The Philadelphia 76ers opened November the same way they finished October: with another win and another reminder that this group is still finding its rhythm while piling up victories. Philadelphia rolled past the Chicago Bulls 126-107 to improve to 7-1, and for the first time this season, all five starters finished with at least 15 points.
That kind of balance is a big reason the Sixers have looked so dangerous early. The roster is still sorting itself out, but the results have come anyway.
VJ Edgecombe delivered his best scoring night of the season against Chicago. He finished with 21 points, hitting nine of his 12 shots and two of four from deep. He also added five assists, three rebounds, a steal and a block, and his +31 was the best mark on the team.
It was his first 20-point game of the season, and it came with the kind of all-around line that shows why he matters even when the offense doesn’t run through him. His scoring chances have been limited at times because of the talent around him, but against the Bulls, he made the most of his touches.
Tyrese Maxey kept doing what he’s been doing all season. He paced Philadelphia with 26 points and 11 assists, shooting 10-of-15 from the floor and 5-of-6 at the line. Through eight games, Maxey is third in the NBA in scoring, trailing only Luka Doncic and Steph Curry.
He’s scoring more per game than he did last season and doing it with a better field-goal percentage, despite the new pieces around him in Philadelphia. If this level holds and the wins keep coming, he’s going to force his way into the MVP discussion.
Jaylen Brown also turned in a strong night in his new role with the Sixers. He scored 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting and 4-of-7 from three, while also grabbing a season-high 11 rebounds and dishing five assists.
Afterward, head coach Nick Nurse had plenty of praise for him.
“The dude is tough and he wins, and I’ll take that all day long,” Nurse said of Brown. "...
He makes a lot of winning plays, man. He’s a winner.”
Not everyone had a clean night, though. Adem Bona struggled again in 14 minutes, finishing with three points, six rebounds and a block while also committing five fouls and two turnovers. He missed three of his four shots, and Philadelphia was outscored by eight points while he was on the floor.
That made it the sixth time in eight games this season that the Sixers were outscored during Bona’s minutes, and with limited alternatives available, that’s the kind of issue that would likely already have pushed him out of Nick Nurse’s rotation otherwise.
In Other News...
Sixers Win Gets Overshadowed By New Adem Bona Concern
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Adem Bonas exit in the fourth quarter shifted the focus after the buzzer, with the center leaving because of a neck injury. Nick Nurse said Bona appears to be okay, but the team has not yet offered an official diagnosis or any timeline for what comes next, leaving Philadelphia waiting to learn whether the concern is short-lived or something that lingers. [Read more 🡒]
Former Sixers Guard Quickly Found His Next Chance After Philly Moved On
Oklahoma City wasted little time adding another body to its backcourt and wing mix, signing guard/forward Dalen Terry to a two-year contract as it tries to patch together depth amid a rash of injuries to key players. Terry, a former first-round pick, had most recently been with the Philadelphia 76ers before landing with the Thunder, giving him another chance to carve out a role after moving through a couple of organizations.
For the Sixers, it is another reminder of how quickly roster churn can reshape a players path. Terrys stop in Philadelphia was brief, but his next opportunity arrived just as fast, and Oklahoma City is clearly looking for someone who can help absorb minutes while the roster gets healthier. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Nurse Just Made The 76ers Frontcourt Wait Even Harder
Dominick Barlows start with the 76ers has been delayed before it ever really got going, and the frontcourt has been left waiting on a player who has yet to appear in the 2026-2027 season. A back injury suffered before the preseason has kept Barlow on the sideline, and the team has been careful not to rush the process as it tries to get a clearer read on where things stand.
Nick Nurse said Barlow is seeing a specialist and has only had limited court time so far, with a re-evaluation expected soon. For a Philadelphia roster that could use every available body up front, the uncertainty is the frustrating part, because there still is no firm timeline for when Barlow might be ready to join the mix. [Read more 🡒]