Observations after Sixers lose again without Embiid in 1st game post-break originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Sixers fell to another Joel Embiid-less defeat Thursday night in their first game after the All-Star break.
They lost a 117-107 contest to the Hawks at Xfinity Mobile Arena, dipping to 30-25 on the season. Atlanta improved to 27-30.
Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 27 points. VJ Edgecombe added 20.
Star Hawks forward Jalen Johnson scored 32 points.
Embiid (right shin soreness and right knee injury management) was the one Sixer out. Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said pregame that he’s “pretty optimistic” about Embiid’s health and expects he’ll do on-court work Friday.
The Sixers will start a road back-to-back on Saturday against the Pelicans. Here are observations on their loss to the Hawks:
Edgecombe refreshed post-break
Both members of the Sixers’ backcourt seemed rejuvenated by the All-Star break in the opening minutes.
Maxey scored the team’s first basket on a driving lefty layup. Edgecombe had the next eight with a mid-range hoop, an and-one floater, and a sweet three-pointer.
Edgecombe shared Wednesday that he traveled home to the Bahamas and caught up with friends and family over the break. He’d looked worn down in the week or so prior to the break and shot 2 for 13 from three-point range over the Sixers’ last three games. The rookie clearly benefited from a little time off.
Outside of Edgecombe, the Sixers’ offense didn’t start well. After that first make, Maxey missed his next seven field goals. Atlanta took a 20-14 lead on a Jock Landale corner three.
Edgecombe cut the Sixers’ deficit to two points when he banked in a deep, tightly guarded jumper at the first-quarter buzzer.
Payne’s season debut
Maxey shared the floor with four bench players late in the first quarter. Cameron Payne checked in to begin the second, receiving his first Sixers action since the 2024 playoffs.
The Sixers’ second unit had multiple bright spots. Adem Bona was very good in the first half, providing rim protection (four blocks before halftime), hustle and offensive rebounding. Quentin Grimes hit his first three shots, including a three-ball assisted by Payne that lifted the Sixers to a 35-33 edge.
Although he was scoreless on 0-for-3 shooting, Payne looked comfortable offensively in his first NBA game of the season. He spread the ball around to open teammates, played at a brisk but controlled pace, and appeared to have a solid grasp of the Sixers’ core principles. After his contract buyout with Partizan Belgrade in Serbia, Payne’s back in the NBA and should give the Sixers much-needed guard depth.
Hawks capitalize on Sixers’ mistakes
Excessive fouling was a massive problem for the Sixers in the first half. Atlanta attempted 25 free throws in under 19 minutes.
The Sixers were also sloppy in other areas, including a slew of missed layups late in the second quarter. Atlanta went up 60-50 on a Dyson Daniels put-back layup.
The Sixers fell behind by 11 points early in the third quarter but found some comeback juice late in the period.
Playing his first game on a newly signed standard contract, Jabari Walker sunk a corner three. Walker then picked up a steal and tossed the ball ahead to Bona, who threw down a fast-break slam that sliced the Hawks’ lead to 79-78.
The Sixers failed to keep that momentum and Atlanta made them pay for many of their miscues.
Edgecombe dribbled the ball off his foot and out of bounds for his sixth turnover. Nickeil Alexander-Walker followed with a three that restored a double-digit Hawks lead around the midpoint of the fourth quarter.
Just before the game was out of reach, the Sixers responded.
They cut their deficit to 108-104 with a 10-0 spurt that included a Grimes reverse layup, a Grimes block and a jam by Kelly Oubre Jr. (17 points).
However, the Sixers had to be flawless in the final minutes and they were not. Atlanta regained its composure and closed out the victory.