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Tag: Kelly Oubre Jr.

  • Resetting the Sixers’ roster after their blockbuster trade for Jaylen Brown and free-agency moves

    Resetting the Sixers’ roster after their blockbuster trade for Jaylen Brown and free-agency moves

    Free agency began slowly for the 76ers, with zero news until Dean Wade agreed to a four-year contract late Tuesday night.

    Legitimate movement occurred Wednesday, when the Sixers added Ariel Hukporti but rotation players Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes reportedly decided to join other teams.

    Then the Sixers smacked the NBA with a blockbuster stunner, acquiring Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics in exchange for Paul George and four draft picks.

    It was a seismic win-now swing for new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, banking on the Joel Embiid-Tyrese Maxey era rather than toggling between two timelines or fully pivoting into a rebuild around the Maxey-VJ Edgecombe backcourt. It also was an effort to keep up in an Eastern Conference that already boasts the NBA champion New York Knicks, along with revamped Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors teams that recently traded for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard, respectively.

    The Sixers just turned Paul George into Jaylen Brown and transformed themselves for an unbelievable price

    After a dizzying Wednesday, here is a reset on where the Sixers’ roster stands.

    Moving in

    Jaylen Brown

    A five-time All-Star and the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, Brown is an elite attacker and shotmaker along with a stout defender. He has demonstrated he can create a successful tandem with a fellow star and be the top scoring option when needed. Last season, he finished sixth in MVP voting, after averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists to spearhead the Celtics’ surprising 56-win season to finish in second in the Eastern Conference.

    After spending his first 10 NBA seasons cultivating a wing partnership with Jayson Tatum, it will be fascinating to track how the 6-foot-6, 230-pound Brown fits with the Sixers’ roster construction with Maxey and Edgecombe in the backcourt and Embiid (presumably) in the middle. Brown also is one of the NBA’s more outspoken personalities — even his comments on Twitch streams have caused past stirs — which will need to mesh within the Sixers’ locker room.

    Dean Wade (32) is another strong on-ball defender that will bring size and versatility to the Sixers.

    Dean Wade

    Wade instantly projects into the other starting forward spot next to Brown. The 6-9, 225-pound Wade is another strong on-ball defender with size and versatility. The 29-year-old also averaged 4.2 rebounds in less than 23 minutes during the past two seasons, and is a career 36.7% three-point shooter.

    The knock on Wade? Health. He has played in more than 60 games only once in his nine-year career.

    Ariel Hukporti

    Hukporti is the latest contender to become Embiid’s backup center. The 24-year-old was the third-team big man behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson on the Knicks’ title squad, and averaged less than 10 minutes across 79 games in his first two NBA seasons.

    Early reactions to the Jaylen Brown-Paul George trade: ‘The East offseason is crazy’

    An athletic 7-footer, Hukporti offers more pure size than Adem Bona, though Bona might be more switchable defensively and capable of playing power forward next to Embiid. And it is a bit troubling that Hukporti has struggled in similar areas — too many fouls, not enough consistency — as Bona.

    Perhaps an opportunity for increased playing time will kickstart Hukporti’s development — and productivity.

    Moving out

    Paul George

    Once a perennial All-Star and splashy free-agency signing, George’s two seasons with the Sixers will go down as a disappointment. He sustained numerous injuries in 2024-25, and last season was suspended 25 games for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy.

    Though George was terrific on both ends of the floor down the stretch of the regular season — including in the Sixers’ rally to upset the Celtics in the playoffs’ first round — his contract had been considered difficult to trade because of his age and injury history.

    Until Wednesday, that is.

    Kelly Oubre Jr., who played three seasons in Philly, will reportedly join the Indiana Pacers.

    Kelly Oubre Jr.

    Oubre’s three-year Sixers tenure, meanwhile, should be considered a success. He morphed from late-offseason addition on a veteran’s minimum contract, to starter who played with force and flair, to veteran who put together his most efficient season at age 30.

    Before (and after?) the Brown blockbuster, it was puzzling that the Sixers decided not to match (or offer a similar deal) to the two years and “nearly” $17 million that ESPN reported Oubre agreed to with the Pacers. The Sixers held Oubre’s full Bird rights, which allows teams to re-sign their own free agents even if they are already over the salary cap.

    It is possible Oubre wanted a change of scenery — Indiana, which made the 2025 NBA Finals, is expected to regain contender status once All-NBA point guard Tyrese Haliburton recovers from Achilles surgery — or that Gansey did not value Oubre as much as former lead executive Daryl Morey. But the most cynical observer could conclude that letting Oubre walk was a move to help stay under the luxury tax.

    Quentin Grimes

    Grimes’ four-year, $60 million reported deal with the Lakers is a significant raise on the $8.7 million qualifying offer he played on this season following a messy restricted free agency.

    Quentin Grimes reportedly agrees to $60 million deal with Lakers, ending Sixers contract saga

    Grimes flashed his “attack mode” scoring punch and tenacious defense in spurts as a sixth man. But he shot a career-low 33.4% from three-point range last season, and, other than an excellent Game 5 performance on both ends in Boston, was not good enough during the playoffs for a Sixers second unit that desperately needed scoring production.

    His departure means the Sixers likely will need immediate contribution from new draftee Labaron Philon Jr., whom many evaluators considered a first-round steal at 22nd overall.

    Moves still to come

    Final roster spot(s)

    Swapping out George’s contract for Brown’s still creates a top-heavy cap sheet. The Sixers are now about $2 million under the luxury tax and $10 million below the first apron, where they are hard-capped. And assuming Hukporti’s salary comes out of the nontaxpayer midlevel exception, the Sixers still have $2.6 million from that to spend along with the $5.5 million biannual exception.

    The Sixers could add two more players to reach 15 on the full-time roster, though they have often only carried 14 to stay under the luxury tax.

    LeBron James is a free agent this summer. Could the Sixers’ recent moves interest the 21-time All-Star?

    It is reasonable to expect that the Sixers will focus on adding one more guard — unless LeBron James wants to come to Philly, of course.

    James’ agent, Rich Paul, told Max Kellerman during the pair’s Game Over podcast released Wednesday that he had spoken to between 12 and 14 teams about James. The Sixers would be silly not to be among that group that has reached out, or to join it after the addition of Brown. Gansey’s brother, Steven, also threw gas on the social media speculation when he posted a photo on X of Gansey and James as high-schoolers in Ohio and the eyeballs emoji.

    Additionally, Bona’s $2.3 million salary for 2026-27 becomes guaranteed on July 7, while Jabari Walker and Dalen Terry’s deals become fully guaranteed Jan. 10. As of Wednesday night, unrestricted free agents Andre Drummond, Trendon Watford, and Kyle Lowry (who is expected to retire) had not committed to signing with any team.

    Current depth chart

    Point guard: Tyrese Maxey, Labaron Philon Jr.

    Shooting guard: VJ Edgecombe, Dalen Terry

    Small forward: Jaylen Brown, Justin Edwards

    Power forward: Dean Wade, Dominick Barlow, Jabari Walker

    Center: Joel Embiid, Adem Bona, Ariel Hukporti, Johni Broome

  • Kelly Oubre Jr. reportedly agrees to a two-year, $17 million deal with the Indiana Pacers

    Kelly Oubre Jr. reportedly agrees to a two-year, $17 million deal with the Indiana Pacers

    Kelly Oubre Jr. will not return to the 76ers, instead agreeing to a two-year contract worth “nearly” $17 million with the Indiana Pacers, ESPN reported Wednesday afternoon.

    Oubre’s departure became more plausible when the Sixers agreed to sign forward Dean Wade, who now is projected to slide into a starting spot, to a four-year, $39 million contract late Tuesday, The Inquirer confirmed.

    Oubre rebuilt his NBA career in three seasons with the Sixers, and now joins a Pacers team that made the 2025 NBA Finals and is expected to return to contention when All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton recovers from a torn Achilles tendon.

    The 30-year-old Oubre was a starter who impacted both ends of the floor for the Sixers, averaging 14.1 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 50 games in 2025-26. The 6-foot-8 wing used his athleticism in a more controlled way on offense, shot a career-best 36% from three-point range last season, and was willing to take on challenging perimeter defensive assignments.

    Quentin Grimes reportedly agrees to $60 million deal with Lakers, ending Sixers contract saga

    Oubre signing with Indiana occurred after he also reportedly planned to meet with at least the Sixers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Portland Trail Blazers. The Sixers had Oubre’s full Bird rights, which permit teams to re-sign their own free agents even if they are over the salary cap. Oubre’s new contract with Indiana is only a slight raise on the $8.3 million he made last season, suggesting the Sixers could instead complete their offseason by signing a player to a veteran’s minimum deal to stay under the luxury tax ($201 million).

    Though Oubre said “I love it here” in Philly during his end-of-season news conference last month, his length, athleticism, and positional archetype are typically valued leaguewide. Oubre also said he hopes he “did myself a good service” by putting a concerted effort into a more efficient playing style.

    Former Sixers guard Kelly Oubre Jr., is reportedly leaving Philly to join the Indiana Pacers.

    “I learned so much,” Oubre said of his time with the Sixers. “The game of basketball has reinvented itself to me through different lenses and different eyes throughout my tenure here, and I’m forever appreciative for the opportunity to play for this city.

    “Obviously I don’t like how [the season] ended. I always say I like to finish what I start, and this is a bit sour for me. But at the end of the day, it’s already written.”

    Yet the veteran entering his 12th NBA season also has previous experience with the harsh realities of free agency. Oubre reminded during his end-of-season news conference that, after averaging 20.3 points per game with the Charlotte Hornets in 2022-23, he “still found myself barely getting any contracts” until the Sixers signed him to a veteran’s minimum deal that September.

    Source: Ariel Hukporti agrees to sign one-year contract with Sixers

    Oubre’s departure comes after the Sixers also lost sixth man Quentin Grimes, who reportedly agreed to a four-year, $60 million deal with the Lakers Wednesday afternoon. Backup center Andre Drummond, reserve forward Trendon Watford, and veteran guard Kyle Lowry (who is expected to retire) are the Sixers’ other unrestricted free agents and remain uncommitted to returning to Philly or signing with a new team.

    During free agency’s first 24 hours, the Sixers also agreed to add reserve center Ariel Hukporti on a one year, $3.4 million deal. They also picked up the team options for Dominick Barlow ($3.4 million) and Dalen Terry ($2.6 million, nonguaranteed until Jan. 10).

    Hukporti’s and Wade’s salaries came out of the nontaxpayer midlevel exception, leaving the Sixers with $2.6 million remaining from that to sign an outside player. They also still have the $5.5 million biannual exception.

    Dean Wade (right) is expected to slide in the starting role vacated by Kelly Oubre Jr.’s departure.

    The Sixers entered free agency with limited financial flexibility, with All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey ($40.8 million), former NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid ($57.7 million), and former perennial All-Star Paul George ($54.1 million) all on max contracts that account for the bulk of the salary cap of nearly $165 million. Using the nontaxpayer midlevel exception on Wade hard-capped the Sixers at the first apron ($209 million).

    The Sixers finished last season seventh in the Eastern Conference standings (45-37) and, after their stunning rally from down three games to one to upset the Boston Celtics in the playoffs’ first round, were swept by the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks.

  • The three biggest questions facing the Sixers as they head into 2026 NBA free agency

    The three biggest questions facing the Sixers as they head into 2026 NBA free agency

    This summer has brought back the NBA’s offseason fireworks, with star players being traded all over the league in anticipation of free agency and a 2026-27 season that could be anybody’s for the taking.

    The 76ers don’t look like a team that will participate in much of the action on the trade market or when free agency opens at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. They are pot committed to Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey, who will all play on max contracts into the foreseeable future.

    So what could this summer look like for the Sixers? How will they improve on the margins in a league where teams are constantly jockeying for position? Let’s take a look at the biggest storylines facing the Sixers entering NBA free agency …

    How can the Sixers improve this summer?

    The contracts of Embiid, Maxey, and George continue to hamper the franchise. VJ Edgecombe emerged sooner than expected and remains on his rookie deal. So the Sixers will enter Tuesday’s free agency with only so much they can accomplish. They have no choice but to run it back with their three stars and hope for better health and better support on the margins.

    Sixers free-agency primer: Players who could depart, possible outside targets, and more

    They’ll also need better performances from their stars, who were superb against the Boston Celtics as they manufactured a three-games-to-one comeback in the first round of the playoffs but struggled in the quick turnaround to the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks. Embiid missed Game 2 because of right hip soreness and a sprained right ankle, Maxey missed every shot he took from three in Game 1 (15.8% on 4.8 attempts per game for the series), and George missed the second half of multiple games after he failed to sustain hot starts. Those things can be changed in the summer only by rest, recovery, and returning to the drawing board.

    Sixers guards Kelly Oubre Jr., and Quentin Grimes are both set to hit free agency.

    Will they be able to re-sign Kelly Oubre Jr., and Quentin Grimes?

    This is the biggest question facing the Sixers this summer. They entered the summer $14.5 million below the tax and $22.5 million below the first apron. They’ve since declined the option of Trendon Watford. If they sign Oubre and Grimes, they’ll likely hit the first apron with the same team that finished seventh in the East last season.

    Based on the Sixers’ history of avoiding the luxury tax — including last season when they traded Jared McCain despite Embiid’s public plea — that result is unlikely. For reference, Oubre signed a two-year, $16.3 million deal and Grimes signed the one-year, $8.7 qualifying offer after failing to come to a deal as a restricted free agent. Both players expect a raise.

    Ben Simmons eyes NBA comeback and contemplates a return to the Sixers: ‘Maybe I’ll go back to Philly’

    Can they find a backup center?

    Andre Drummond and Adem Bona juggled a tough situation last season. Neither player knew what to expect from night to night because of Embiid’s health issues and sudden shifts in their roles. When Embiid did not play, Bona started and Drummond served as the backup. But when he was available, Drummond stepped into the backup role and Bona often didn’t play at all.

    That might not be the most tenable situation for Drummond, who will enter free agency this summer. It’s also not ideal for the Sixers, who are aware that the ideal backup will have the combined skills of Drummond and Bona.

  • Kelly Oubre Jr. will miss Sixers’ game vs. Spurs with an illness

    Kelly Oubre Jr. will miss Sixers’ game vs. Spurs with an illness

    Kelly Oubre Jr. will miss the 76ers’ home game Tuesday against the San Antonio Spurs with an illness, per the NBA’s injury report.

    Oubre, a starting wing, has been enjoying one of the best seasons of his 11-year NBA career. He is averaging 14.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 38 games, while often taking a challenging perimeter defensive assignment. He has increased his three-point shooting to 37.2%.

    Ex-Sixers coach Doug Collins returns to Philly for NBC throwback game, but a few voices are missing

    Without Oubre, combo guard Quentin Grimes will slide into the starting lineup. Second-year wing Justin Edwards will “for sure” reenter the rotation, coach Nick Nurse said during his pregame news conference.

    The Sixers also will play against the 43-17 Spurs without Joel Embiid (oblique) and Paul George (suspension).

  • Sixers’ losing streak reaches three after 117-107 loss to the Atlanta Hawks

    Sixers’ losing streak reaches three after 117-107 loss to the Atlanta Hawks

    Jalen Johnson had 32 points and 10 rebounds and CJ McCollum added 23 points as the Atlanta Hawks beat the 76ers 117-107 on Thursday night in the teams’ first game after the All-Star break.

    Dyson Daniels finished with 15 points, Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 14, and Zaccharie Risacher and Jock Landale each had 10 as the Hawks snapped a three-game losing streak with their third win over the Sixers this season.

    Tyrese Maxey scored 28 points and Rising Stars MVP VJ Edgecombe added 20 for the Sixers, who were without center Joel Embiid, who missed the game due to right shin soreness.

    Cameron Payne is happy to return to Sixers: ‘When your focus is in the right place, things like this happen’

    Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 17 points and Quentin Grimes scored 10 of his 14 points in the first half for Philly. Andre Drummond contributed 10 points and 14 rebounds as the Sixers lost their third in a row and for the fourth time in five games.

    The Hawks built an 11-point lead with approximately six minutes remaining before the Sixers charged back and closed within 108-104 with less than three minutes left. Atlanta closed the game with a 9-3 run that included five points by Johnson, who shot 14-for-16 from the line.

    The 76ers said Embiid experienced soreness in his shin while participating in a right knee injury management program over the break. After consulting with doctors, Embiid has received daily treatment, while progressing through on-court work and strength and conditioning.

    Coach Nick Nurse said before the game against the Hawks that the plan is to get Embiid on the court on Friday and “see how he looks from there.” Nurse said he “don’t anticipate it being a long time.”

    Embiid is averaging 26.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 31 games this season.

    The Sixers will face the Pelicans on Saturday in New Orleans (7 p.m., NBCSP).

  • Sixers’ Kelly Oubre Jr. releases a new rap song, ‘Fast & Furious,’ under the stage name t$unami

    Sixers’ Kelly Oubre Jr. releases a new rap song, ‘Fast & Furious,’ under the stage name t$unami

    Kelly Oubre Jr. appears to be spending his All-Star break in the recording studio.

    On Monday, the Sixers forward posted a clip of his newest single, “Fast & Furious,” on Instagram under the stage name t$unami, which he has been using since 2020 on Soundcloud. Oubre also uploaded the song to Spotify and Apple Music.

    The rap song is the first Oubre has released since “A prayer for you” in 2023. He also released “Flipped the Game” in 2022, which is currently his most-streamed song on Spotify, with over 300,000 streams.

    Oubre is just the latest in a series of Philly athletes who have tried their hands at music, including Allen Iverson, Brett Myers, Lou Williams, DeSean Jackson, and more recently Terrell Edmunds. Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson, and Jordan Mailata — better known as The Philly Specials — also released a few original songs on their three Eagles Christmas albums.

    The Sixers return from the All-Star break on Feb. 19, against the Miami Heat.

  • Sixers takeaways: Matching physicality, Tyrese Maxey is hard to guard, and more from the win against Suns

    Sixers takeaways: Matching physicality, Tyrese Maxey is hard to guard, and more from the win against Suns

    The 76ers need to keep playing a heady brand of basketball.

    Tyrese Maxey is unguardable when in his bag of tricks.

    And so far, Paul George’s absence hasn’t had a major impact on the outcomes of games.

    These things stood out in Saturday’s 109-103 victory over the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center.

    With the win, the Sixers improved to 30-22 and evened the two-game season series against the Suns (31-22). They’re also 3-1 in the first four games of their five-game West Coast road trip, which concludes on Monday against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center.

    Solid brand of basketball

    The Sixers had effective ball movement against the Suns. They also attacked the basket, crashed the boards, and played at a much faster pace than in recent games.

    In addition to doing those things, they didn’t back down from Phoenix’s physicality or Dillon Brooks’ antics. Kelly Oubre Jr. got in the face of his former roommate and high school teammate at Findlay Prep (Nevada) after Brooks flopped on a play.

    Before that, Joel Embiid and Devin Booker exchanged words at the conclusion of the first half. And there were other heated exchanges.

    Joel Embiid (21), who led with a game-high 33-point effort, gets fouled by Suns guard Jordan Goodwin in the first half of Saturday’s game.

    The Sixers didn’t match the physicality of the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this season. So seeing them fight back and play with an edge against the Suns was a great sign.

    “We stayed professional,” Maxey said to the media. “We didn’t let all the rah rah stuff affect us. We got physical back, and that’s good. That happens, and we can take that.”

    Maxey said he could anticipate the Suns’ antics. With the Sixers up 16 points in the second quarter, he knew Phoenix would resort to something.

    “Any good team or any team that’s playing for something, they’re not going to let you steamroll them. They’re not going to lay down. They are going to go out there and try to put up a fight. And sometimes that’s what has to come with it. You have to get more physical, and you have to sustain that lead. And we did a good job of that.”

    Daryl Morey likes the Sixers’ chances in the East, but he understands skepticism around the Jared McCain trade

    The Sixers had a 50-40 rebounding advantage. They scored 34 points in the paint and held the Suns to 23.9% three-point shooting.

    Embiid finished with 33 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and one block. Maxey finished with 29 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and one steal, while Oubre added 18 points, six rebounds, and two steals.

    Marvelous Maxey

    Maxey had a slow start, missing his first three shot attempts. But after that, the two-time All-Star was close to unstoppable.

    Unable to keep him in front of them, the Suns’ defenders were helpless. The point guard drained a couple of his three-pointers. He scored on a post-up. And Maxey played through contact on his way to the rim. Fourteen of his points came in the first half.

    “We just played fast that group that I was in there with,” Maxey said regarding the first half. “Got rebounds, got stops, and got out and ran, trying to make sure everybody touched the ball, everybody involved, and it was good.”

    Maxey missed his first three shots in the second half. But after settling down, the Suns, once again, had a tough time guarding him.

    Making 8 of 9 foul shots, the sixth-year player scored 13 of his points in the fourth quarter. His last two with 11.8 seconds remaining gave the Sixers their six-point cushion.

    No George, no problem?

    Let’s not get it twisted.

    The Sixers are a better team with George on the floor. The nine-time All-Star is a solid facilitator and one of their best defenders. As a result, there was a thought that the team would struggle while he serves a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s Anti-Drug Program.

    So far, that hasn’t been the case.

    The Sixers are 4-1 in the first five games without the 6-8 forward. Their lone loss was Thursday’s 119-115 setback to the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena.

    Different players stepped up to help Embiid and Maxey in each of their victories. On Saturday, it was Trendon Watford in addition to Oubre.

    “He’s become a little more important now [what] the roster is,” said Sixers coach Nick Nurse. “If one of those guys gets in foul trouble, he’s got to kind of be another ball handler. I thought he did a good job.

    “He’s starting to show a little bit of element of some toughness, kind of standing up to [the Suns with] some of his physicality out there.”

    Daryl Morey’s message to Joel Embiid and Sixers fans: Trust the Process

    Watford finished with six points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two blocks.

    While he didn’t score a lot of points, the reserve point forward displayed a lot of toughness and did a lot of intangible things. Being impactful, Watford played the entire fourth quarter. That’s when he had four points, four rebounds, and two blocks.

    “The big thing for us is he can handle the ball,” Maxey said of his close friend. “He’s a connector. We needed that for a long time. Nico [Batum during the 2023-24 season] was probably the last [point forward] we had. But he doesn’t handle the ball as much as TY does. So he does a good job of handling the ball. He can play pick-and-roll. He can post, get a bucket down there in the post. We just got to get him to play some defense, then we will be alright.”

  • Sixers takeaways: Second half turnovers, Joel Embiid’s scoring and more in loss to Lakers

    Sixers takeaways: Second half turnovers, Joel Embiid’s scoring and more in loss to Lakers

    The 76ers were handling business at the conclusion of an emotional two days, until they began turning the ball over when things got chippy in the second half.

    They were also doomed by the Lakers’ bench points.

    But if there’s a positive for the Sixers, Joel Embiid was back to doing a little bit of everything against Los Angeles.

    And coach Nick Nurse will tell you that the biggest strides that VJ Edgecombe have made are with his consistency.

    Austin Reaves scores 35 to help Lakers snap the Sixers’ five-game winning streak

    Those things stood out in Thursday’s 119-115 loss to the Lakers at the Crypto.com Arena.

    The setback dropped the Sixers to 29-22 and snapped their five-game winning streak. They also fell one spot into sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings.

    Unable to handle business

    The good news is the Sixers didn’t initially look like a team that was emotional due to losing teammates Jared McCain and Eric Gordon before the 3 p.m. NBA trade deadline.

    The bad news is that the team continued its trend of falling apart after the intermission.

    At one point, it looked like the Sixers would coast to an easy victory. However, they began to struggle as the Lakers (31-19) increased their physicality. That led to costly turnovers by the Sixers.

    Sixers guard Quentin Grimes (center) reaches for a loose ball with Los Angeles Lakers forward Jake LaRavia on Thursday.

    Los Angeles opened the fourth quarter on a 21-6 run.

    The Sixers committed 15 turnovers, with 11 coming in the second half. To their credit, they battled back after trailing by 16 points with 4 minutes, 4 seconds left to play. Tyrese Maxey’s floater pulled the Sixers within two points with 27 seconds left.

    But they just couldn’t overcome costly turnovers at inopportune times, combined with Los Angeles’ chippy play.

    “It’s just the physicality at one end was a big thing,” Nurse told the media. “I think it was we had [been] playing pretty good and rolling along pretty well, winning. It just seemed like it was physical at one end and not at the other.”

    Sixers convert Dominick Barlow’s two-way contract to a standard NBA deal

    This loss could be considered a major disappointment, given that the Sixers’ stars shone.

    Embiid finished with 35 points on 13-for-19 shooting along with seven rebounds, seven assists, one steal, and two blocks. Maxey added 26 points, 13 assists, and four steals for his sixth double-double this season. Edgecombe finished with 19 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, and four steals for his third double-double. And Dominick Barlow had 13 points, two steals, and a block hours after having his two-way contract converted to a standard deal.

    But the last couple of days for the Sixers were intense mentally.

    First, the uncertainty surrounding the trade deadline was emotionally taxing. They knew that several teammates could be moved before Thursday’s deadline. Then there was some added emotion seeing the well-liked McCain get traded on Wednesday. And even though he rarely played, the emotion resurfaced when Gordon, a team mentor, was moved on Thursday.

    The Sixers got under the tax and took a small step back at the NBA trade deadline

    “I think it is emotional for everybody,” Nurse told reporters before the game. “Just watching it all unfold over the last three days, it seems like every half hour there’s some news around the league. I think that pours into the emotion for everybody that there’s a lot going on, seeing the wildness of all of it going so fast.”

    The Sixers knew the trade deadline was coming down to the wire when they arrived at Thursday’s shootaround. And it was a bit of a distraction for them.

    “But everybody is going through it,” Nurse said. “So you can’t sit here and say it’s a factor in anything. And you have to get through this game. And we’ll see what kind of emotions it had for us when we go out there and play tonight.”

    And they came to play, with all five starters scoring in the first five minutes to set the tone early.

    Bench-point disparity

    The Sixers could have used McCain’s scoring production off the bench against the Lakers. That’s because Los Angeles had a 61-14 advantage in bench points. Austin Reaves, a regular starter, is coming off the bench for the Lakers because of a minutes restriction. The guard finished with a team-high 35 points and made 5 of 8 three-pointers while playing just 25:03.

    Rui Hachimura added 14 points in a reserve role.

    He and Reaves took up the slack for Luka Dončić, who exited the game in the first half with left leg soreness.

    Sixers’ Joel Embiid (left) made 13 of 19 shots against the Lakers on Thursday.

    Embiid’s night

    It didn’t take long to realize Embiid would have a solid night.

    The 2023 MVP and seven-time All-Star scored 12 of the Sixers’ 27 first-quarter points. Embiid was averaging 30.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in 12 career games against the Lakers before Thursday’s game.

    Sixers trading Eric Gordon to Memphis in exchange for a second-round pick swap

    But Embiid had struggled through 4-for-21 shooting — including missing all six of his three-pointers — while scoring 16 points in the Sixers’ 112-108 loss to the Lakers on Dec. 7 at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

    Thursday, however, marked the seventh time that he scored at least 30 points against Los Angeles.

    Edgecombe’s consistency

    As a 20-year-old rookie, Edgecombe has experienced peaks and valleys in his play.

    “But not many,” Nurse said. “Not … too high or too low. And I think that’s an accomplishment or development, or a stride that rookies are usually pretty up and down. But he kind of came in doing a lot of stuff, and he continues to do a lot of stuff. That’s all I keep saying, he’s so versatile. He does a little bit of everything. And again, he has great maturity and composure for his age as well.”

    Sixers rookie guard VJ Edgecombe (right) finished with a double-double (19 points, 10 rebounds) against the Lakers.

    The Sixers are trying to get Edgecombe to become more aggressive. Nurse has seen increased aggressiveness from him lately.

    “But I don’t want to say we’re there yet, either,” the coach said.

  • Sixers takeaways: Winning without Joel Embiid, best stretch since 2024, and more from victory over Warriors

    Sixers takeaways: Winning without Joel Embiid, best stretch since 2024, and more from victory over Warriors

    Andre Drummond has to sustain quick starts in games.

    The 76ers, however, bucked the recent trend of losing on nights when Joel Embiid is not playing.

    And in the process, they’re in the midst of their best stretch since concluding the 2023-24 season with nine consecutive victories.

    Those things stood out in Tuesday’s 113-94 victory over the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center in San Francisco.

    Sixers mailbag: Paul George’s suspension, Joel Embiid’s scoring surge and trade deadline targets

    The Sixers (29-21) are a half-game behind the fourth-place Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference standings.

    Drummond must sustain his shooting

    Drummond got his 18th start of the season due to Embiid not being cleared to play on back-to-back nights. Drummond finished with a game-high 11 rebounds to go with 12 points for his 12th double-double of the season.

    On paper, his stat line looked good. He made 5 of 11 shots, including 1 of 2 on three-pointers, to go with one assist, one steal, and one block.

    But he’ll have to be a more consistent shooter to gain the coaching staff’s trust as a reliable reserve when Embiid plays.

    Sixers reserve center Adem Bona scored 11 points in 16 minutes off the bench Tuesday night.

    Drummond was unable to build off his solid shooting start to the game.

    He had four points on 2-for-2 shooting and five rebounds in the first five minutes. He scored those baskets on a put-back dunk and a tip-in. However, Drummond missed his next six attempts.

    Paul George’s suspension brings back belief that he was a bad signing for the Sixers. Here’s why.

    He missed a reverse layup and had a driving dunk blocked before being subbed out for Adem Bona with 2 minutes, 15 seconds remaining in the first quarter. He followed that up by missing a 23-foot three-pointer and a put-back layup in the second quarter.

    His rough shooting night continued in the third quarter, when he missed an eight-foot turnaround jumper and an alley-oop.

    Drummond snapped out of his shooting skid, scoring on two layups in the fourth quarter. The majority of his misses came on shots around the basket.

    Drummond’s offensive shortcomings could be one reason sources say the Sixers are open to trading him, even though he is their leading rebounder.

    Joel Embiid not sweating All-Star Game snub: ‘I don’t need any validation from anybody’

    While he struggled from the field, Bona had 11 points on 5-for-6 shooting.

    All-Star point guard Tyrese Maxey (14 points on 3-for-9 shooting), Dominick Barlow (10 points, 3-for-10), and Kelly Oubre Jr. (15 points, 4-for-12) all struggled from the field.

    But VJ Edgecombe paced them with 25 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, and the Sixers got quality contributions from their bench.

    They also benefited from the undermanned Warriors (27-24), who were without Stephen Curry, committing 20 turnovers.

    Needed win without Embiid

    Before Tuesday, the Sixers had lost four straight games when Embiid didn’t play. Teams were blitzing Maxey, and role players weren’t stepping up. They didn’t have that problem against the Warriors.

    Trendon Watford had 16 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks in a reserve role. The Sixers had eight scorers in double digits.

    This victory serves as a major confidence boost for a team dealing with Paul George’s 25-game suspension.

    Sixers guard VJ Edgecombe (left) had a game-high 25 points against the Warriors.

    Extending overall winning streak

    The Sixers have the league’s second-best active winning streak at five games. The Charlotte Hornets and New York Knicks are tied for the best with seven consecutive victories.

    Dominick Barlow’s stellar play, sharpshooting from three, and more in win over Clippers

    They opened the season with four consecutive victories before winning three straight games from Dec. 30 to Jan. 3.

    But this time, the Sixers appear to be coming into form, getting major contributions from several players.

  • Sixers takeaways: Dominick Barlow’s stellar play, sharpshooting from three, and more in win over Clippers

    Sixers takeaways: Dominick Barlow’s stellar play, sharpshooting from three, and more in win over Clippers

    Dominick Barlow is making Paul George’s absence manageable.

    Paced by Tyrese Maxey’s season-high seven three-pointers, the 76ers showed why they are tough to beat when they’re making threes.

    And facing Ivica Zubac remains a lopsided matchup for Joel Embiid.

    These things stood out in a 128-113 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. The win extended the Sixers’ (28-21) winning streak to a season-tying four games heading into Tuesday’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center in San Francisco.

    The sixth-place Sixers are a game behind the fourth-place Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference standings.

    Picking up the slack

    Monday marked the second game of George’s 25-game suspension due to violating the NBA’s Anti-Drug program. And just like Saturday night’s contest, he wasn’t missed. Barlow was a major reason why.

    The 6-foot-9 power forward finished with a career-high 26 points to go with 16 rebounds, including a career-high 10 on the offensive boards, to post his second double-double of the season. He also finished with two steals and a block.

    Sixers mailbag: Paul George’s suspension, Joel Embiid’s scoring surge and trade deadline targets

    He became the first Sixer with at least 25 points and 10 offensive rebounds since Hall of Famer Charles Barkley did so in November 1990.

    “That’s pretty good company,” Barlow said in a postgame interview on NBC Sports Philadelphia.

    Barlow had 11 points on 4-for-7 shooting, along with seven rebounds — four offensive — in the first quarter. That enabled him to become the league’s first player with at least 10 points, four offensive rebounds, a steal, and a block in a first quarter since Embiid tallied that in a December 2023 game.

    “Some of the stuff I was getting was just easy in transition,” Barlow said of the first quarter. “I didn’t really do anything in the half-court for the first quarter, and I had 11. So I was like, ‘OK, if I get some stuff in the half-court and keep running, it’s going to be a big night.”

    He was right.

    Barlow reentered the game with 4 minutes, 21 seconds remaining in the half, and added four points on 2-for-2 shooting before intermission.

    Paul George’s suspension brings back belief that he was a bad signing for the Sixers. Here’s why.

    Always in attack mode, Barlow has a knack for grabbing offensive rebounds, cutting to the basket when he’s off the ball, and finding gaps in the defense where he can make an impact besides just scoring.

    Three-point shooting

    The Sixers are starting to find their rhythm with their three-point shooting. They made 22 of 42 three-pointers in their win over the Milwaukee Bucks last week. On Saturday, the Sixers made 17 of 36 threes. Against the Clippers, they went 17-for-39 (43.6%), 10 coming in the first half on 19 attempts.

    Maxey‘s season-high seven three-pointers led to his 29 points to go with six assists and three steals. Kelly Oubre Jr. hit three from long range while scoring 15 points. Quentin Grimes (15 points) and Jared McCain (six points) each made two.

    Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey scored 29 points while draining seven three-pointers against the Clippers Monday night.

    Embiid dominates Zubac … again

    Zubac averaged eight points and eight rebounds in eight previous games playing against Embiid, who averaged around 34 points and 10 rebounds in those games.

    Embiid wasn’t efficient on Monday, nor was he a beast on the boards. But he still outplayed his counterpart. He finished with 24 points on 8-for-19 shooting to go with five rebounds, three assists, and one steal. It was his 19th consecutive game with at least 20 points. Zubac had eight points and nine rebounds.