Without a healthy Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers were never expected to be contenders for the NBA title. However, they recently faced a disappointing loss, narrowly defeating the lowly Washington Wizards and, even worse, losing to the New Orleans Pelicans — a team with just eight wins — hours after Zion Williamson was suspended for breaking team rules.
The 76ers’ most recent defeat occurred on Friday night when CJ McCollum scored 38 points, leading the Pelicans to a 123-115 victory over Philadelphia. Embiid, a two-time NBA scoring champion, was again absent, missing his third consecutive game due to a sprained left foot. This marks his 23rd missed game of the season, which has also included absences due to left knee soreness, a sinus fracture, and a three-game suspension for an altercation with a reporter.
Embiid has only played in 13 games this season. The Sixers have posted a 7-6 record with him and a 8-15 record without him, resulting in a 15-21 overall record for a team that features All-Stars Paul George and Tyrese Maxey, currently out of playoff contention in the Eastern Conference.
“We’re definitely better with Joel out there, that’s a fact,” Paul George said. “We’re better with the big guy back in the lineup with us.”
Coach Nick Nurse expressed confidence that Embiid’s injury isn’t a long-term issue. While there’s hope that a week off will help Embiid’s foot heal, allowing him to return for Sunday’s game in Orlando, his history of injuries raises doubts. Embiid missed the entirety of his first two NBA seasons due to injury, and there’s no guarantee that he will make it through the rest of the season without further setbacks.
Embiid, the 2022-23 NBA MVP, is currently averaging 24.4 points and 7.9 rebounds this season, which is below his career averages.
Paul George has faced a rough start in his first season with the 76ers after signing a four-year, $212 million contract. Struggling with injuries and inconsistency, George hasn’t yet hit the level of performance expected from a nine-time All-Star. A prime example of this came in the game against New Orleans, where George only had one basket and three fouls by the 8:13 mark of the second quarter. However, in the second half, he found his rhythm, hitting five three-pointers and finishing with 25 points.
Tyrese Maxey scored 30 points in 40 minutes, continuing to take on a heavy scoring burden in the absence of Joel Embiid.
Coach Nick Nurse noted, “It just seemed to me like we didn’t have quite the pop energy-wise we needed the full game.”
After a rough 3-14 start to the season, the 76ers seemed to find their rhythm by winning 10 of their next 13 games, including a notable victory on Christmas Day in Boston. However, since the new year began, the team has struggled, losing four of their last six games.
Injuries have continued to be an issue for the 76ers, with multiple players sidelined. Andre Drummond (left toe sprain), Kyle Lowry (right hip strain), and KJ Martin (left foot injury) all missed the game. Additionally, rookie Jared McCain was ruled out for the remainder of the season following knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus.
“It’s difficult with guys in and out of the lineup,” Maxey said. “As soon as we get some continuity, as soon as we get flowing, guys miss (games). It’s really difficult. Guys have to kind of change their roles every single night. That puts pressure on us, man. We miss Jo, we miss Paul, we miss K.J. It’s hard to win in this league when you’re not healthy.”
The 20-year-old Jared McCain, who played one season at Duke, was selected by the 76ers as the 16th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. McCain made an impressive start to his career, averaging 15.3 points in 23 games and starting eight of them. His strong performances, along with his popularity as a TikTok sensation, earned him nearly 5 million followers and made him an instant fan favorite.
Coach Nick Nurse praised McCain’s impact on the team, saying, “He was not only a great pick by our organization, but he was really impacting the team in a positive manner. I think any rookie picked in that range that comes in and bolts to the top of all rookies is a credit to the player and organization, as well.”
For the 76ers to succeed going forward, they will need Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey to stay as close to full strength as possible. The team’s upcoming schedule includes tough matchups, such as games against the Magic, Oklahoma City, and the New York Knicks at home, followed by road games against Indiana, Milwaukee, and Denver — all teams with winning records.
Paul George emphasized the urgency for the 76ers to adopt a more desperate mindset moving forward. He stressed the importance of approaching every game with the mindset that it matters, saying, “From here on out, every game counts. It’s not going to get any easier.” Reflecting on the team’s recent loss, George acknowledged the effort of their opponents but noted that it was a game the 76ers should have won. He pointed out that in order to compete at a high level and remain in contention, the team needs to be able to close out games against teams they should be beating.