Will Joel Embiid make the All-Star Game? Will Jared McCain be here after the trade deadline?

    Sixers mailbag: Will Joel Embiid make the All-Star Game? Will Jared McCain be here after the trade deadline?

    The 76ers headed into Scotiabank Arena on Sunday evening looking to ascend in the Eastern Conference.

    Didn’t happen.

    They suffered a 116-115 overtime loss to the Toronto Raptors. While the Sixers (21-16) remain in fifth place, they’re 1½ games behind the fourth-place Raptors (24-16).

    The two Atlantic Division foes will meet again on Monday in the second game of the back-to-back series in Toronto.

    That means we’ll learn more about where the Sixers stand shortly. In the meantime, I’ll answer a few of your mailbag questions.

    Missed out on the party? No worries. Submit questions for next time by tweeting @PompeyOnSixers on X with the hashtag #PompeysMailbagFlow.

    Q: When Kelly Oubre Jr. gets healthy, should he be starting over Dom Barlow, or should we stick with Barlow, who we have found success with recently? — @Carter80113612

    A: Thanks for starting the mailbag, Carter. We know both were in the starting lineup on Sunday because Paul George was a late scratch due to left knee soreness. But it will be different moving forward.

    As a result, this is a great question that keeps coming up. I also keep going back and forth between Oubre and Barlow as the fifth starter. Both deserve to be in the lineup. I initially said Oubre, George, Joel Embiid, VJ Edgecombe, and Tyrese Maxey would make up my starting lineup once he returned.

    In that scenario, Barlow would be my seventh man behind Quentin Grimes.

    But then I changed my mind, because Barlow, being a true power forward, takes pressure off George to play that position. George has an easier time guarding small forwards on the perimeter than power forwards in the post. I also appreciate that Barlow doesn’t need the ball to make an impact.

    Dominick Barlow can remain in the Sixers’ starting lineup and be this season’s version of Marc Iavaroni.

    For me, he can be this season’s version of Marc Iavaroni, who started 77 games on the Sixers’ 1983 NBA championship team.

    The power forward averaged 5.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 20.2 minutes at power forward while starting alongside Hall of Famers Julius Erving, Moses Malone, and Mo Cheeks, along with Andrew Toney. Meanwhile, Hall of Famer Bobby Jones averaged 9.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 1.2 blocks, and 23.6 minutes off the bench as the sixth man.

    I think Oubre, who had been the Sixers’ X factor before his injury, can thrive in Jones’ role. He would thrive as the sixth man while playing a starter’s minutes.

    While his shots didn’t fall, Oubre made a significant impact in a reserve role during his first two games back from injury. With all things considered, I would keep him in that role.

    Don’t look now but the Sixers have turned a dire situation into a hopeful one behind their new Big Four
    Q: Will Jared McCain be on the team after the trade deadline? And what is his current trade value? — @MediumBall02

    A: He needs to be on the team. I know some people have soured on McCain due to his shooting slump and defensive shortcomings. The second-year guard was averaging 2.8 points on 25% shooting in the six games heading into Sunday’s contest against the Raptors.

    For the season, the 6-foot-3, 195-pounder averaged 6.6 points on 34.8% shooting — including making 31.9% of his three-pointers. He definitely needs to improve.

    But we shouldn’t forget that McCain had his rookie season cut short because of a torn meniscus in his left knee. In addition to the December 2024 injury, he had the start of this season delayed after suffering a torn ligament in his right thumb in September.

    Sixers guard Jared McCain averaged just 2.8 points on 25% shooting in the six games heading into Sunday’s contest against the Raptors

    Yes, he’s back on the court, but it usually takes 15 months postsurgery to fully get back to yourself following major knee injuries. In addition to that, McCain was the NBA rookie of the year front-runner last season before his injury. He’s not expected to fully regain his true form until late this season or next season.

    Sure, he has trade value due to being on a rookie deal that’s paying him $4.1 million this season, $4.4 million next season, and a potential club option for $6.7 million in 2027-28. But the Sixers have time to thoroughly evaluate what they have in him before deciding on his future.

    Plus, keeping him could be insurance just in case they lose Quentin Grimes in free agency this summer.

    Paul George thinks Sixers’ defense has ‘special’ potential after victory at Orlando Magic
    Q: Do you think Nick Nurse is being extra cautious with Trendon Watford? — @botman02_

    A: What’s up, Botman? It’s not a matter of being extra cautious. The coach said on Dec. 30 that the jury is still out on Watford regarding playing time. That’s because the coaching staff hasn’t seen much of him, due to injuries limiting the free-agent acquisition to just 15 games heading into Sunday’s contest. The power forward missed the preseason and the first three games of the season with a left hamstring issue. Watford returned on Wednesday after missing 17 consecutive games with a strained left thigh muscle suffered against the Orlando Magic on Nov. 25.

    During that time, Barlow has excelled in his role as the starting power forward. Meanwhile, Jabari Walker has also been a solid backup for the Sixers.

    “Where he would slot back in, he’s going to probably have to earn that back in there, not unlike the other guys coming back off injury,” Nurse said of Watford. “I think it’s a bit of a process, usually.”

    Could New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32)and Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0), a former Roman Catholic standout, both get the nod over Joel Embiid in All-Star voting by Eastern Conference coaches?
    Q: Can Joel Embiid make the All-Star Game? Will the coaches vote him in? — @_long_live_jai

    A: Great question, Jai. Anything is possible. The 2023 league MVP and seven-time All-Star has actually shown glimpses of his former dominant self. He scored a season-high 39 points against the Indiana Pacers on Dec. 12. He scored at least 30 points in three other games. And he’s averaging 27.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.2 steals in his last six games.

    The problem is Embiid has missed 18 games. He’s also had a tough time moving and struggled mightily on defense early in the season. In the second round of fan voting, Embiid was 17th among conference All-Star votes. Unless he dominates the media and player voting, he won’t make the All-Star Game as a starter.

    Embiid’s playing more this season despite his injuries. Check his status for next game.

    So the coaches will have to decide whether he deserves the nod over players who have been more deserving in terms of availability and consistency.

    Embiid’s statistics don’t count regarding season rankings due to not playing in at least 70% of the Sixers’ games. However, his scoring average of 23.5 points would rank first among Eastern Conference centers if he played enough games.

    Right now, New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns, Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren, Cleveland Cavs center/power forward Evan Mobley, and Miami Heat power forward/center Bam Adebayo might be the leading candidates to receive the coaches’ nod if not selected as starters.

    I know one thing. Embiid definitely has an opinion.

    “Am I going to make it? I think I should,” he said to the media following Friday’s road victory over the Orlando Magic. “I don’t think we’re pushing it enough. I think I got pretty good stats. So, maybe you guys should put the word out that Joel Embiid is back.”

  • 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.

  • Sixers takeaways: Inexcusable effort, costly turnovers, and more from an overtime loss to the Nuggets

    Sixers takeaways: Inexcusable effort, costly turnovers, and more from an overtime loss to the Nuggets

    The positive momentum the 76ers built vanished.

    They’re still doing a great job of sharing the ball.

    But the Sixers need to do a better job of closing out games.

    And even in a loss, VJ Edgecombe showed why Denver Nuggets coach David Adelman is a fan.

    Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey is Eastern Conference player of the week for second time this season

    Those are the items that stood out in Monday’s 125-124 overtime loss to the depleted Nuggets at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

    ‘Didn’t have the right mindset’

    The Sixers (19-15) had no business losing this game.

    I’m stating this fully aware that this was this was their first home game following a five-game road trip capped by three impressive victories against the Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, and New York Knicks.

    And I realize teams are usually sluggish during their first night back at home.

    But this game should not have been close, based on the substandard roster the Nuggets (24-12) put on the floor.

    Denver was without three-time MVP and seven-time All-NBA selection Nikola Jokić (hyperextended left knee) and standouts Jamal Murray (sprained left ankle) and Aaron Gordon (strained right hamstring) due to injuries. Meanwhile, Jonas Valanciunas (right calf strain), who is Jokić’s backup, was also sidelined. And that’s not all. Tamar Bates (left foot surgery), Christian Braun (sprained left ankle), Tim Hardaway Jr. (illness management), and Cameron Johnson (right knee bone bruise) also missed the game.

    The Sixers suffered their worst loss of the season after Tyrese Maxey missed a floater with 0.2 seconds left in overtime.

    Nick Nurse was asked if he liked the final shot.

    “It was OK,” Nurse said. “It kind of turned the corner, and kind of wove up off balanced and probably wasn’t as clean a look as he wanted to get. But it was just OK.”

    When asked about the shot, Maxey said, “I tripped over my foot, and I tried to shoot it, and I was falling.”

    The All-NBA caliber point guard also lost the ball before missing a three-pointer on the final possession in regulation.

    Sixers’ Joel Embiid says he’s feeling more like himself

    An inability to contain former Penn State standout Jalen Pickett (29 points on 7-for-11 three-point shooting), Peyton Watson (24 points on 7-for-13 shooting), Bruce Brown (19 points on 7-for-13 shooting), and Zeke Nnaji (21 points on 7-for-11 shooting — including 4 of 5 three-pointers) contributed to the loss.

    With those four players leading the way, the Nuggets shot 53.1% from the field and 48.6% on three-pointers.

    “We allowed them to really feel good early, and it just continued the entire game,” Nurse said. “You just look at the numbers, 48.6% from three. We [turned them over more] a little bit [forcing 19 turnovers to 14] and out-rebounded them a little bit [14 to 7]. Got more shots [98 to 81] than they did.

    “So just the shooting percentage numbers are just the story of the game. And we didn’t guard them and keep the ball in front of us long enough.”

    But it shouldn’t have come to this. This was supposed to be a game that kept the Sixers within a game of the fourth-place Toronto Raptors, who are now 1½ games ahead of them.

    Quentin Grimes says the Sixers took the Nuggets lightly.

    “We didn’t have the right mindset,” he said. “This is the NBA. Everybody can play at a high level. We didn’t really match their intensity. ”

    Joel Embiid talks with injured Nuggets center Nikola Jokić after the Sixers lost to the Nuggets in overtime on Monday.

    Ball movement

    Nurse wanted to build upon the solid ball movement the Sixers displayed during the final three games of their road trip.

    “All you are trying to do is continue to do that, extend those periods even longer,” he said before the game. “Just continue to get the rhythm and the passing and the spacing and reading what’s out there as best you can.”

    And the Sixers did.

    One stood out occurred in the first quarter. After driving the lane, Grimes passed the ball back to Jared McCain behind the three-point line. McCain then passed it to Maxey, who buried a wide-open three-pointer to give the Sixers a 26-24 advantage.

    The Sixers had 13 assists on their first 19 made baskets. They finished with 28 assists.

    Edgecombe had nine assists to go with 17 points (all in the second half), eight rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. Meanwhile, Maxey had six assists along with 28 points, six rebounds, four steals, and two blocks.

    McCain (four), Paul George (three), Adem Bona (two), Grimes (two), and Joel Embiid (two) also recorded assists. In addition, Embiid finished with game-highs of 32 points and 10 rebounds.

    Late-game woes

    As exciting as the Sixers have been, they still have a tough time closing out games.

    They had a nine-point lead with 10 minutes, 48 seconds remaining in regulation.

    The Sixers’ success is dependent on Joel Embiid’s ability to make others better

    But the Nuggets responded with a 15-2 run to take a four-point advantage. Then in overtime, the Sixers shot just 2-for-10 and had two costly turnovers.

    This happens too often. The Sixers have just been good enough to overcome those miscues. But it doomed them Monday night.

    Fan of Edgecombe

    Edgecombe was one of the few guys that Adelman got to watch casually last season while the Sixer was playing at Baylor.

    “I got him a few times, and he immediately stood out,” Adelman said. “Just the athleticism, the speed, the competitiveness. And it’s all translated. I watched him against Memphis the other night. Again, it’s more fun to watch this stuff when it’s not film, when you’re not studying them, you’re just watching the game. Just so impressive.”

    Sixers guard VJ Edgecombe (right) had 17 points and nine assists against the Nuggets on Monday.

    On Monday, Edgecombe didn’t have the best shooting night, making 6 of 17 shots overall. However, he made 5 of 11 three-pointers and was clutch down the stretch.

    “Like I said, I think the athleticism, the skill set, all that stuff’s impressive,” Adelman said. “But it’s just more the competitive spirit of that kid. He just plays so hard. And you are looking for that in people nowadays. There’s a lot of people that are talented and get paid to play basketball. There’s guys you can tell love to play. He does.

    “So he’s a problem. It was a great draft pick by Daryl [Morey] on this draft.”

  • The Sixers’ success is dependent on Joel Embiid’s ability to make others better

    The Sixers’ success is dependent on Joel Embiid’s ability to make others better

    When the 76ers walk onto the court, they almost always have the best scorers in Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.

    But the Sixers’ best chance to win comes from the effort and aggressiveness of their less-heralded players. If they move the quickest to a loose ball, if they fight the hardest for rebounds, if they work the hardest on defense, maybe it’ll be enough.

    Sixers’ Joel Embiid says he’s feeling more like himself

    And it’s up to Maxey and Embiid to keep others involved on offense by willingly making necessary passes.

    That’s what is happening during the Sixers’ three-game winning streak.

    They had five double-figure scorers in Saturday’s 130-119 victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

    But the Sixers started the winning streak off with six double-digit scorers in Tuesday’s 139-136 overtime victory over the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. And the Sixers followed that with five double-figure scorers in their New Year’s Day 123-108 victory over the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center.

    Embiid had 34 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, and two blocks against the Grizzlies, while Maxey had 34 points and 12 assists. The standout point guard came back with 34 points, 10 assists, two steals, and two blocks against the Mavs, while Embiid added 22 points and six assists.

    And on Saturday, Maxey had 36 points, eight rebounds, two blocks, and a steal, while Embiid finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists to knock off the Knicks (23-12) for the second time this season.

    Sixers center Joel Embiid has to keep VJ Edgecombe involved moving forward.

    Following Thursday’s game, Embiid noted that he was getting back to the dominant player he had been before being derailed by left knee injuries over the past two seasons. Before the injuries, the 2023 league MVP and seven-time All-Star felt like he could score 40 or 50 points every night.

    “I can be more aggressive, but I feel like I’m also smarter,” Embiid said.

    The 7-foot-2 center is starting to do what the team needs instead of looking for his own shot. Concentrating on scoring in previous games this season led to the ball becoming stagnant. As a result, his teammates, primarily VJ Edgecombe, became less impactful.

    Sometimes, the rookie guard rarely touched the ball while Embiid hoisted up shots. But against Memphis, Edgecombe, the No. 3 pick in this summer’s draft, scored 13 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and sank the game-winning three-pointer with 1.7 seconds left in overtime.

    Sixers’ Blue x White scrimmage showcases Joel Embiid’s health and a provocative two-big lineup

    He followed that with 23 points on 9-for-14 shooting to go with a game-high four steals against the Mavs. And on Saturday, Edgecombe jump-started the Sixers’ rout by scoring 18 of his 26 points in the first half.

    The shooting guard has shown off his shooting progress over the past three games, in which he’s made 14 of 25 three-pointers. Previously, Edgecombe was vastly underutilized offensively when Embiid.

    The Sixers also have benefited from staggering Maxey and Embiid, allowing both to be aggressive. The tactic also allows for the offense to run through each player during specific stretches. They’ve also been successful utilizing a twin towers lineup featuring Embiid and Adem Bona at times. In that lineup, Embiid slides to power forward.

    In this pairing, the Sixers incorporate drives to the basket that end with dump-offs to Bona. They also have high-percentage scoring plays, in which Embiid receives the ball at the elbow and dishes it to Bona underneath the basket. Another option is for Embiid to drive the lane and fire to wide-open three-point shooters in the corner.

    Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (8) is defended by Sixers post players Joel Embiid (21) and forward Adem Bona (30) on Tuesday.

    Bona’s presence helps provide rebounding and rim protection. Meanwhile, Embiid gets to display his shooting and passing skills.

    And for them to continue to win, his passing skills must be on full display. Maxey, who’s the league’s third-leading scorer at 31.0 points per game, can shoulder the load.

    Edgecombe, Paul George, and Quentin Grimes can also help in that category. While he’s going to get his points, Embiid’s focus should be on assisting teammates to get easier shots and making sure there’s constant ball movement.

    At this moment, it would provide the Sixers with opportunities to compete with the league’s elite squads.

    No matter how prolific a scorer Embiid can be, the team’s success is dependent on his ability to create opportunities for others.

  • Jared McCain has physically healed. But he’s not rushing the on-court results.

    Jared McCain has physically healed. But he’s not rushing the on-court results.

    MEMPHIS — Quelling fear, anxiety, loss of identity, and lack of confidence often takes longer than physically healing from injuries.

    Jared McCain knows that firsthand after having his rookie season cut short because of a torn meniscus in his left knee. And on top of that December 2024 injury, he had the start of this season delayed after he suffered a torn ligament in his right thumb in September.

    Sixers mailbag: Are the Sixers better on defense without Joel Embiid?

    How is the 76ers’ second-year guard dealing with the mental aspects of those injuries, particularly the left knee?

    “I’m doing great, probably the last step for me,” McCain said Tuesday before shootaround at FedEx Forum. “A lot of it is I like to rebound, and I have to jump as high as I can … when I’m trying to rebound. And you know, the past few games, I’ve been able to do that. I feel comfortable doing that.

    “But mentally, I’m great. I’m just trying to figure it out, still figuring it out, and it’s still a process.”

    McCain still experiences knee soreness on some days but battles through because he wants to play in as many games as he can. At the same time, he’s giving himself grace while trying to have as much fun as possible.

    McCain’s fun involves being part of the Sixers’ four-guard rotation with Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Quentin Grimes. Maxey and Edgecombe are the starting backcourt, while Grimes is the team’s sixth man. The Sixers view McCain as someone who comes off the bench to provide a spark.

    Sixers guard Jared McCain McCain has averages of 7.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 19.8 minutes heading into Tuesday’s game against the Memphis Grizzles. However, he is shooting just 36.2% from the field and 32.9% from three-point range.

    “I want to provide a spark in any way possible, whether it’s picking up full court, whether it’s getting rebounds, making shots, of course,” he said, “any way I can provide a spark on the court when Coach calls my name, I’m ready to jump off the bench and come in the game and do whatever I can to help us get a lead or extend it.”

    McCain was averaging 7.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 19.8 minutes heading into Tuesday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies. However, he was shooting just 36.2% from the field and 32.9% from three-point range.

    During a six-game stretch from Dec. 12 through Friday, McCain shot 28.8% overall and 21.1% from three. But he snapped out of his shooting slump Sunday in a road loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. McCain had 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting, making 2 of 4 three-pointers.

    Sixers’ Tyrese Maxey among leaders in All-Star fan voting; two key players participate in practice

    He’s not concerned about his shooting.

    “I’m not going to fix anything or change anything with my shot,” McCain said. “It’s all going to come naturally. I know how to shoot. I’ve been doing it for a long time. I know there’s times like this. Again, I’ve been out for a whole year. So it’s still going to take some time to figure it out.

    “I knocked them down forever. I’m just going to continue to shoot it.”

    McCain’s confidence comes from his success as a McDonald’s All Americanand a standout at Duke, plus his status as an NBA rookie of the year front-runner last season before his injury. At every stop of his basketball career, McCain has been a stellar shooter who has dealt with and overcome shooting slumps.

    “When I was doing my meditation this morning that came in my mind about not judging myself off my results,” he said. “It’s super hard to do that because this job is basically judged off your results and your performance.

    “So I’m just trying to go into non-judgmental and watching it. How can I make the shots easier for myself? How can I find different windows to make the shot easier, and then just knocking it down? I know how to do it, and I think it’s one of those things that’s just going to come. It’s natural.”

  • Sixers mailbag: Are the Sixers better on defense without Joel Embiid?

    Sixers mailbag: Are the Sixers better on defense without Joel Embiid?

    MEMPHIS — The 76ers‘ three-game losing streak is their longest since they dropped 12 straight last season from March 17 to April 7.

    How can they turn things around?

    “I think we just take a look at where we can get better and go from there,” Paul George said Sunday after a 129-104 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Paycom Center. “That’s really all we can do is just see where we can clean up our mistakes, whether it’s offensively or defensively.

    “We’ve got room for improvement for sure, and we’ve just got to address that.”

    The first opportunity to right the ship for the Sixers (16-14) will come Tuesday against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedEx Forum.

    Sixers takeaways: Third-quarter blues persist, costly turnovers and more in loss to the Thunder

    The Grizzlies (15-17) are coming off a loss to the struggling Washington Wizards on Sunday night. But before that, they had won 11 of 16 games.

    Will the Sixers snap their skid? Will they solve their third-quarter woes and costly turnovers?

    We’ll find out what they’ll do shortly. In the meantime, I’ll answer a few of your mailbag questions.

    Missed out on the party? No worries. Submit questions for next time by tweeting @PompeyOnSixers to X with the hashtag #PompeysMailbagFlow.

    Q: Do the Sixers play better defense when Joel Embiid doesn’t play and isn’t on the floor? — @Donny076

    A: Thanks for starting the mailbag, Donald. Based on Friday’s loss to the Chicago Bulls, it’s logical to assume that is the case. However, the numbers indicate that the Sixers defense is better when the 7-foot-2 center plays. They have an average defensive rating of 114.2 in the 13 games he has played in this season, according to StatMuse. The Sixers’ rating is 115.9 in the 17 games he has missed.

    But you are probably asking this question because the Sixers have lost three straight and seven of the last 10 games in which Embiid has played. They also began the season 3-0 with him in the lineup. However, without Embiid, the Sixers are 10-7.

    Rookie VJ Edgecombe knows he can score. He still defers to the Sixers’ Big Three.

    Let’s face it, Embiid hasn’t played up to the level that has garnered him three All-Defensive honors.

    Teams no longer fear his defensive presence because he cannot move laterally as quickly as he used to, is constantly out of position, and seldom jumps. As a result, opponents are running pick-and-rolls to get him involved in defensive actions and switching on to him.

    But, again, the defensive rating comparison says they’re still better with him.

    Sixers center Joel Embiid has scored at least 31 points twice over his last four games.
    Q: Is there any possibility that they can realistically trade Embiid? — @Paulmon30725760

    A: This is a great question that constantly comes up, Paul. We are all aware that the 31-year-old is making $55.2 million this season, and his three-year, $193 million extension begins next season. That’s a lot of money to take on for a player with an extensive injury history who has been a shell of his former self this season. He’s averaging career lows in points (21.8 per game), rebounds (6.5), field-goal percentage (.443), and three-point shooting percentage (.259).

    But on the positive side, Embiid has scored at least 31 points twice over his last four games. The 2023 MVP is averaging 26.7 points and 8.2 rebounds over that stretch. So he is showing offensive improvement.

    Why are the Sixers winless with their Big Three? A lack of rhythm.

    If Embiid can improve his defense and provide 80% of what he once did, his addition to most teams makes them instant championship contenders.

    But an NBA executive would have to be really secure in his job to make that trade, because a lot could go wrong.

    Sixers power forward Trendon Watford is expected to be a solid piece off the bench once he returns from an adductor strain in his thigh.
    Q: When was the last time you thought the Sixers had a good bench? — @Thamass8

    A: While it had a few holes, I felt as if the Sixers had a good bench two seasons ago before they shipped away Marcus Morris and Patrick Beverley right before the NBA trade deadline. That said, the Sixers also have a solid bench this season. The issue has been poor health.

    Think about how loaded the Sixers’ bench would be if Trendon Watford and Dominick Barlow or Kelly Oubre Jr. joined Quentin Grimes, Jared McCain, and Andre Drummond as the four players off the bench. The only reason I’m providing the option to choose between Oubre or Barlow is that I think either player would fit in the starting lineup alongside George, Embiid, VJ Edgecombe, and Tyrese Maxey. But Barlow, a power forward, has been inserted into the lineup while Oubre is sidelined with a sprained ligament in his left knee.

    Meanwhile, Watford, who plays well in a point forward role, has also been sidelined with an adductor strain in his left thigh. When they return, the Sixers will have plenty of options. This season’s bench is actually younger and more athletic than it was two seasons ago. It just has to get healthy.

  • Sixers takeaways: Winless with their Big Three, Joel Embiid injury scare, and more from loss to Nets

    Sixers takeaways: Winless with their Big Three, Joel Embiid injury scare, and more from loss to Nets

    The 76ers are winless when Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey play together.

    It’s always a scary moment when Embiid falls on the court.

    Eric Gordon can still shoot.

    And the Sixers must get healthier for their upcoming five-game road trip.

    Michael Porter’s 28 points leads Nets to a 114-106 win over the Sixers

    Those things stood out in Tuesday’s 114-106 setback to the Brooklyn Nets at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

    Winless with star trio

    The Sixers (16-12) know much of their success ultimately will depend on how they play when Embiid, George, and Maxey are available.

    Well, let’s say they have a lot of work to do.

    Tuesday’s loss dropped the Sixers to 0-3 this season in games in which all three play. They suffered a 142-134 double-overtime home loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Nov. 30. And the Sixers lost, 112-108, at home to the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 7.

    The team was missing several rotation players because of illness and injury. The Nets (9-19) also have won two straight and six of nine games. However, with their best three players, the Sixers were expected to beat Brooklyn.

    Sixers forward Paul George scores two of his 19 points on Tuesday night.

    So what’s the next step to a victory?

    “We all just got to figure out how to find rhythm, playing off one another,” George said.

    But early Tuesday, the Sixers lacked ball movement. It was a game in which Embiid and George tried to get themselves going. Meanwhile, Maxey was a bystander, despite entering the game as the league’s third-leading scorer at 31.7 points.

    He was scoreless on 0-for-1 shooting in the first quarter and finished with 13 points. He missed 11 of 14 shots — including all five of his three-pointers. Maxey also finished with three rebounds, two assists, four steals, and four turnovers.

    Afterward, Maxey said he didn’t get into rhythm.

    But was only getting one shot attempt in the first quarter a result of that? Or was that a matter of trying to get others involved?

    “I feel like I was trying to make the right play,” he said. “But I got to stay aggressive.”

    ‘This is who he is’: High-flying rookie VJ Edgecombe has exceeded Sixers’ expectations

    Embiid had 27 points on 8-for-13 shooting along with six rebounds, four assists, three turnovers, and two blocks. George had 19 points on 5-for-14 shooting to go with four rebounds, two assists, four steals, three turnovers, and two blocks.

    As a team, the Sixers shot 40.7% — including making just 7 of 27 three-pointers. They also committed 17 turnovers.

    “Just being stagnant,” George said of what led to the Sixers’ struggles. “We got stagnant, loss of rhythm, team-wise. And we just played slow. I think our pace was a little slow, which, give them credit. They were making shots, which made it tough to get out, and play, and run fast.”

    Embiid scare

    Embiid went back to the locker room after falling to the court 25 seconds into the second half after being fouled by Terance Mann. It initially appeared that Embiid turned his ankle. However, he reached down and grabbed his right knee.

    The 7-foot-2, 280-pounder returned with 6 minutes, 49 seconds remaining in the quarter. Embiid has already missed 16 games this season because of injuries to both knees. The Sixers had to be elated that this wasn’t serious.

    Embiid returned to the bench midway through the quarter with both of his knees wrapped.

    “Just hyperextended it,” Embiid said. “Went to the locker room, checked it out, and we’ll see how I feel.”

    Before the injury, he was off to a solid start, with 19 first-half points on 7-for-10 shooting.

    Embiid had missed the previous two games because of an illness and right knee injury management.

    “It’s all right,” he said of his hyperextension. “We’ll see how it feels. Obviously, when you’re hurt, it’s kinda hard to judge, so we’ll see how it feels tomorrow.”

    Sixers center Joel Embiid (left) attempts a layup against the Nets. He scored 27 points.

    Gordon is still a sharpshooter

    Gordon, who turns 37 on Christmas Day, has had a solid NBA career. But now in his 18th season, the shooting guard rarely plays because the Sixers have younger, more athletic guards in Maxey (25), VJ Edgecombe (20), Quentin Grimes (25), and Jared McCain (21).

    While he’s not as mobile as before, Father Time has not impacted Gordon’s shooting. He shot 61.5% from the field and 62.5% on three-pointers in his first five appearances of the season.

    He made his sixth appearance on Tuesday with Edgecombe and Grimes sidelined by an illness.

    And Gordon again had a solid shooting night.

    He finished with a season-high 12 points on 4-for-8 shooting. He made his first three shots.

    The Indianapolis native entered the game with 3:56 left in the first quarter. He made a layup at the 3:00 mark. Then he drained a three-pointer to tie the score at 27 with 16 seconds left in the frame. He hit his third shot attempt, a three-pointer that gave the Sixers a five-point cushion, 1:28 into the second quarter.

    He added a three-pointer in the final second of the third quarter.

    “I’m going to be ready for whatever opportunity comes,” Gordon said. “I played in this league for a long time. I can still move. I can still shoot. I can still create my own shot. I don’t know, maybe we will see when the times get harder, play against tougher teams, or whatnot.

    “But I know we got a lot of young guys that we need to continue to play and whatnot. I’ll just be ready when it’s my time because I know I can fit in and gel with these guys and keep the floor open for these guys. As you can see, whether I play, miss 10 games and don’t play, come in, you know, I’m still going to be ready to go.”

    A need to get healthy

    Before the game, the Sixers were excited to have Embiid, Maxey, and George together on the floor.

    But they didn’t like the fact that several of their key rotation players were sidelined.

    Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee LCL sprain) and Trendon Watford (left adductor strain) have been out for several weeks. Dominick Barlow also missed Tuesday’s game because of illness.

    With Edgecombe and Barlow sidelined, the Sixers started McCain and Jabari Walker alongside Embiid, George, and Maxey.

    Grimes and Barlow initially were listed as questionable on Monday evening’s initial injury report. The team announced Tuesday morning that Edgecombe also was questionable. Moments later, they canceled the morning shootaround.

    But the team has been dealing with illness for a couple of weeks.

    Paul George (left) and Tyrese Maxey celebrate after George made a shot against the Nets on Tuesday night.

    Maxey missed the Sixers’ games against the Indiana Pacers (Dec. 12) and Hawks (Dec. 14) with an illness. Embiid sat out both games of Friday and Saturday’s back-to-back against the New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks with an illness and right knee injury management.

    “It has kind of gone for a bit,” coach Nick Nurse said. “It probably started with Tyrese, but that would seem to be an isolated case, and now it’s kind of making its way a little bit, obviously. The guys that weren’t feeling great yesterday didn’t report to practice. This morning, when we didn’t see much improvement and added another to the list, we postponed shootaround, as you guys well know. You probably would have been here this morning. Just keeping the guys away until we can bring them to the game.”

    Michael Porter Jr. (center) is defended by Paul George during Tuesday night’s game.

    The Sixers can only hope Edgecombe, Grimes, and Barlow are back when they embark on their five-game road trip against the Chicago Bulls (Friday), Oklahoma City Thunder (Sunday), Memphis Grizzlies (Dec. 30), Dallas Mavericks (Jan. 1), and New York Knicks (Jan. 3).

    With the trio out, Justin Edwards was the sixth man. Gordon was the seventh man, and Kyle Lowry was the ninth. This was the fifth game for the 39-year-old Lowry, who’s in his 20th NBA season.

    “You know what we missed? We missed three athletes,” Nurse said. “Other than Tyrese, that’s our speed, right there. We got Q, explosive. Barlow, athlete. VJ, athlete that we [depend on]. We missed all three of them. And it kind of made it hard for Tyrese to not … have other guy [Edgecombe] out there to crack into the paint a little bit and do some of the things that VJ does for sure.”

    This was a bad loss to a team over which the Sixers had averaged 18-point victories in their first two meetings.

    “They were definitely missed,” George said. “Their energy, their extra plays. Those guys have a great feel for the game and just understanding where to be the defensive mindset. So they were for sure missed.

    “But, you know, this is a very winnable game with [the Nets also being] down [players.] So you can’t make excuses that they weren’t there.”

  • Sixers takeaways: A statement win, VJ Edgecombe’s third-quarter dominance and more from win over Knicks

    Sixers takeaways: A statement win, VJ Edgecombe’s third-quarter dominance and more from win over Knicks

    NEW YORK — The 76ers showed that they can still beat teams with winning records.

    VJ Edgecombe continues to take over in the third quarter.

    And Jared McCain is back to feeling healthy.

    Those things stood out in Friday’s 116-107 victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

    Statement victory

    The Sixers (15-11) have played hard in most of their games, with several of those contests having exciting finishes. But the fact remained that they were 4-10 against teams with winning records.

    So this matchup against the Eastern Conference’s second-place Knicks (19-8) was a chance for the Sixers to make a statement.

    Mission accomplished.

    Maxey, Edgecombe help the 76ers hand the Knicks their second home loss of the season

    Before Friday, their only victories against teams with winning records came against the Boston Celtics (on Oct. 22 and Nov. 11), the Orlando Magic (Oct. 27), and the Toronto Raptors (Nov. 8). And this victory snapped their five-game losing streak against winning teams.

    The Sixers tried to downplay this victory, saying it wasn’t a statement win.

    “No, I think it’s just another one, to be honest,” Tyrese Maxey said. “Obviously, it’s a really good team, but it’s just another win. We have a long way to go. We have to keep getting better and get onto the next game, which is tomorrow.”

    But beating the Knicks has to be a confidence boost, considering their recent results against winning teams, right?

    “It’s definitely good to get the win, especially a team in the East,” Maxey said. “We got a game tomorrow. You know, it’s the NBA, so we got to try to win against them tomorrow.”

    The Sixers will entertain the Dallas Mavericks at 7 p.m. Saturday at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

    Against the Knicks, the Sixers played hard and kept things competitive throughout, as expected. But down the stretch, they made the clutch plays that winning teams have usually completed against them.

    “Yeah, this is something we talked about, you know, finishing games and not allowing it to slip down the stretch of the game, coming out slow in those third quarters,” Andre Drummond said. “So, I think for us, we’re starting to turn it around a little bit, little by little. So, we’ll take the small victories and progress that we’re making and continue to build on it.”

    They took an 88-87 lead into the fourth quarter after Adem Bona split a pair of foul shots. Then Maxey’s three-pointer gave them a 97-92 advantage with 8 minutes, 4 seconds remaining. Then, Edgecombe’s three-pointer with 2:44 left made it a 108-102 game. And Maxey hit another three-pointer with 47.9 seconds left to extend the Sixers’ lead to nine points.

    The standout point guard showed why he’s worthy of being voted an Eastern Conference All-Star starter by outplaying the Knicks’ All-Star point guard, Jalen Brunson.

    The Sixers picked up a rare victory over a winning team in Friday’s defeat of the New York Knicks.

    Maxey finished with a game-high 30 points while making 6 of 12 three-pointers to go with nine assists. Brunson finished with 22 points on 7-for-22 shooting – including missing 6 of 7 three-pointers – along with six rebounds and nine assists.

    With Edgecombe guarding him, Brunson was held to six points on 1-for-10 shooting in the second half.

    “He’s a tough player,” Edgecombe said. “Everyone knows he’s super good. I just try to make it difficult. You’re not going to hold him scoreless, but just try to make it difficult. I was just trying my hardest to make sure he didn’t get off any clean looks or anything like that.”

    In addition to shutting down Brunson, Edgecombe had 23 points, four assists, two steals, and a block.

    Drummond showed his shooting range while starting at center in place of Joel Embiid, who had the night off. Drummond made a career-high three three-pointers while finishing with 14 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. It was his 10th double-double of the season.

    Third quarter Edgecombe

    This was the second consecutive game where Edgecombe dominated in the third quarter. The shooting guard scored 11 of Friday’s points on 5-for-6 shooting, including hitting a three-pointer, in the quarter.

    This comes after Edgecombe scored 17 of his 26 points in the third quarter of Sunday’s 120-117 loss. On that night, he made 5 of 7 shots, including all three of his three-pointers, in the quarter. Like on Sunday, Edgecombe played the entire third quarter.

    His ability to take over enabled the Sixers to snap out of their third-quarter blues.

    Joel Embiid will miss Sixers’ matchup vs. Knicks with illness and knee management

    “I have to be more aggressive in that quarter,” Edgecombe said. “It’s not just that whole quarter, it’s the whole game. I know myself. I tend to be slow in the third quarter. We are trying to get over that hump where we start to slow in the third. If that takes me scoring, I’ll do that.”

    He added seven points on 3-for-4 shooting in the fourth quarter. But the third quarter got him going and kept the Sixers in the game.

    “We talk about the third quarters a lot,” McCain said. “It’s something that we’re trying to obviously get better at, and when he’s aggressive like that, especially in the third, that’s what we need. So, he was perfect, and he’s been doing great with the thirds.”

    Karl-Anthony Towns, left, was one of the few bright spots for the Knicks on Friday.

    Mr. Healthy

    McCain can just focus on hoops.

    Friday marked his second game playing without a brace on his right thumb since returning from September’s surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament.

    “Thank God for that,” McCain said. “So now, I guess that’s pretty much the last thing, now. Just being able to get back in rhythm without a brace and without the tape around it. So last game was the first time we just tried it, and now it’s just getting used to it.”

    Jared McCain opens up about protecting his mental health with students at Level Up Philly: ‘It humbles you’

    The second-year combo guard went scoreless on 0-for-5 in Sunday’s 120-117 road loss to the Atlanta Hawks. However, he tied season highs with five assists and two steals. On Friday, McCain finished with 12 points, three rebounds, and one assist. He hit several big shots and closed out the game for the Sixers.

    McCain was also still working his way back from last season’s left-knee injury.

    The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder missed the final 4½ months of last season with a torn meniscus. McCain suffered the injury on Dec. 13 during a home loss to the Indiana Pacers. He said Friday morning that he’s confident in the knee.

    “I think I’m back,” he said. “I mean, I think I’m fully to where I need to be. I think most of it now is just being able to know when I’m coming in and being warm and being ready to come in, because the knee will get stiff if I don’t keep it warm.

    “So, kind of just when I go back to warm up, I try and get ready, but sometimes it goes longer, and so I have to keep staying warm, keep doing jumping, or whatever I’m doing to get warm.”

  • Jared McCain opens up about protecting his mental health with students at Level Up Philly: ‘It humbles you’

    Jared McCain opens up about protecting his mental health with students at Level Up Philly: ‘It humbles you’

    Since high school, Jared McCain has shared his life on TikTok for his fans. He didn’t expect just how many haters also would come his way.

    On Wednesday, McCain, in partnership with Penn Medicine and the Sixers’ Assists for Safe Communities initiative, spoke with students at Level Up Philly about protecting his own mental health.

    “Putting myself in different positions helps me with my mental health, and helps me understand what people can go through,” McCain told The Inquirer. “Now, when I go through it, I understand what to do or what not to do. Being in the league is amazing, and now that I’m in, I guess, my real profession, it’s cool that I get to help out around the city, people around me, and people in my DMs, whoever it is, that I can just help out and try and direct them in the best way possible.”

    Since entering the NBA in 2024, McCain has experienced the highs of a successful debut and the lows of his season-ending meniscus tear and his season-opening finger injury this year.

    VJ Edgecombe and Snipes gift local kids with $500 shopping sprees: ‘Philly is home now and I always try to give back’

    As he worked his way back into the lineup, McCain said there’s a huge mental aspect to his recovery that fans may not see. He relies on his friends and family and also works with a psychologist to process those struggles.

    “The expectation is, you come back right away, first game, and play exactly how you are. But for me, I was just trying to get out there and feel comfortable enough to jump again and jump off my left leg again,” McCain said. “You’ve done it a million times in training and to be prepared for a game, but it’s never going to replicate actually going and subbing into a game and going full speed.”

    “That’s where I’ve got to get off social media sometimes, in the first few games. Even when I’m not playing the best right now, I know it’s going to come back to me, but I always just stay true to myself. I know it’s going to click and I know it’s going to come back as long as I continue to work hard.”

    McCain doesn’t run his own Instagram anymore, and he’s never on X, which he believes is “the worst” platform. But he still loves TikTok and tries to keep basketball off his For You page.

    But he told the students at Level Up Philly that despite the hate he can get for his TikTok videos, he wants to keep it going to make a positive impact. Negative comments often can overshadow the positive ones, so McCain learned to refocus on the good he was doing instead of falling into the negative.

    Students at Level Up Philly listened to Sixers guard Jared McCain talk about his about mental health during an event partnership between Penn Medicine and the Sixers’ Assists for Safe Communities initiative.

    Level Up Philly is a youth community center in West Philadelphia that serves as a home base for hundreds of students across the city to work on homework, learn new skills, or hang out with friends.

    Pastor Aaron Campbell, affectionately called “Unc” and even “Dad” by the students, is the executive director of the center. Level Up Philly supports students from 10 to 25 years old.

    More than 40 students came to hear McCain, Campbell, and Penn Medicine emergency doctor Malik Sams talk about mental health. A number of students at Level Up Philly have witnessed gun violence, and Campbell said 15 students at Level Up have been killed in the last three years.

    “There is arguably a human rights crisis in Philadelphia,” Campbell said. “We have seen a significant drop in homicides. We’ve seen solutions for the violence, but now there’s another element. The elephant in the room is the PTSD, the psychological impact, and that is also part of what I will call a human rights crisis in Philadelphia, so we have to talk about mental health.”

    Jared McCain is staying grounded while shouldering injury ‘haymakers’ for Sixers

    Students eagerly shared their stories and asked McCain questions, and Campbell loved that the collaboration between the Sixers and Level Up could help the students feel more empowered to speak up about their mental health.

    McCain said one of the biggest lessons he’s learned is not to judge, because everyone is going through something that he might not see. Getting to meet the students at Level Up was another way for McCain to gain perspective that he can take with him.

    “I was privileged, and I was able to grow up in an environment where a lot of this stuff didn’t happen that these kids go through,” McCain said. “To be able to hear stories of people, of what they’re going through, and people passing in their family, it definitely it humbles you, and you can understand more of what people go through on a day to day, and what they can be projecting at you when something happened at home. Just hearing it has helped me, and it can literally help me in my mental health struggles.”

  • Sixers vs. Lakers takeaways: Tyrese Maxey’s lack of respect, Joel Embiid’s struggles, and more from loss to Lakers

    Sixers vs. Lakers takeaways: Tyrese Maxey’s lack of respect, Joel Embiid’s struggles, and more from loss to Lakers

    Tyrese Maxey needs to keep his cool, but the 76ers point guard’s frustration is justified.

    The Sixers’ three-guard lineup of VJ Edgecombe, Quentin Grimes, and Jared McCain is showing improvement and could provide a security blanket when Maxey sits on the sideline.

    Yet, the Sixers must get more out of the center position.

    Those things stood out in the Sixers’ 112-108 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

    No respect for Maxey

    Maxey had another dominant performance, finishing with 28 points while making 5 of 8 three-pointers. His last three pulled the Sixers (13-10) within two points at 110-108 with 7.6 seconds left.

    But Luka Dončić responded with a pair of foul shots before LeBron James stole the inbounds pass on the Sixers’ final possession as the Lakers (17-6) escaped with the four-point victory.

    Jabari Walker is soaking up knowledge from his veteran Sixers teammates

    It was Los Angeles’ first victory in Philadelphia since Dec. 7, 2017.

    Dončić had game highs of 31 points and 11 assists, while James added 29 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. The four-time MVP scored 12 of his points on 5-for-6 shooting in the fourth quarter.

    In addition to scoring at least 28 points for the 14th time, Maxey finished with seven rebounds and nine assists.

    But you wouldn’t know he is having an All-NBA-caliber season based on the lack of calls he receives from officials. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder routinely gets hammered on his way to the basket. But fouls are rarely called.

    Coach Nick Nurse is surprised by the lack of calls Maxey receives at this stage of his career.

    “I think as much as he’s getting held and pushed and grabbed, and all that stuff, you think there’d be some more,” Nurse said. “As much as he drove it down the lane, you think there’d be some more. But the surprising ones are when [the Lakers] were trying to foul on purpose, but then they let those go.”

    There were a couple of others where the Lakers were trying to stop Maxey in transition without committing a take foul.

    The Sixers are adapting to life without stars, and reigniting their season as a result

    “And [they] whacked him upside the head,” Nurse said, “and he’s got to try to play through it.”

    The frustration that comes with that came to a boiling point on Sunday.

    No foul was called when guard Austin Reaves hacked Maxey on the arm as the Sixer blew by him on the way to the basket. Jaxson Hayes blocked his driving finger roll with 2:53 left in the first quarter.

    A heated Maxey had to be separated from an official after he expressed his disappointment over the no-call. Maxey was called for a technical as a result.

    He downplayed the incident when asked about his frustration following the game.

    “Not frustrated at all,” he said. “I laughed.”

    You got a technical foul for laughing?

    “Nah, I’m just saying, I’m happy, I’m smiling,” Maxey said. “It happens, sometimes.”

    Philadelphia 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey, center, reacts to his three-point shot during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

    Despite trying to downplay it, Maxey’s frustration was visible. And while his actions were out of character for the fun-loving Sixer, they were understandable considering the frequency with which these no-calls happen.

    And the no-calls didn’t stop, as Reaves got away with grabbing Maxey’s arm or hand several times afterward.

    “You know, referees are human,” he said. “Sometimes, they call it. Sometimes, they don’t. But you got to keep playing through all those calls, man.

    “I ain’t tripping off that. I think the referees do a great job.”

    Solid trio

    There was a time earlier in the season that the non-Maxey minutes were tough to watch. But they’ve gotten better as McCain has regained his rhythm and Edgecombe has healed from a calf injury.

    On Sunday, the Sixers had success with their three-guard lineup of McCain, Edgecombe, and Grimes, with the standout on the bench for the first 5:45 of the second quarter.

    With those three guards leading the way, the Sixers outscored the Lakers, 16-8, before Maxey re-entered the game. Edgecombe scored five of those points, while McCain had seven.

    The Sixers went to the same three-guard lineup at the start of the fourth quarter. But it was just for a limited time as Maxey checked back into the game with 8:35 remaining.

    More needed from centers

    On paper, the Sixers had a big advantage at the center position with 2023 MVP and seven-time All-Star Joel Embiid starting and two-time All-Star Andre Drummond as his backup. They faced a Lakers squad that started Deandre Ayton and had Hayes coming off the bench.

    However, Embiid struggled to make shots. Drummond did the same in the first half. Defensively, they both had a tough time guarding Ayton.

    Embiid finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. However, he missed 17 of his 21 shots, including all six of his three-pointers. Most of Embiid’s points came at the foul line, where he went 8-for-8.

    Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid, left, talks with Tyrese Maxey, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

    Embiid loved the looks he got.

    “Every shot felt like it was right there,” said Embiid, who has missed 14 of the Sixers’ 23 games. “I think it all comes down to just getting back into rhythm, playing every day, and it’s hard being in and out. But I got to do it, I think every single day.

    “I like what I got tonight. I just happened to miss them. Maybe next time it’s going to go in.”

    Drummond finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds. He made five of 11 baskets, but he scored only two points on 1-for-4 shooting before intermission.

    Meanwhile, Ayton had 14 points on 7-for-7 shooting to go with 12 rebounds. Hayes put up three points and five rebounds in 16 minutes.

    The Sixers’ big men must play better for the Sixers to have any chance of beating a solid team.