The 76ers left Detroit with a 112-106 win on Wednesday night, but the night also came with an injury scare for Adem Bona.
Head coach Nick Nurse offered a positive early read after the game, telling ESPN’s Khris Rhim that Bona is dealing with a neck injury but “looks to be OK.”
Bona left in the fourth quarter after appearing to suffer a head injury. He went to the locker room with team trainers and did not return.
Before exiting, Bona logged 15 minutes and finished with five points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal. He made two of four shots from the field and hit his lone free throw.
The injury didn’t stop Philadelphia from taking care of business against the Pistons. The Sixers were looking to bounce back from their only loss of the season, which came against Detroit last month, and they did it with Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe available. The win pushed Philadelphia to 8-1.
Jaylen Brown led the way with 30 points and seven rebounds, his highest-scoring outing since joining the Sixers. Embiid added 26 points and 15 rebounds, while Tyrese Maxey posted 19 points and seven assists. LeBron James also filled the box score with 13 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, falling just short of a triple-double.
Philadelphia now turns to the Cleveland Cavaliers, with Bona’s status still worth watching. The Sixers had not announced an official diagnosis or a timeline for his possible absence as of the latest report.
In Other News...
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 🡒]
Pistons Had A Cade Cunningham Scare They Really Could Not Afford
A rough first half in Philadelphia got a little more tense when Joel Embiid accidentally struck Cade Cunningham in the groin during a live play. Cunningham stayed in the game and kept doing his usual all-around work, reaching nine points, five rebounds and four assists in 20 minutes by halftime as Detroit tried to keep pace with the 76ers.
The bigger concern for the Pistons was the timing. They were already dealing with another key injury, and Cunninghams health matters even more when the margin is thin and the lineup is stretched. Detroit went into halftime trailing by 14, so even a brief scare with its best player carried extra weight. [Read more 🡒]