Sixers Beat: A Philadelphia 76ers, Nba Podcast

Is Daryl Morey at risk of being fired by Sixers owner Josh Harris? Do the Sixers have a plan to address Joel Embiid’s troublesome knee? And is Ace Bailey looking more appealing as a top-five pick with more games to evaluate the 2025 NBA Draft class?

With Quentin Grimes having the night off for rest, joining stars Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey on the bench, the Sixers' lack of offensive firepower was too much to overcome as they fell to the New Orleans Pelicans in a game that could prove crucial when the lottery rolls around on May 12th. With the win the Pelicans (20-53), who have the 4th worst record in the league, now have just three fewer wins than the 76ers (23-49), who currently occupy the 5th spot in the reverse standings. The Sixers were also helped out by Toronto (25-47), who picked up a big win to put some space between themselves and the Sixers.

Another game, another loss for the Philadelphia 76ers -- extending their losing streak to four following a 132-119 loss at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks. The Sixers trailed by as many as 27 points in the second half with the Hawks hanging 41 on the 76ers in the third quarter to pull away. Despite another defeat, Justin Edwards continues to show positive signs for Philadelphia with another outstanding performance posting 20+ for the second consecutive game. The Sixers will wrap up their 6-game trip on Monday night in New Orleans in an important matchup against the Pelicans.

Despite a strong comeback by the Sixers in the 3rd quarter, the Spurs used a 12-0 run late in the 4th to take control of the game and pull away with the hard-fought win in San Antonio. The Sixers had a balanced scoring attack led by 20+ points from Guerschon Yabusele, Justin Edwards, Quentin Grimes and Ricky Council IV off the bench, along with an active defense that forced turnovers and got them out in transition as the Sixers are beginning to find an identity on offense without stars Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey in the lineup.

The Philadelphia 76ers were no match for the Oklahoma City Thunder, as the 76ers got blown out despite the Thunder playing without MVP contender Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, in addition to absences from mainstays Isaiah Hartenstein, Lu Dort and Jalen Williams. Former 76er Isaiah Joe led a 3-point barrage for the Thunder, who ran the 76ers out of the gym with a huge second-half shooting display. With Joel Embiid and Paul George done for the season, and Tyrese Maxey out once again, the 76ers have been riding the hot hand of Quentin Grimes, but the newly-acquired Grimes had a rare off night for the Sixers in a losing effort.

From Cooper Flagg and VJ Edgecombe to Jeremiah Fears and Jase Richardson, there are a lot of talented players in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Which guys and games should Sixers fans have their eye on?

Despite a career-high 46 points from Quentin Grimes, the Houston Rockets came back from a 25-point second half deficit to force overtime on an Alperen Sengun tip-in at the buzzer, then pulled away in the extra frame for their 7th consecutive win. Jabari Smith Jr had a season-high 30 off the bench for the Rockets. The Sixers came out firing on all cylinders early on, making a season high 24 3-pointers to finish with one of their best offensive performances of the season. In addition to Grimes, Jared Butler (21 points) and Justin Edwards (18) each had big nights in a losing effort.

Behind a more focused defensive effort in the second half, another strong scoring game from Quentin Grimes and an uncharacteristically deep performance from the bench, the Sixers hung on for a close win over the Dallas Mavericks to end their three game losing streak. In a game highlighted by the All-Star cast of talent not on the floor, from Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis for the Mavs to Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey for the Sixers, it was instead a collection of role players fighting for their NBA lives who put on an unexpectedly entertaining game in the dog days of the NBA season.

A lot of fight from Nick Nurse's group tonight as the Philadelphia 76ers fall to the Indiana Pacers, 112-100. The Sixers led the visiting Pacers by as many as 16 in the first half with inspired play from the shorthanded group, taking a four-point lead into halftime. But things started to balance out in the second half as the Pacers took control of the game, eventually putting the Sixers away with the double-digit win. The 76ers were led by Jeff Dowtin who posted a career-high 24 points to lead the team in scoring.

Despite another strong performance by Quentin Grimes and a career-high from Jeff Dowtin Jr, the Philadelphia 76ers lost a crucial game to the Toronto Raptors to give them a leg up in the tanking sweepstakes. With the loss, the Sixers (22-43) jumped over the Raptors (23-43) and are now tied with the Brooklyn Nets for the 5th worst record in the NBA, improving the chances that they retain the top-6 protected pick in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft that they owe the Oklahoma City Thunder as a result of the Al Horford trade all those years ago.

Baylor guard V.J. Edgecombe is the best athlete in his class and may separate from the players in the tier below Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper. Could the Sixers take him over Kasparas Jakucionis or Tre Johnson if they hold onto their pick?

With Kelly Oubre Jr joining Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George on the sidelines, the Sixers’ skeleton crew, playing on the second night of a back-to-back, were blown out by an Atlanta Hawks team playing without star guard Trae Young. Quentin Grimes gave the Sixers a spark with another monster scoring night, but their defense let them down against the short-handed Hawks, who were led by a good all-around performance from rookie Zaccharie Risacher in the win. With the loss, the Sixers fell to 22-42 on the season, and the Sixers’ loss, combined with a Chicago win, puts the Sixers 4.5 out of the final play-in spot with 18 games left to play.

The Philadelphia 76ers win the battle of the tank on this night after defeating the visiting Utah Jazz, 126-122. The Sixers snapped their 3-game losing streak behind a 25-point, 11-rebound double-double from Lonnie Walker IV, 25 for Quentin Grimes and several key contributions from the 76ers' reserves in extended minutes for Nick Nurse's group. Philadelphia picked up their 22nd win on the season.

Despite playing without Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday and Al Horford, the Boston Celtics still had enough firepower to beat the Philadelphia 76ers with ease. Led by All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum and Sixth Man of the Year candidate Payton Pritchard, the Celtics pulled away from the Sixers in the second half to pick up their 45th win of the season. The Sixers, playing without Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey, fell to a season-worst 20 games below .500.

Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey are two of the top prospects of the 2025 NBA Draft class, each with fit questions on the Sixers. If the Sixers have their choice of the two, who makes more sense next to Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and Joel Embiid?

Playing without stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, the Sixers could not keep up with the Minnesota Timberwolves, as Julius Randle, Naz Reid and company pulled away from the Sixers with a 3-point shooting barrage in the second half. Quentin Grimes continued his stellar play for the Sixers, dropping another 30-point performance in the loss. Paul George did not play in the fourth quarter and finished with just seven points as the Sixers fell 21-40 on the season.

Things continue to get worse for the Philadelphia 76ers as Tyrese Maxey leaves the game in the third quarter with a back contusion after a hard fall to the floor and did not return. Before Maxey exited the game, his shooting struggles continued as it appeared that the injured pinky on his shooting hand was impacting how he played in his 23 minutes of run. Maxey finished with 5 points and 6 assists in the 76ers' 119-102 loss to the Portland Trailblazers.

The Quentin Grimes game. Behind a career-high 44 points from Grimes, the Philadelphia 76ers snapped their 9-game losing streak after defeating the Golden State Warriors 126-119. Grimes was phenomenal as he carried the offensive load going 18-24 from the floor with six made 3s. The Sixers needed every bit of that output from Grimes as Tyrese Maxey struggled on the night with just five points -- Kelly Oubre added 20, and Andre Drummond registered a double-double. Steph Curry led the Warriors with 29 and 13 assists.

Joel Embiid was ruled out for the rest of the 2024-25 season, with the Sixers saying he is medically unable to play with the condition in his left knee. Where do Daryl Morey and the Sixers go from here?

Joel Embiid has looked like a shell of himself in recent weeks, and he and the Sixers are looking at all options to get his body right. Can they find a path forward?