The Philadelphia 76ers are riding a wave of momentum-and they’re doing it with a youthful backcourt that’s growing up fast in front of our eyes.
Over the weekend, the Sixers notched two impressive wins. First, they spoiled the Knicks’ “we’re not hanging a banner” night at Madison Square Garden, then turned around and gutted out a tough back-to-back win over the Mavericks back home in Philly. That second win wasn’t just about endurance-it was about execution, especially in the fourth quarter, when the Sixers surged ahead and never looked back.
At the heart of it all was the dynamic backcourt duo of Tyrese Maxey and rookie VJ Edgecombe, who both showed out in a big way. Maxey continues to look every bit like the All-Star caliber guard he's becoming, while Edgecombe, in just his first season, is already flashing the kind of poise and shot-making that turns heads.
He’s not just putting up numbers-he’s making plays when it matters most. And when asked about the ceiling for this group, Edgecombe didn’t shy away, saying he believes they can be “one of the greatest ever.”
Now, that’s a bold statement-but given what we’ve seen lately, it’s not one you can completely laugh off.
Adding to the backcourt buzz is Jared McCain, who’s steadily finding his rhythm again. He’s looked more like himself with each passing game and has earned his spot in the closing lineups during both weekend wins. That’s no small feat on a team with playoff aspirations.
Tonight, the Sixers get a chance to keep the good vibes going as they host the Brooklyn Nets at the Wells Fargo Center. It’s the kind of game they need to capitalize on before heading out for their annual Disney on Ice road trip-a five-game swing away from home that can be a real test of a team’s depth and focus.
Brooklyn has been playing better lately, winning five of their last eight, but they’re still sitting at 8-19 and near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. This will be the third matchup between these two teams this season, with Philly having taken both of the earlier meetings back in November by double digits.
In a season full of tight finishes and late-game drama, those were rare stress-free wins. Another one tonight wouldn’t be a bad thing.
Of course, like just about every team this time of year, the Sixers are dealing with the usual winter bugs. Quentin Grimes and Dominick Barlow were both added to the injury report due to illness.
It’s that time of year-cold and flu season doesn’t care about your rotation. On the brighter side, Joel Embiid is trending in the right direction.
He’s been upgraded to probable after missing the last two games, including that back-to-back set over the weekend. His last appearance came back on December 14 in Atlanta.
For Brooklyn, the injury news is relatively quiet. Cam Thomas remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, and rookie Drake Powell is out with a sprained ankle. Ben Saraf, fresh off a 40-point performance in the G League with Long Island, was recalled and is listed as probable with an ankle sprain of his own.
The Sixers have been playing with energy, confidence, and a little bit of swagger lately-and they’ve got the young legs to back it up. If they can take care of business tonight, it sets them up nicely heading into a challenging road stretch. And if Joel Embiid is back in the fold, even better.
The Sixers don’t need another thriller tonight. What they need is a clean, professional win-one where the starters can maybe sit the final few minutes, the bench can get some run, and the team can stay healthy heading into the holidays. That’s the kind of result that doesn’t just show up in the standings-it pays dividends in January and beyond.