PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers have played 20 games now with Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey on the floor together–they have finished 17 of those 20 games–across the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons thus far. In those 17 games they have finished, the Sixers dropped to 7-10 after Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Of course, there are a lot of caveats to that record. The Sixers have been working through players being in and out of the lineup and Embiid and George have been on minutes restrictions since they returned from their respective injuries. So, there really hasn’t been a real chance to develop any type of rhythm out on the floor.

With that being said, the numbers with Embiid and George on the floor have been good. Per Cleaning the Glass, the Sixers are a plus-10.7 with both stars on the floor in the two games they have played together. While the offensive numbers have been a bit up and down thus far, the Sixers have been fantastic defensively as they give up only 103.6 points per 100 possessions with both on the court.

Of course, it’s an extremely small sample size, but there are encouraging signs for the Sixers when Embiid and George play together. After the loss to the Lakers, Embiid talked playing with George as time moves forward.

“I think we’re right there,” Embiid said. “I think it’s not just about me and just one person on the team. I think it’s all about all of us continuing to play together and finding that rhythm. I thought, tonight, it would be a different game if I just make a couple shots. If we make a couple more shots as a team.”

Embiid isn’t wrong in that sense. He shot just 4-for-21 and 0-for-6 from deep against the Lakers and most of his looks were ones coach Nick Nurse and Co. will live with. Basketball is a make-or-miss game sometimes and the big fella just missed his shots on Sunday. It’s the defense that encourages the 2023 MVP winner going forward.

“I thought defensively, we were fine for the most part,” Embiid finished. “A couple mistakes here and there, but it would’ve been a different story if I make a couple shots and if everybody else makes a couple more shots. Most of those shots were open so we’ll take it.”

As the Sixers move forward, the hope is that Embiid and George will continue growing as a pairing which then opens everything up for Philadelphia. With a little more luck in the health department than in 2024-25, the hope is that the Sixers will continue to lean on those two going forward.