PHILADELPHIA - The Sixers got the kind of preseason opener that can fool you into thinking everything is rolling along nicely. Jaylen Brown looked ready to score whenever he wanted, VJ Edgecombe handled himself well in a meaningful run, and a few deep reserves flashed enough to matter.
Then came the part no team wants in October: Ariel Hukporti grabbing his Achilles and heading to the tunnel.
That non-contact injury quickly took over the night in a 114-92 Sixers win over the Knicks, overshadowing what had otherwise been a productive first exhibition. The arena had real juice for a preseason game, with both Sixers and Knicks fans bringing more noise than usual. And that energy only grew when Brown made his Sixers debut in uniform and played a half alongside Edgecombe against the defending champions, who rolled out their entire title-winning starting five for a similar stretch.
Before the injury, Brown was doing exactly what the Sixers need him to do in these lineups: hunt his own shot and punish defenses. He finished with 22 points in 17 minutes, going 8-for-13 from the field, 3-for-5 from deep and 3-for-5 at the line. He scored 13 in the opening quarter alone, going 5-for-8 in nine-plus minutes and getting hotter as the game settled in.
Edgecombe also gave the Sixers a strong all-around showing. He played about 20 minutes and finished with 12 points, seven assists and four rebounds. Once the second half began, both of the headline names were done for the night.
But the night turned when Hukporti went down less than five minutes into the game, immediately reaching for his Achilles. His teammates and former teammates gathered around him, and Karl-Anthony Towns helped him to the tunnel. The Sixers have not confirmed a diagnosis, but the scene was unmistakably grim for a player who signed a one-year, $3.4 million contract in the offseason.
That loss matters even more because the Sixers were already thin in the middle. Adem Bona is dealing with a preseason foot injury, which had given Hukporti a real chance to move ahead in the backup center battle. With Hukporti out, the Sixers spent the rest of the night without a true center, and that could reshape how the depth chart looks if he is out for an extended stretch.
Nick Nurse had already laid out the basics of what he wanted from Hukporti: "playing hard, being big, running the floor, rebounding, protecting the rim," with "anything else he gives" as a bonus. For a team leaning into a star-heavy offense, that role was supposed to be straightforward.
Instead, it may now open the door wider for Bona, while Jabari Walker and Dominick Barlow become the main small-ball options. The Sixers’ third two-way spot is still open, too, and this injury could push the team to focus on centers there.
Walker made his case with a sharp second quarter. He sneaked in for an offensive rebound and layup, stripped Towns, gave up a wide-open dunk to set up Brown instead, and then drilled his second quick-trigger three of the game. His release from deep looked noticeably quicker, and if that keeps up, he looks like more than just a fill-in.
The Sixers also got useful minutes from their two-way group. Caleb Love knocked down all three of his threes in a strong stint to close the first half, while Rayan Rupert hit an early triple and kept his value tied to his defensive ability.
Labaron Philon Jr. was the first sub off the bench and played about 12 straight minutes, finishing with two points and two assists. Nurse said most of the stars should appear in two or three of the team’s four exhibitions, but Philon may wind up with more preseason run than anyone else because of his age and spot on the depth chart.
Justin Edwards added his own argument for a role with a couple of spot-up threes. He may be on the outside looking in when the roster is full strength, but under Nurse there is still a path for him to get on the floor if the shooting stays steady.
The final minutes belonged mostly to the camp and two-way crowd. Jameer Nelson Jr. drew a strong ovation and showed some offensive pop.
Dillon Jones brought sturdy defense. Saint Thomas, a bigger wing with a strong frame, looks headed toward the Delaware Blue Coats.
Duke Miles, the team’s priority undrafted signing, is the guard whose 2.6 steals per game led the SEC last season.
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Even in the middle of a preseason opener, the chatter around Joel Embiid can travel fast. During the 76ers first exhibition game, broadcaster Mike Breen relayed a strange bit of gossip he had heard about Embiid being a few minutes late to a recent practice and then being confronted by LeBron James, a story that immediately gave the moment a life of its own.
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Sixers Suddenly Have A Frontcourt Opening Dominick Barlow Cant Waste
Dominick Barlows latest setback comes at an awkward time for the 76ers, who are already trying to sort through a shaky frontcourt picture before the season really gets rolling. Barlow has been sidelined by a back injury and has missed recent preseason activities, but his standing on the roster has changed quickly because Philadelphias center depth has been thinned by injuries to Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti.
With Joel Embiid still anchoring the middle, the opening behind him is the one worth watching, and Barlow has at least a chance to enter that conversation if he gets healthy in time. He already showed last season that he can be a usable rotation piece, appearing in 71 games and averaging 7.7 points and 4.8 rebounds, and the Sixers would clearly like to find a way to capitalize on that kind of depth rather than keep patching the spot together. [Read more 🡒]
Ben Simmons Is Reopening A Debate Sixers Fans Thought Was Over
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For Sixers fans, the reaction is likely less about the Kings and more about the old debate Simmons has reopened by simply looking like himself again. Sacramento is taking a careful approach as he gets ready for his 10th NBA season, but any sign of stability or production from Simmons invites the same familiar question in Philadelphia: what might have been, and how much different could the story have looked if this version had arrived earlier? [Read more 🡒]