Field Level Media
01 Nov 2025, 22:49 GMT+10
(Photo credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images)
Offensively, the Philadelphia 76ers are playing to prove losing 58 games last season was an aberration.
So far, the results have been good, though the Sixers are coming off their first loss of the season heading into their Sunday visit to the winless Brooklyn Nets.
Philadelphia won its first four games by a combined 22 points and erased three double-digit deficits, including a 19-point hole, for a 139-134 overtime win over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday. Philadelphia was unable to pull off another comeback in Friday's 109-108 home loss to the Boston Celtics. The 76ers never led and trailed by 24 with about 3 1/2 minutes left in the second quarter.
Tyrese Maxey scored 26 points to go along with 14 assists, tying a career high, in just 26 minutes. He has scored at least 25 in each game and is averaging 35.2 points. Joel Embiid, whose minutes are being monitored, added 20 in 25 minutes.
Embiid has scored at least 20 points in three consecutive games.
Philadelphia is coming off its lowest point total of the season but also struggled defensively until it started making a comeback.
'We did a much better job towards the end of the half and the second half, but that's where it starts,' Embiid said. 'Got to get into your man, got to get stops, got to be aggressive. Got to take pride in guarding your man. I think as much as everybody has been so excited about the good start, I feel like my mentality is all about, how can we get better?'
Brooklyn is winless through its first five games for the first time since dropping the first seven contests of the 2015-16 season. The Nets have allowed at least 115 points in each game but are coming off one of their better performances.
In a 117-112 loss to the visiting Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, the Nets scored the first 12 points and nearly pulled off a comeback from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
Michael Porter Jr. scored 32 points on 12-of-20 shooting and has two 30-point games after getting three last season with Denver. Cam Thomas added 19 but is 9-for-29 from the field since he had a 41-point game in San Antonio last Sunday.
Nic Claxton also had a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds but missed two shots in the final minute.
Brooklyn's comeback bid was achieved with Terrance Mann playing point guard at times and rookies Ben Saraf and Egor Demin on the bench. Saraf has yet to score more than eight points while Demin is 2-for-11 from the floor in his past two games and has yet to attempt a shot inside the 3-point line.
'I think it starts with the point guard spot,' Porter said. 'We have a lot of rookie point guards who are going to be great in this league for a long time, but they're still rookies. ... I think the point guard position may be the hardest position in the game, and we have a lot of young guys playing that position. So, it's really hard to win when that point guard spot isn't solidified.'
--Field Level Media
Get a daily dose of Pittsburgh Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Pittsburgh Star.
More InformationWASHINGTON, D.C.: A shortage of air traffic controllers caused more flight delays across the country at the start of the week, as controllers...
(Photo credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images) Offensively, the Philadelphia 76ers are playing to prove losing 58 games last season was an...
(Photo credit: Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) An NFL insider shot down trade rumors surrounding Cleveland Browns...
(Photo credit: Michael Longo/For USA Today Network / USA TODAY NETWORK) The Pittsburgh Steelers won't have linebacker Cole Holcomb...
(Photo credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images) There will be a contrast in styles at the offensive end of the court when the Houston Rockets...
(Photo credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images) Jaylen Brown scored 32 points as the Boston Celtics slipped past host Philadelphia 109-108...
DUBLIN, Ireland: The soaring price of cocoa beans last year had little impact on earnings at Cadbury owner Mondelez, whose Irish unit...
TOKYO, Japan: Japan's new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, told U.S. President Donald Trump during their meeting in Tokyo that it would...
ANKARA, Turkey: Peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan ended without success in Istanbul after four days of discussions, Pakistan's...
STANFORD, California: Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. local time on November 2. That means you should turn your clock back one...
BASTROP, Texas: Elon Musk has launched Grokipedia, a new online encyclopedia that he says will compete with Wikipedia. Musk announced...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: The Trump administration is preparing to strike down state laws that shield consumers' credit reports from...
