Quentin Grimes didn’t just throw down a dunk Monday night-he sent a message. Early in the second quarter of the 76ers’ road matchup against the Clippers, Grimes detonated on a one-handed poster over John Collins that instantly ignited social media and silenced the home crowd.
It was one of those moments that stops everything. The kind of dunk that doesn’t just get you out of your seat-it makes you rewind, rewatch, and wonder how he even pulled it off in traffic, with the left hand no less.
The league wasted no time posting the clip on X (formerly Twitter), and within minutes, it was everywhere. Fans, players, even rival accounts couldn’t help but react to the sheer power and elevation.
But this wasn’t just a highlight for the reels. It was a tone-setter.
The Sixers fed off that energy, using it to spark a second-quarter surge that gave them control of the game and never really let the Clippers get comfortable. That early jolt of aggression translated into a wire-to-wire effort built on physicality, smart possessions, and a balanced attack.
By the time the fourth quarter hit its midpoint, the Sixers had built a 117-104 lead, a cushion that reflected more than just hot shooting-it was about sustained execution. Tyrese Maxey led the charge with 29 points and finished with the team’s best plus-minus, showing once again why he’s become the engine of this offense. His shot-making, pace control, and ability to find seams in the Clippers’ defense kept the pressure on all night.
Inside, Barlow was relentless. He racked up 20 points and 16 rebounds-10 of them on the offensive glass.
That kind of second-effort work doesn’t always show up in the highlight packages, but it’s what keeps possessions alive and breaks the spirit of a defense trying to get off the floor. His physicality in the paint gave the Sixers a clear edge in the trenches.
QUENTIN GRIMES.
— NBA (@NBA) February 3, 2026
ONE-HANDED POSTER SLAM 🤯 pic.twitter.com/RQvd1K7UqE
Joel Embiid, as steady as ever, added 24 points and hit all seven of his free throws. Whenever the Clippers threatened to make a push-whether it was a Leonard bucket or a Lopez three-Embiid was there to calm the storm, either drawing contact or making the smart play to keep the Sixers in rhythm.
The Clippers had their moments, but they never strung together enough to truly threaten. That’s a credit to the Sixers’ composure and their ability to respond in kind every time the game started to tilt.
And when you zoom out, Grimes’ dunk early in the second quarter wasn’t just a viral moment-it was a spark that lit the fuse for a complete team performance. On the road, against a talented Clippers squad, the Sixers brought the kind of effort and execution that travels.