Sixers Imrpove Record to 9-17, Winning 6 of Their Last 9 Games

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 victory. Embiid recorded 34 points, 5 rebounds, and a season-high 9 assists. Maxey added 23 points, while Kelly Oubre contributed 22 points. However, Paul George followed up his best performance of the season with a rough outing, scoring just 5 points on 2-of-12 shooting. Still, he grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out 8 assists.

David Dow/Getty Images

Despite the win, the Sixers have yet to experience a game where all three of their stars contribute at a high level together. There simply haven't been many opportunities, considering the injuries that have kept one or more of them sidelined for most of the season.

On Saturday, the Sixers faced the Cavaliers in the second leg of a back-to-back. With Embiid resting, the game quickly got out of hand, and the Sixers lost 126-99. After a competitive first quarter, the Sixers were outscored 96-69 the rest of the way, with no chance to make a comeback.

With Jared McCain almost certainly out for the rest of the regular season, the backup guard minutes will be up for grabs. Ideally, Reggie Jackson and Kyle Lowry should take on a bulk of those minutes, as both bring valuable experience and shooting ability. Though he shouldn't be playing significant minutes, Jeff Dowtin Jr. is likely to see an increase in playing time, as Nick Nurse has shown a preference for him. Dowtin Jr. had 9 points in just 12 minutes against Cleveland on Saturday.


David Liam Kyle/Getty Images

Looking ahead, the Sixers will host the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night. The Spurs, currently 15-13 and winners of 4 of their last 5 games, will likely have some added motivation after last season’s matchup, where Joel Embiid dropped 70 points on them. With the Sixers now somewhat healthy, this should be an exciting game.

After the Spurs game, the Sixers' next matchup is on Christmas Day, when they travel to Boston to face the Celtics at 5:00 pm on ESPN. While it’s hard to see the Sixers coming away with a win in this one, it will be a good test to gauge how they compete against a top-tier team like the Celtics, assuming Maxey, George, and Embiid are all available.

After the Spurs game, the Sixers' next matchup is on Christmas Day, when they travel to Boston to face the Celtics at 5:00 pm on ESPN. While it’s hard to see the Sixers coming away with a win in this one, it will be a good test to gauge how they compete against a top-tier team like the Celtics, assuming Maxey, George, and Embiid are all available.

Following the Christmas game, the Sixers will begin a West Coast road trip, facing Utah, Portland, Sacramento, and Golden State. Their first stop will be in Utah on Saturday night to cap off the week.

With the Sixers’ recent improvements, my hope is that they can stay healthy and avoid any more injuries. It would be ideal for their big three to all stay on the court for these upcoming games. While they've shown signs of improvement, they still need to build chemistry and hopefully begin to find their rhythm as a team.

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