The Sixers’ preseason opener had no Tyrese Maxey, LeBron James, or Joel Embiid, but it still delivered a show. Jaylen Brown made sure of that.
Brown was the headline act in Philadelphia’s 120-97 win over the New York Knicks on Monday night, putting on a scoring clinic in just 17 minutes before calling it a night after the first half. He finished with 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field and 3-of-5 from deep, and the reaction in the building made it clear how much he was dictating the game. New York tried to throw a double team at him in the second quarter to disrupt his rhythm, but Brown still found a way to turn the possession into an open 3 for Caleb Love.
Even in a game where he was the clear focal point, Brown showed more than just shot-making. He knocked down a corner three off off-ball screens on an out-of-bounds play, a small but useful sign of how he can impact the offense when he’s not handling the ball. That kind of movement will matter when he’s not carrying the scoring load every night.
VJ Edgecombe gave the Sixers another reason to feel good about the night. His shot wasn’t falling consistently - he went 4-of-9 from the field and missed all three of his 3-point attempts - but he still posted 12 points, seven assists, and four rebounds while sitting the second half.
Edgecombe looked comfortable attacking the rim, showed better body control, and made quick decisions. He also finished with zero turnovers and hit 3-of-5 free throws.
Philadelphia also got a strong showing from Jabari Walker after Ariel Hukporti left in the first quarter with a right Achilles injury. With no true center available, Walker stepped into the middle of the action and delivered 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting from 3-point range and 11 rebounds. He made his presence felt in pick-and-pop action, cleaned up the glass, and was in the right places defensively.
Caleb Love took advantage of the short-handed setup too. He finished with 15 points, six assists, and two blocks, shooting 4-of-10 from the field while posting 59.3% true shooting.
Love created for himself and for others and looked comfortable getting to his spots and knocking down catch-and-shoot looks. It may not be enough to land him a standard contract, but it was a solid first step with Philadelphia.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope chipped in seven points on 3-of-6 shooting in 13 minutes. The 14-year veteran spent more time than usual working off ball screens, and his defense at the point of attack was steady enough. Under normal circumstances, he’ll settle into a 3-and-D role, but there was still enough there to show he can contribute in bursts.
The biggest concern of the night was the center situation. Hukporti went down about five minutes into the game with what Nick Nurse described as a right Achilles injury, and Nurse said he will get imaging tomorrow, according to Adam Aaronson of The Philly Voice.
That left Philadelphia without Hukporti, Embiid, Bona, and Fall in the middle. Bona is still working back from a left foot sprain, Embiid has yet to make his preseason debut, and Fall is dealing with a left hip strain that will keep him out for at least another week.
Labaron Philon Jr. didn’t stuff the stat sheet, finishing with six points on 2-of-9 shooting, but he still looked like he belonged. He handled the pace and physicality well, and the misses were more of a problem than anything else. Philon also came off the bench, after some fans had expected him to start, which seemed to be a move aimed at easing him into a reserve role for the regular season.
Philadelphia now turns to Thursday’s trip to face the Brooklyn Nets at 7:30 p.m. ET.
In Other News...
Joel Embiid Got Pulled Into A Strange LeBron Rumor Fast
The 76ers preseason opener briefly turned into an odd side story when broadcaster Mike Breen said he had heard Joel Embiid was a few minutes late to a recent practice and was confronted by LeBron James. It was the kind of stray detail that can take on a life of its own in October, especially when it involves one of the leagues biggest names and a Philadelphia star already under a bright spotlight as the team starts laying groundwork for the season ahead.
LeBron James later shut the report down on social media, saying Embiid had not been late. So the rumor did not linger long, but it still added a strange wrinkle to a night meant to be about the 76ers getting back into game mode. Philadelphia now moves on to the rest of its preseason schedule and, eventually, the start of the 2026-27 regular season with the usual attention on Embiid and everything that follows him. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers May Have A Low-Risk Answer To Their New Frontcourt Problem
The Clippers decision to waive two-way center Jamarion Sharp has put a familiar kind of low-cost big man on the market at exactly the moment the Sixers need one. Philadelphia has an open two-way roster spot, and with Ariel Hukporti injured, frontcourt depth has become a more immediate concern than it was just a few days ago.
Sharp brings a profile the Sixers could find appealing: a 7-foot-5 developmental center with strong defensive numbers in the G League and the sort of rim protection that can at least help stabilize minutes in a pinch. The question now is whether Philadelphia sees enough upside to use that two-way slot on another project, or whether it keeps looking for a more ready-made answer to its frontcourt problem. [Read more 🡒]
Caleb Love Is Giving The 76ers A Roster Problem They'd Love
Caleb Love arrived in Philadelphia on a two-way deal, but he has already started making that arrangement feel temporary. After a solid rookie season with the Portland Trail Blazers, where he carved out a real rotation role, Love has carried that momentum into camp and looked like a player who belongs in a bigger conversation. In a recent preseason game, he put up 15 points and added contributions across the board, giving the Sixers another guard option with some two-way versatility.
For a team that is always balancing immediate expectations with long-term roster flexibility, that kind of production creates a good problem. Love has shown enough early to make the Sixers think about whether his role should grow if this keeps up, and whether a standard NBA contract might become the natural next step. For now, Philadelphia gets to keep evaluating, but the early returns are making it harder to treat him like just another depth piece. [Read more 🡒]