Five Straight and Counting: Sixers Stay Hot with Win Over Shorthanded Warriors
It’s been a minute since the Sixers could string together a streak like this, but here we are-Philadelphia’s officially riding a five-game win wave after a 113-94 takedown of the undermanned Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night. That’s their first five-game winning streak since the tail end of the 2023-24 season, and it didn’t come easy, even with the Warriors missing some major firepower.
Edgecombe Bounces Back in a Big Way
VJ Edgecombe came into this one needing a spark, and he delivered. The rookie guard dropped 25 points-his first 20-point outing in two weeks-on an efficient 11-of-20 from the floor, adding seven rebounds for good measure.
He looked confident, aggressive, and in rhythm, especially in the second half when the Sixers needed someone to take control of the game. Whether it was attacking off the dribble, knocking down timely threes, or pushing the pace in transition, Edgecombe was the engine.
Maxey Manages the Chaos
Tyrese Maxey didn’t have his cleanest night on the stat sheet-14 points and seven assists-but context matters. Golden State threw waves of defenders at him, forcing him to make quick decisions and work off the ball more than usual.
Still, Maxey played within the flow of the offense, made smart reads, and avoided forcing the issue. It was the kind of mature performance that doesn’t always jump off the page but makes a big difference in a game like this.
Oubre Finds His Range
Kelly Oubre Jr. brought the deep ball, and it came at the right time. He finished with 15 points, hitting 4-of-10 from beyond the arc. While his overall shooting was a bit streaky (4-of-12 from the field), his perimeter presence helped space the floor and gave the Sixers a needed scoring punch, especially with Joel Embiid and Paul George both sidelined.
Short-Handed Showdown
Philly was down two stars-Embiid sat out due to right ankle injury management, and George continued to serve a suspension. The Warriors were even more depleted: no Steph Curry, no Jonathan Kuminga, and no Jimmy Butler, who’s out for the season. That left a lot of room for role players to step up, and the Sixers’ depth answered the call.
Golden State got 13 points each from Gui Santos and Pat Spencer, but without their usual scoring threats, they struggled to keep pace once the Sixers found their rhythm.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter: Feeling Things Out
The Sixers didn’t come out guns blazing. Golden State’s defense keyed in on Maxey early, forcing Philly to find offense elsewhere.
Andre Drummond cleaned up the glass with a couple of early putbacks, and Dominick Barlow knocked down the team’s first three. Oubre looked comfortable early against his former squad, hitting a pair of threes and grabbing a steal as Philly forced seven turnovers in the quarter.
After a bit of a lull, the Sixers closed strong. Edgecombe and Adem Bona both found success attacking off the dribble, and Trendon Watford chipped in with two floaters to help cut the Warriors’ lead to one by the end of the frame.
Second Quarter: Edgecombe, Grimes Spark a Run
The Sixers kept their foot on the gas to start the second, capping a 14-0 run with a highlight-reel alley-oop from Quentin Grimes to Bona. Both Grimes and Edgecombe were feeling it-each hit threes and created off the bounce, pushing the lead to as much as 15.
But Golden State didn’t fold. De’Anthony Melton and Buddy Hield helped swing momentum with a 10-0 run of their own.
Philly’s offense sputtered late in the quarter, going over six minutes without a field goal. Some sloppy turnovers from Drummond and a missed fast-break opportunity by Oubre didn’t help.
A reckless closeout on Maxey gave the Sixers a late trip to the line, and they held a slim three-point lead at the break.
Third Quarter: Edgecombe Takes the Reins
The Sixers’ field goal drought spilled into the second half, but Edgecombe snapped it with a tough floater. Barlow continued to dominate the boards, and Golden State couldn’t buy a bucket early in the third. Once Hield finally knocked down a three, Edgecombe answered with a flurry-getting to the rim, drawing contact, and drilling another three off crisp ball movement.
Golden State shot just 28% in the quarter, but the Sixers couldn’t fully capitalize. A few easy looks rimmed out, and some careless possessions left points on the table. Still, a late three from Melton trimmed the damage, and Philly took a 13-point lead into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter: Closing Time
Edgecombe wasn’t done. He opened the final frame with a smooth baseline fadeaway and continued to lead the offense with poise.
Watford, who had missed a few chippies earlier, found his touch again with a couple of driving push shots. Even Drummond got in on the action, redeeming a shaky night with a wild drive and a rare made three-his first since early January.
The only downside? Jared McCain’s minutes were limited again.
After a tough first half where he missed both shot attempts-including one emphatic block-he didn’t see the floor again until garbage time. Still, the Sixers’ late-game shooting finally clicked, and they pulled away comfortably.
Final Thoughts
This wasn’t a perfect game by any stretch-too many dry spells, a few missed opportunities-but it was a professional win by a team that’s starting to build real momentum. With Embiid and George out, the Sixers leaned on their young core and depth, and that group delivered. Edgecombe’s breakout, Maxey’s composure, and a timely shooting night from Oubre were enough to overcome a scrappy but short-handed Warriors squad.
Five straight wins. The vibes are good in Philly.