Sixers Weekly Newsletter

Corey Chmara  The Sixers are starting to look more like the team many expected to see at the start of the season. With nine wins in their last 12 games, including a thrilling Christmas Day victory over the defending NBA champions, Philly is gaining momentum. The Sixers kicked off last week with a home matchup against the San Antonio Spurs at the Wells Fargo Center. Despite a chaotic first half that saw Joel Embiid ejected after two technical fouls, the team held strong. Tyrese Maxey led the way with 32 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Guerschon Yabusele added 17 points in over 30 minutes of play. In the final two and a half minutes, Maxey scored eight crucial points to secure a 111-106 victory for the Sixers. AP Photo/Matt Slocum After a day of rest, the Sixers took on the Boston Celtics in TD Garden, marking a statement win. Boston was without Jrue Holiday and lost Kristaps Porziņģis to injury during the game, but the Sixers were the better team throughout. Key contributi...

Corey Chmara This past week, the Sixers went 2-1 overall, defeating the Charlotte Hornets twice and falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers on the second night of a back-to-back, without Joel Embiid. They took care of business in Charlotte last Monday, winning 121-108. Tyrese Maxey led the way with 40 points, along with 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Paul George also had his best performance as a Sixer, scoring a season-high 33 points, plus 5 rebounds and 8 assists, while Joel Embiid sat out due to a sinus fracture. After the win in Charlotte on Monday, the Sixers had a few days off due to the NBA Cup but returned to action on Friday night at home against the Hornets. Embiid was back in the lineup, though he wore a protective face mask. Both LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller missed the game for the Hornets due to injuries. This was only the second time this season the Sixers' big three—Embiid, Maxey, and George—played together, and the team controlled the game throughout, securing a 108-98 vict...

Corey Chmara  This past week, the Sixers only played one game due to the NBA Cup games, so you’d expect them to be fully healthy for that game, which took place in Philadelphia against the Indiana Pacers. However, while the Sixers started the game healthy, both Joel Embiid and Jared McCain suffered significant injuries, which played a major role in the team never really getting anything going. They lost 121-107. Joel Embiid suffered a sinus fracture after being accidentally struck in the face by an errant forearm and elbow from Pacers G/F Ben Mathurin. Embiid went to the locker room and did not return. He has already been ruled out for Monday’s game in Charlotte and will be re-evaluated in a week, meaning he’ll miss the Sixers' next four games. Jared McCain , meanwhile, suffered a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee, a far more significant injury. While the exact timeline for his return is unclear, it’s likely that he will miss a substantial portion of the season, which is unfo...

Corey Chmara This past week, the 76ers went 3-1 overall, and it looks like they finally have something positive going for them. Philadelphia currently sits at 7-15 on the season, but they’ve won four of their last five games and have Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and Joel Embiid all healthy—at least, for now. On Tuesday, the Sixers took on the Charlotte Hornets and won, 110-104. The Sixers were in control for most of the game, but Charlotte kept hanging around and even took the lead with a minute and a half left. However, Tyrese Maxey scored 11 points in the final 90 seconds, helping the Sixers squeak out a win. This game marked Paul George’s best performance of the season, as he scored 29 points on 10-of-16 shooting, along with eight assists. Following the win over Charlotte, the Sixers faced the Orlando Magic at home in the second half of a back-to-back. Both Paul George and Joel Embiid were absent. While the game didn’t feature anything particularly memorable, rookie Jared McCain conti...

Corey Chmara This past week, the Sixers played just two games: at home against the Houston Rockets and at the Detroit Pistons, finishing the week with a 1-1 record. Joel Embiid did not play in either game and has appeared in only 4 of the team's 18 games to start the season. Paul George also did not play against the Houston Rockets but made his return from a knee injury (again) against the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night in Detroit. Last Wednesday, the Sixers lost to the Rockets 122-115 in overtime. Tyrese Maxey had an impressive performance, scoring 39 points and recording 10 assists, marking his first double-double of the season. Guerschon Yabusele also played a key role in keeping the Sixers in the game with 22 points. He has been a solid contributor both off the bench and in the starting lineup when called upon, although his minutes have been somewhat inconsistent. Bill Streicher-Imagn Images On Saturday night in Detroit, Paul George returned and had a significant impact on t...