The Philadelphia 76ers walked into Charlotte on Monday missing two of their biggest stars-and walked out with one of their worst losses of the season. With Joel Embiid and Paul George sidelined on the front end of a back-to-back, the Sixers simply didn’t have the juice to keep up.
The result? A 130-93 blowout at the hands of the Hornets, a game that saw Philly trail by as many as 50 points and struggle to find any sort of rhythm on either end of the floor.
Let’s break down the three biggest takeaways from a rough afternoon for the Sixers:
1. Bench Backcourt Still Searching for Answers
When your top two offensive engines are out, it’s a chance for the supporting cast to step up. But for the Sixers, the reserve guards couldn’t get much traction. Quentin Grimes finished with 14 points and five assists, while rookie Jared McCain added 16 points-but most of that came in garbage time, well after the game had been decided.
The Sixers are in real need of one of these young guards to emerge as a reliable shot creator off the bench. Right now, it’s too much on Tyrese Maxey’s shoulders to initiate everything on the perimeter.
Grimes had some decent looks early but couldn’t convert until the game was out of reach. McCain had some open shots in the first half but didn’t find the bottom of the net until late in the fourth.
These are growing pains, sure, but if Philly wants to stay competitive when their stars sit, they’ll need more consistency from this group.
2. Defensive Breakdowns at the Point of Attack
The Sixers’ defensive issues started early-and never really stopped. Charlotte got into the paint at will, with LaMelo Ball carving up the perimeter defense and creating easy opportunities for his bigs. Moussa Diabate, in particular, feasted on dump-off passes and second-chance looks around the rim.
Once the Hornets established their interior presence, the floor opened up for their shooters. Philly couldn’t contain dribble penetration, and that led to a cascade of open threes and backdoor cuts. It was the kind of defensive performance that forces you to hit the film room hard-and fast-especially with the second leg of a back-to-back looming.
3. Three-Point Shooting Nowhere to Be Found
Offensively, the Sixers couldn’t generate much from beyond the arc-and when they did, the shots just didn’t fall. Playing without Embiid and George meant fewer double teams and kick-outs, and Charlotte made sure to clog the paint and force Philly into tough, contested looks.
The Sixers struggled to get dribble penetration of their own, and that left them stuck in the half-court, where ball movement stalled and spacing suffered. Maxey, usually a spark plug, had a rare off night-just six points on 3-for-12 shooting, though he did dish out seven assists. Without his usual burst and with the bench unable to pick up the slack, the Sixers never found their rhythm from deep.
The Bottom Line
This was one of those games you circle, crumple up, and toss in the trash. The Sixers were without their two best players, but even so, the effort and execution weren’t where they needed to be. The Hornets took advantage early and never let up.
There’s no time to dwell, though. With the second night of a back-to-back coming up, Philly has to regroup quickly. If nothing else, this game served as a loud reminder: when the stars are out, the margin for error shrinks-and the young guys have to be ready to step up.