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Tag: Nick Nurse

  • Instant observations: Short-handed Sixers run out of gas, drop second leg of back-to-back to Suns

    The Sixers have not beaten the Phoenix Suns since Nov. 4, 2023.

    Adam Aaronson

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  • Instant observations: Tyrese Maxey nabs eight steals, leading Sixers to a win powered by defense

    After a few days of being asked about why they kept struggling in fourth quarters, the Sixers dominated the Indiana Pacers in the final frame on Monday night to get back in the win column.

    Adam Aaronson

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  • Instant observations: Sixers lose another last-second game, swept in two-game set vs. Cavaliers

    The Sixers and Cavaliers alike have described their pair of games as having a playoff feel. The distinct differences in makeup between the teams creates a compelling matchup.

    Adam Aaronson

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  • Joel Embiid, Paul George probable for Sixers-Cavaliers on Friday; Dominick Barlow questionable

    Joel Embiid (left knee injury management) is probable for the Sixers’ home rematch with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night, according to the team’s initial injury report for the game unveiled on Thursday, which also lists Paul George as probable with left knee injury management and Dominick Barlow as questionable due to a back contusion:

    Embiid, who has played in eight of the Sixers’ last nine games, has enjoyed his healthiest and most consistent stretch of basketball in over two years. His only absence in 2026 came on the front end of the Sixers’ back-to-back in Toronto last week; he sat in a loss to the Raptors before helping the Sixers avenge that defeat the following night. George also missed the front end of that back-to-back; soreness in his left knee forced him to be a late scratch. He has played in each of the Sixers’ games since that absence.

    After the Sixers practiced on Thursday morning, Barlow was seen getting shots up with a player development coach. Though Barlow did not have a jersey on, indicating he was not part of any live action, him performing any basketball activity was a positive sign after he left Wednesday’s game against Cleveland with his back contusion, which appeared to cause him significant pain.

    Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said after practice that the team canceled plans to get imaging on Barlow’s back because he woke up feeling better. The 22-year-old, who has shined on a two-way contract, has avoided a serious injury.

    “Sounded like he was going to be okay,” Nurse said.

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  • Instant observations: Sixers go wire-to-wire, split back-to-back in what might be Kyle Lowry’s final trip to Toronto

    The night after an embarrassing late-game collapse, the Sixers responded exactly as they hoped to, handling the Toronto Raptors with ease on Monday night.

    Adam Aaronson

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  • Sunday stats: Paul George starts attacking downhill, and the Sixers have found a swarming defensive lineup

    The Sixers, suddenly at full strength, have hit their stride. Paul George is giving them an enormous two-way lift.

    Adam Aaronson

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  • Sixers mailbag: Who will lose playing time when Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford make their returns from injury?

    The Sixers have two rotation forwards set to return from long-term injuries in the near future. How will head coach Nick Nurse’s rotation change when Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford get back on the floor?

    Adam Aaronson

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  • Instant observations: Sixers fall to short-handed Nuggets in overtime, marking worst loss of season

    The Sixers missed a prime opportunity to bank a stress-free victory on Monday night.

    Adam Aaronson

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  • Instant observations: Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George finally figuring out their fit as Sixers nab second straight win

    For over a year, the Sixers’ three players inked to max contracts have been discussing the importance of continuity for the sake of building a rhythm. Perhaps this is what they had in mind.

    Adam Aaronson

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  • Instant observations: Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey carry the load for the Sixers, and VJ Edgecombe brings them home with overtime game-winner

    The Sixers have appeared hesitant to lean into their best offensive stuff this season. On Tuesday, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey took over as a tandem until it was time for VJ Edgecombe to have the final word.

    Adam Aaronson

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  • Instant observations: Diving into Joel Embiid’s progress and obstacles on both ends of the floor after Sixers fall to Bulls

    Joel Embiid had a strong offensive showing on Friday. On defense, the Sixers started experimenting a bit with how they used him. An Embiid-centric look at another brutal loss for the Sixers in Chicago:

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  • Joel Embiid doubtful for Sixers-Mavericks on Saturday; Paul George out

    Joel Embiid (illness; right knee injury management) is doubtful for the Sixers’ home contest against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night, according to the team’s initial injury report for the game unveiled on Saturday afternoon. The report also lists Paul George as out on the second leg of the team’s back-to-back:

    Embiid, initially listed as questionable for Friday’s game in New York due to an illness, was later ruled out with the additional tag of right knee injury management applied. It was the first time Embiid’s right knee has been officially reported as an issue in over two weeks, when he returned from a nine-game absence. Sixers head coach Nick Nurse provided the following comments on Friday evening:

    George, meanwhile, has yet to play in both legs of any back-to-backs this year. The nine-time All-Star logged 33 minutes for the third consecutive game on Friday at Madison Square Garden; he only shot 2-for-10 from the field but was a team-best +16, largely because of his continued defensive impact.

    The expected absences are the same: Kelly Oubre Jr., who has been out for well over a month with his left knee LCL sprain and still does not have a timeline to return, and Trendon Watford, who is coming up on a month-long absence due to a left adductor strain and also does not have a timeline to return.

    For Dallas, Anthony Davis is probable with an illness and Klay Thompson is questionable due to left knee soreness.

    MORE: VJ Edgecombe meets the moment in Madison Square Garden debut

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  • Instant observations: Tyrese Maxey’s superstar surge resumes without Joel Embiid, Sixers nab clutch win over Knicks

    When the Sixers and Knicks face off at Madison Square Garden, chaos and intensity typically ensue. That was no different on Friday night.

    Adam Aaronson

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  • Instant observations: As he leads Sixers to overtime road win against Bucks, Tyrese Maxey sure looks like a superstar

    Tyrese Maxey’s sixth NBA season is quickly becoming historic.

    Adam Aaronson

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  • Instant observations: Nick Nurse’s Quentin Grimes-centric adjustment backfires in Sixers’ loss to Raptors

    After two successful trial runs, a new tactic being used by Sixers head coach Nick Nurse to solve the team’s woes in third quarters did not work. The Sixers have a 44-26 frame out of intermission to blame for their latest loss.

    Adam Aaronson

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  • Sixers list Paul George questionable to make season debut vs. former team on Monday; Joel Embiid out vs. Clippers

    Nine-time All-Star Paul George appears to be primed to make his season debut for the Sixers on Monday night against his former team, the Los Angeles Clippers. The Sixers listed George as questionable to play on their injury report unveiled on Sunday evening. Meanwhile, Joel Embiid remains out due to a right knee issue:

    George had multiple left knee injuries during his debut season with the Sixers, only logging 41 appearances while also being derailed by ailments related to his finger and groin. The nine-time All-Star injured his left knee again during the offseason, requiring an arthroscopic procedure in July. George has not yet played in 2025-26 despite fully participating in Sixers practices for a month now, causing significant frustration among fans. The latest substantive update on George’s status came on Tuesday, when the Sixers said his final step before returning was strengthening his left quadricep.

    Embiid, who has played in half of the Sixers’ dozen games to begin the season, has not appeared in a game since Nov. 8, his best and longest performance of the campaign to date. The next day came his fourth absence of the season; all four of those missed games came as planned rest days as the team managed his troubled left knee. But he has missed the Sixers’ last two games because of soreness he reported in his right knee, though imaging confirmed there is no structural damage. His designation has changed from “right knee soreness” to “right knee injury management.”

    Elsewhere, the Sixers said on Sunday afternoon that Kelly Oubre Jr. and Adem Bona would both be out for Monday’s game. Oubre suffered a left knee hyperextension during the team’s loss to the Detroit Pistons on Friday, missing the second half of the game. The Sixers said on Sunday that Oubre’s injury involved his LCL and his return timeline was unclear. His official designation on the injury report: “left knee sprain.”

    Bona, meanwhile, suffered a right ankle sprain in Detroit and will miss at least three games, beginning with Monday’s contest. The earliest Bona could return is on Thursday night in Milwaukee, the second leg of the team’s next back-to-back.

    Jared McCain, who missed the Sixers’ last game because he was on assignment in the G League, has been recalled to the team, practiced with the group on Sunday and, according to Nurse, is going to be part of the rotation on Monday. He is officially available.

    MORE: McCain makes progress with Delaware Blue Coats: ‘I’m getting there’

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    Adam Aaronson

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  • Sunday stats: Quentin Grimes’ turnover troubles, Justin Edwards’ growing confidence and Kelly Oubre Jr.’s value

    While the Sixers’ 7-5 record is a relatively positive outcome given the lack of certainty surrounding the team, their problematic health and the memory of their miserable start to a nightmarish 24-58 campaign last season, it is also representative of some missed opportunities.

    Of the Sixers’ five losses, a few of them – including Friday’s defeat at the hands of a depleted Detroit Pistons team – have been avoidable. That the Sixers can withstand some injuries, bungle some games and still see plenty of reasons for optimism is a testament to how much more pleasant everything has been this season.

    However, there are some real causes for concern, both in terms of recent play and looking ahead. This is a very flawed team, even if it is one much closer to being good in a normal capacity than anybody expected it to be.

    A look at some of the good and some of the bad in this week’s edition of Sunday stats:

    100

    The percentage of Quentin Grimes’ appearances in which he has recorded multiple turnovers.

    Quentin Grimes and VJ Edgecombe have tag-teamed backup point guard duties when Tyrese Maxey has been off the floor this year; the level of success accomplished in those minutes has been difficult to quantify. Twice the Sixers have overcome relatively poor Maxey outings by winning his rest minutes, but on the whole they have been shredded with the sixth-year star guard off the floor.

    While both Grimes and Edgecombe have more than enough chops to handle some ball-handling duties in an NBA rotation, neither one is a true primary creator. With Edgecombe in a particularly tough slump of late, more responsibility has befallen the 25-year-old Grimes, whose optimal role is likely as a secondary option on the perimeter and a tertiary option overall. Grimes gets to fill that role when sharing the floor with Maxey and Embiid, but because Embiid has missed six of the team’s 12 games and no other competent ball-handlers exist on the roster outside of Edgecombe, Grimes has rarely gotten the chance to be utilized in an ideal fashion.

    A player having the ball a decent bit racking up turnovers is not breaking news, but Grimes’ issues with ball security have been pretty pronounced for the last few weeks:

    Game Quentin Grimes turnovers
    Oct. 22 @ BOS 5
    Oct. 25 vs. CHA 2
    Oct. 27 vs. ORL 2
    Oct. 28 @ WAS 2
    Oct. 31 vs. BOS 3
    Nov. 2 @ BKN 4
    Nov. 4 @ CHI 4
    Nov. 5 @ CLE 4
    Nov. 8 vs. TOR 3
    Nov. 9 vs. DET 3
    Nov. 11 vs. BOS 4
    Nov. 14 @ DET 2

    On Friday, Grimes was not the lone bad actor in the Sixers’ disastrous 15-point fourth quarter, but he certainly did not help them stay afloat:

    It is not that Grimes should be used as an off-ball role player, on this team or any other. But in a perfect world, the blossoming skill he showed with the ball in his hands during the final two months of last season would be treated as a luxury more than a necessity. On this Sixers team, Jared McCain’s troubles have forced Grimes into being an essential piece of any path to piecing together 48 viable minutes at point guard. It is not the best way to use Grimes, who has largely been very good in his first full season with the Sixers but quietly could be one of the most significant beneficiaries of McCain eventually getting right, even if it cuts into his minutes.

    MORE: Jared McCain makes progress with Blue Coats: ‘I’m getting there’

    12.0

    Justin Edwards’ three-point attempts per 100 possessions.

    When a player shoots 8-for-9 from the field and 5-for-6 from three-point range on national television to swing a game against a rival in front of his hometown crowd, it to be expected that their confidence will skyrocket. Justin Edwards had looked jarringly timid to begin his second NBA season, but his signature performance last week might have unlocked something.

    During his rookie campaign, what made Edwards such a tantalizing prospect and a player head coach Nick Nurse rapidly grew so fond of was his ability to make quick decisions. Self-awareness is a tremendous skill, and Edwards immediately understood that he was not a player who should be dribbling a whole lot. When the ball swung his way, any decision – a shot, a swing pass or a drive – was made instantaneously, and more often than not Edwards was making prudent judgments as well.

    Early on this year, Edwards was in his head. It was clear when watching him hesitate on spot-up threes, fail to drive with force or get caught in between two different ideas and turning the ball over. But after Tuesday’s eruption against the Celtics, Edwards shot another six triples on Friday night in Detroit, connecting on three of them. Edwards’ season-long three-point shooting numbers suddenly look stellar, but actually watching the shots he took against the Pistons shows a massive difference from where he was just a week or so ago:

    After what happened at the end of the first half of Friday’s game, Edwards continuing to find his best self will be all the more important…

    MORE: Edwards stays ready, and ‘the work shows’ with late-game heroics vs. Celtics

    36.7

    Kelly Oubre Jr.’s minutes per game in 2025-26 before leaving Friday’s game early with a left knee hyperextension.

    Kelly Oubre Jr. has been an incredibly consistent piece for the Sixers this year; after a so-so performance on opening night he strung together eight consecutive quality outings before falling into a mini-slump of sorts. His constant availability and effort have been extraordinary; Oubre cares deeply about starting and had earned every bit of a job many suspected he would lose early in the season.

    The Sixers will have an injury report for Monday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers by Sunday evening, but left knee hyperextensions are typically not injuries players can suffer without missing any time:

    If Oubre does miss time, first of all, Paul George getting back on the floor would be particularly helpful. The slow nature of the nine-time All-Star’s return to game action has been painstaking for many Sixers fans, even as the team acknowledges that George is in the final steps of his recovery.

    Elsewhere, Edwards becomes especially important as someone whose defensive range is similar to that of Oubre’s. Edwards is a wing by trade, but Nurse likes putting him on guards and asking the 21-year-old to chase them around. Grimes sliding up to small forward in three-guard lineups alongside Maxey and Edgecombe even more often is the most obvious solution, but the aforementioned issue of their nonexistent guard depth behind those three would be exacerbated. Another option: Eric Gordon, who has rarely been used this season but remains the ultimate floor spacer and has Nurse’s trust guarding above his size. 

    MORE: Sixers falter offensively late, drop winnable NBA Cup game @ depleted Pistons

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  • Instant observations: Sixers falter offensively late, drop winnable NBA Cup game against depleted Pistons

    Friday’s NBA Cup Group Play battle between the Sixers and Pistons in Detroit should have been a chance for the Sixers to bank a win against a team devastated by injuries. Instead, it will be remembered as a 114-105 loss and a significant missed opportunity.

    To be fair, the Sixers were far from at full strength themselves: Joel Embiid, Paul George and Jared McCain were all down for this game; the first two players are dealing with knee issues and the third is on assignment in the G League. But the Sixers had considerably more manpower available than Detroit, whose five starters in this game are earning a combined $32.9 million in 2025-26 – a figure about $5 million lower than Tyrese Maxey’s salary this season.

    But the Sixers learned the hard way just how tough-minded this Pistons team is, and a horrid offensive showing in the fourth quarter sunk them after a shockingly brilliant performance in the third quarter. It was a bizarre reversal of fortunes that initially appeared promising but later became crushing.

    Takeaways from a loss that the Sixers would like to have back – and one that all but eliminates them from contention for the NBA Cup Knockout Rounds:

    Dominick Barlow returns

    Barlow swung the Sixers’ season-opening game in their favor back on Oct. 22 as the starting power forward; he grabbed five offensive rebounds over the Boston Celtics and every single one of them led directly to points. He also had five assists in that game, and Barlow remained the team’s starting power forward for its home opener. But then, at halftime of the second game of the season, Barlow was ruled out with a right elbow laceration.

    An ailment the Sixers did not believe was all that serious at the time turned out to cost the two-way forward nine full games. Barlow had to undergo a procedure and then wear a brace that kept his arm completely straight so the wound would heal. Barlow, at least for now, has lost the starting power forward job to Trendon Watford, but either one of them would be a placeholder for George regardless. Barlow surges toward the top of a crowded field of rotation candidates in the frontcourt that also includes Justin Edwards and Jabari Walker.

    Barlow officially rejoined the action to begin the second quarter on Friday, and he immediately looked like himself. Barlow played six minutes and change before subbing out; he grabbed six rebounds with three of them coming on the offensive glass (one of them led directly to an Edwards triple). Barlow also knocked down a corner triple himself despite his suspect shooting mechanics being further derailed by his elbow:

    Shortly thereafter, Barlow recovered after a turnover to block athletic Pistons wing Ron Holland II on a transition dunk attempt. Barlow was whistled for a foul and immediately called for a review; head coach Nick Nurse obliged and the call was overturned.

    Barlow started the second half – more on this shortly – and the 22-year-old promptly assisted a Quentin Grimes triple, blocked a shot and then connected from beyond the arc again. He nearly threw down an emphatic put-back dunk, too, but the ball was just a bit too far away from the rim for even such an athletic big to pull it off. He flushed it and collected another two assists; he is beginning to show some serious chops in advantage situations. It was a stellar all-around showing for any player, let alone one returning from a prolonged absence.

    Exactly what Barlow’s role will look like with Watford fully integrated and George eventually back in the fold remains to be seen. He closed the Sixers’ opener at center and found success, perhaps he could upend Adem Bona there. But Barlow remains a tremendous asset, two-way contract or not.

    Did Nick Nurse find his fix for third quarters?

    Asked about his team’s constant struggles in third quarters earlier this week, Nurse hinted that he was considering a practice that he has been unafraid to utilize before: opening second halves of games with a different starting five than the one on the floor when games begin. It is a strategy that worked for Nurse when he coached the Toronto Raptors to an NBA Finals victory, when Danny Green opened games and Fred VanVleet replaced him in that unit to begin third quarters.

    On Friday, Nurse started Maxey, Edgecombe, Oubre, Watford and Andre Drummond. But with Oubre ruled out for the second half of action due to a left knee hyperextension, the veteran swingman was replaced by Grimes in the starting unit to open the second half. Barlow also took over for Watford, a sign of Nurse’s creativity finally taking over in a more serious way as he became desperate to solve the Sixers’ league-worst performance in third quarters.

    Well, this experiment can be considered a success. The Sixers did not just play what was far and away their best third quarter of the season on Friday, but they came out of intermission with one of their single best quarters of 2025-26, period. After allowing Detroit to control the game’s physicality in the first half, the Sixers finally became the aggressors on both ends of the floor. They swarmed everything and caused chaos defensively while playing with determination and force on the offensive end.

    The grouping of Maxey, Edgecombe, Grimes, Barlow and Drummond opened the second half on a 14-0 run that eventually extended to a 21-2 stretch. Barlow was all over the place during that stretch while Maxey shook off an inefficient first half to get going. Grimes knocked down some shots and had standout defensive plays, while Drummond flushed an embarrassing double-dribble violation on a 2-on-0 transition opportunity by knocking down two corner triples and stunning Pistons fans unfamiliar with that part of his game:

    The Sixers were outscored by 10 points in the final 3:30 of the frame when their offense stagnated and Detroit got hot – and made a half-court bank-shot – but it was still a very successful 36-25 third quarter. Nurse has joked that he would rather his group thrive in fourth quarters than third quarters; it was the fourth quarter in which the Sixers lost this game.

    Odds and ends

    Some additional notes: 

    • Drummond definitely appreciated the chance to flash his corner three-point shooting in front of Pistons fans. After the Sixers practiced on Thursday, the veteran center spoke glowingly of his relationship with Detroit and the Pistons.

    “I mean, that’s home,” Drummond said. “That’s where I started. That’s the team that took a chance on me, an 18-year-old from Middletown, Connecticut, gave me a chance to play the game I know and love at the highest level. So it’s always respect and love for the city of Detroit.”

    • After experiencing a brutal slump over his last handful of games, Edgecombe got off to a nice start in this one, connecting on two early triples and carrying 13 efficient points into halftime. But in the second half the rookie experienced major difficulty as a scorer, with Grimes superseding him in terms of on-ball responsibility. Edgecombe did once again knock down a crucial three in the fourth quarter despite his prior struggles, perhaps another sign of his strong mental makeup.

    Edgecombe’s fast start was particularly encouraging given his back ailment. But he is still looking to find the sort of groove he enjoyed early in the season.

    • Time will tell how Oubre recovers, but knee hyperextensions are never great. He struggled in this game and the one before it, but Oubre has been among the Sixers’ most consistent and valuable contributors this season. Their aforementioned crowded frontcourt picture is more valuable now that Oubre could miss time. Of course, George returning would be a major lift as well.

    Up next: The Sixers will have another two days off before returning to action on Monday night when they host the struggling Los Angeles Clippers.

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  • Justin Edwards stays ready after struggles, and ‘the work shows’ for hometown hero in Sixers’ win vs. Celtics

    PHILADELPHIA – It is very rare for someone to beat Tyrese Maxey to a basketball gym.

    In fact, Maxey’s close friend and new teammate Trendon Watford said on Tuesday morning that during the offseason, Maxey has often completed two or three workouts by the time Watford arrives at 9:00 a.m. to begin his day. Maxey’s work ethic has almost become legendary around these parts.

    On Tuesday morning, the Sixers held their typical 10:00 a.m. shootaround to finish preparing for their third contest against the Boston Celtics in as many weeks. Maxey was floored by what he saw when he stepped onto the court: another player getting shots up before him. It was Justin Edwards, the second-year wing desperate to submit a quality performance if his name was called.

    “He was up here at, like, 8:00,” Maxey said. “Those little mental things, they mean something. I was really proud of him for being there. He didn’t play last [game], in here early, 8:00 a.m., shot the ball well before shootaround… The work shows.”

    The work indeed showed on Tuesday night, as Edwards flushed a challenging 10-game stretch to begin the season and nearly posted a perfect shooting line. Edwards made his first eight shots against the Celtics, with five of those buckets coming from beyond the arc. On his lone miss, Kelly Oubre Jr. – one of Edwards’ most vocal supporters – grabbed an offensive rebound and scored the deciding basket of the game.

    “It didn’t feel good, but I shot it,” Edwards said. “Like I said, a game-winning miss… It all worked out in my favor, right?”

    MORE: Edwards’ heroics lead Sixers to dramatic win over Celtics

    Edwards unquestionably earned the right to have a teammate pick him up. He spent the entire game keeping his team afloat with the most well-rounded performance of his season, and quite possibly of his young NBA career. Edwards played tremendous defense across multiple positions, had a few key assists and rebounds… and made his first eight shot attempts. Edwards’ efforts were not limited to shooting, but everything looks better when shots go down:

    In general, Edwards is rather muted. His answers to questions from reporters are short and to the point. He is not nearly as gregarious in front of cameras and microphones as he is behind the scenes. On the court, even in his finest moments Edwards’ reactions have been tame.

    But after Edwards knocked down the third of three consecutive triples on Tuesday night to put his hometown team ahead of their rivals, the emotion poured out of the 21-year-old. He started screaming as the Celtics called timeout. He said he “low-key” got chills as he realized the reaction he had generated from fellow Philadelphians.

    In many ways, it seemed like an out-of-body experience for Edwards. But it turns out that was actually him in his natural form.

    “I actually kind of chilled out when I got to the NBA, honestly. I’ve aways been that type of guy,” Edwards said, before he pointed to a special guest in the back of the room. “You can ask my Momma, she’s standing right there.”

    What did Edwards say in that moment? Before he could answer, maternal instincts took over 15 feet away.

    “If he says it,” Ebony Twiggs, Edwards’ mother and a former professional basketball player said, “he’s going to get a beating.”

    Edwards 11.12.25 2Colleen Claggett/For PhillyVoice

    Edwards has a lot working in his favor. He has the natural talent that made him a five-star recruit. He has basketball in his blood. He has tremendous feel for the game and can make quick and prudent decisions in a way very few young players can. He has a sturdy wing frame. He has the requisite mobility to chase guards around the perimeter as he did for much of Tuesday’s game. He has composure. But perhaps the most important thing Edwards has is Sixers head coach Nick Nurse in his corner as a passionate advocate.

    Nurse has the utmost belief in Edwards. It has been clear since Edwards emerged as an undrafted rookie on a two-way contract and became one of the silver linings of a miserable 2024-25 season.

    That is why, after not playing him at all in the Sixers’ previous game, Nurse confidently called upon Edwards to check into Tuesday’s contest early on. Edwards’ season-long slump was just about meaningless to Nurse. Asked about Edwards’ ability to stay ready, Nurse provided one of the most flattering quotes a head coach has given about a player in recent memory.

    “I love him,” Nurse said. “I don’t worry about him. He works extremely hard. He really worked on his shooting. He goes out there and tries as hard as he can on defense every time. He’s not perfect, but he’s a really good, developing young player that I love. He has a bad game, it doesn’t even phase me, because I love him.”

    Edwards flashed a wide grin as Nurse’s comments were read back to him. He thought back to an early personal low during one of the Sixers’ first practices of the year. Edwards was already having trouble finding himself on the floor, but his coach lifted his spirits. Edwards was sitting on the sideline, he said, when Nurse walked over and said something to him.

    “I’m not worried about you,” Nurse told Edwards. “And you shouldn’t be worried about yourself, because it’s all going to work out.”

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  • Trendon Watford continues breakout by posting triple-double in first start as Sixers beat Raptors on debut throwback night

    In need of their first momentum-shifting victory of the 2025-26 season, the Sixers whipped out their throwback black jerseys for the first time on Saturday night. Some good fortune came in tow.

    The Sixers defeated the Toronto Raptors on Saturday, 130-120, to improve to 6-3 on the season and avoid a three-game losing streak. While the stars were star-like – Tyrese Maxey managed 31 points to lead all scorers while Joel Embiid had the easiest 29 points of his season on 16 shots in 26 minutes – the story was Trendon Watford, who received his first start of the season and responded with a 20-17-10 line to mark the first triple-double by a Sixers player this season.

    With those three stellar showings, another strong performance from Kelly Oubre Jr. and helpful efforts from VJ Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes, the Sixers had enough to overcome their disastrous defensive start, take control of the game and eventually land the knockout blow in the fourth quarter.

    Everything that stood out from a night that most will remember for the jerseys, the court and the return of an old friend:

    Trendon Watford keeps on getting better

    As if a three-game stretch averaging 13.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists off the bench was not enough of a statement for Watford, the soon-to-be 25-year-old had the best game of his NBA career on Saturday in his first start as a member of the Sixers.

    Inserted into the starting five ahead of Jabari Walker, Watford had his fingerprints all over this game from the start. He followed up a surprisingly strong scoring performance on Wednesday night in Cleveland with an even better one on Saturday; 11 of his 20 points came in the opening frame. Watford knocked down an early triple once again. He is shooting accurately and confidently from beyond the arc, and even on low volume that will be a major help.

    “I’ve been putting in work all summer, all year on it,” Watford said after the Sixers held a practice on Friday morning. “…Obviously being able to do a lot of things on the court, I think that me shooting the ball at a high level can play to my advantage a lot. But I’ve got all the confidence in my shot, all the confidence in my game.”

    But even at 6-foot-9, everyone has learned that with Watford it is the passing and playmaking to really watch out for. He collected a career-high 10 assists; a staggering six of them went to his close friend Maxey. The two of them predictably have already put together some stellar two-man work:

    After a hamstring injury forced Watford to miss training camp and preseason, Watford has found a way to seamlessly fit into his new team’s offense despite a lack of familiarity and an unconventional style.

    Watford looks like a significant weapon moving forward, especially enticing on top of the Sixers’ terrific group of young guards. On Saturday, what was just as notable as Watford’s scoring and facilitating was another career-high: 17 rebounds, rounding out the first triple-double of his NBA career.

    Watford is generally not considered a particularly strong rebounder for a player of his size, but he certainly is one for a player with his level of ball skills. And time and time again, as he snares a defensive rebound and leads his team into transition offense, the value of having a jumbo-sized ball-handler is on display.

    The Sixers might have a new backup center

    It certainly feels like Andre Drummond has officially taken the Sixers’ primary backup center job from Adem Bona. Drummond has just been better early on in 2025-26; the veteran’s rebounding has been a stabilizing force for a team struggling to string together stops. On Friday, Sixers head coach Nick Nurse more or less acknowledged that things could be headed in this direction.

    “Yeah, I think so,” Nurse said. “…I think it’s always something we’re looking at. More than anything, I’m trying to put the guys on the floor than can best help us, period. If that moves around a little bit, it moves around, and it’ll probably move around again and all that kind of stuff. Ride the guys who are playing well, ride the better matchups.”

    Exhibit A: Saturday’s game. Bona checked in for Embiid halfway through the first quarter and the Sixers allowed Toronto to score 28 points in six minutes. Trailing 43-33 after one quarter, Nurse decided that once Embiid needed more rest it would become Drummond’s game. Drummond paid it off by going +8 in 18 minutes the rest of the way while Bona sat for the remainder of the action.

    Given Embiid’s constant availability issues, Drummond and Bona are both crucial pieces to this puzzle. And if Bona is demoted to the third-string center spot, it will still be the most important third-string center spot in the NBA. Embiid will sit on Sunday night against the Detroit Pistons, and Bona very well may start. But it is hard to imagine that Drummond has not clearly separated himself from the player he has taken under his wing.

    The Sixers have been better with Drummond manning the middle than Bona. It is not an inherent statement about their individual abilities; it is clear that Bona can hang in plenty of matchups in which Drummond’s lack of mobility makes him unplayable. But when Nurse has a chance to roll with his bruising big off the bench, for now that looks like the plan.

    Odds and ends

    Some additional notes:

    • Jared McCain was listed as available for the Sixers on Saturday, but ended up not playing. The guess here: Nurse planned on using McCain at the start of the second quarter, but after his team opened the game with a horrid defensive frame he opted to keep McCain on the bench in hopes of turning things around defensively and saving the 21-year-old guard for the second leg of this weekend’s back-to-back.

    • Drummond’s quality minutes were especially important because with McCain not in the mix, the Sixers were awfully thin. Drummond (16 minutes) and Grimes (28 minutes) were Nurse’s only reserves to reach double-digit minute totals. Justin Edwards played seven minutes and Jabari Walker logged five minutes in addition to Bona only playing eight minutes. That forced Maxey into a 43-minute night, with Watford, Edgecombe and Oubre all surpassing 36 minutes.

    • Edgecombe did not have a good scoring night; he is in a bit of a slump on that front. Edgecombe only made five of his 15 shot attempts in this game, but once again found other ways to leave his mark. Edgecombe grabbed seven rebounds, dished out four assists and nabbed three steals. Plus, he helped put the game away by finally finding some scoring juice and getting three consecutive buckets down the stretch.

    • Embiid’s scoring outburst felt casual in a familiar way. To be fair, perhaps Embiid should be expected to have a relatively easy time against a team like this one: Toronto started wing Scottie Barnes at center; their only true big in the rotation was Sandro Mamukelashvili, who logged 17 minutes off the bench. Embiid made the most of his size advantage on many occasions.

    Up next: The Sixers will get right back to work on Sunday against the Detroit Pistons – once again wearing their throwback jerseys. Embiid will be out of action, but McCain should be available.

    Follow Adam on Twitter: @SixersAdam
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    Adam Aaronson

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