PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers got back at it on Tuesday as they played host to the Brooklyn Nets looking to keep things moving in the right direction. The Sixers entered playing some good basketball as of late and were looking to beat the Nets despite being so short-handed.

The Sixers had Joel Embiid return from a 2-game absence due to an illness and right knee injury management which helped despite Philadelphia missing VJ Edgecombe and others due to an illness. Despite a brief scare in early in the third when he took a hard fall, grabbed at his right knee, and left for the locker room, he had 27 points, six rebounds, and four assists for the Sixers. It wasn’t enough as the Nets earned a 114-106 win behind 28 points and five rebounds from Michael Porter Jr. and 20 points from rookie Egor Demin.

Andre Drummond had 12 points and 13 rebounds, Paul George added 19 points and four rebounds, Tyrese Maxey had 13 points, and Eric Gordon had 12. Jared McCain added 10 points and nine rebounds.

Here are the plater grades following the loss:

Tyrese Maxey: D

It was a slow start for Maxey as the Sixers were looking to get George and Embiid going. The star guard missed his first six shot attempts before getting a layup to fall late in the second quarter. He was kept quiet for the majority of this one in all facets of the game whether it was scoring, playmaking, or rebounding. The slow start led to an overall tough night for Maxey as he wasn’t able to get into any type of rhythm on the offensive end. The star guard deserves credit for continuing to play hard and being a vocal leader out on the floor, but this was a night he’d rather forget.

Jared McCain: D-minus

Drawing the start with Edgecombe out, McCain gave the Sixers some pop from the perimeter as he put the ball on the floor and was able to make things happen. He picked up some assists, finished in the paint, and got to the free-throw line early. After a nice start, McCain wasn’t able to do much as he was neutralized for a majority of this one. The Nets deserve credit for a tough defensive showing.

Paul George: C

It was a slow start for George as he missed some bunnies and air-balled a 3-pointer, but he was able to get to the line to get things moving for him in the scoring department. After the slow start, George got going in the second quarter with a bucket in the paint and then had his moment when he had a steal at halfcourt and a one-handed slam in transition that got everybody in the arena—including his teammates—off their feet. After that, it was a struggle. He created some good looks, but he was unable to convert as he didn’t shoot the ball in this one overall or from beyond the arc.

Jabari Walker: C-plus

Walker had his usual moments of hustle and intensity. He attacked the glass, competed on defense, and finished at the basket when he had an opportunity off a rebound. The criticism in this one is the foul issues, and his inability to convert on his open looks from beyond the arc, but Walker had some good moments.

Joel Embiid: B-minus

Making his return to the floor after a 2-game absence, Embiid found a rhythm early. He went to work in the mid-range against Nets big man Nic Claxton and went to work in the low post when Brooklyn turned to Day’Ron Sharpe for some early offense. He had a scare a minute into the third quarter when he was fouled by Brooklyn’s Terance Mann. He took a hard fall and grabbed at his right knee before getting up and leaving for the locker room. He did end up returning to the game, but he didn’t look the same. He was unable to get much going when he returned. He also had some defensive issues as he was unable to move very well.

Andre Drummond: A

It was tough sledding for Drummond in his initial stint. He did finish some tough buckets in the paint so he deserves credit for that, but he was unable to make an impact on the glass and had some tough moments defensively as the Nets got some easy ones at the rim. It was a different story in the second half as he entered when Embiid was out and he dominated on the glass and in the paint. He gave the Sixers a real spark in the third quarter.

Eric Gordon: A

The old timer put the ball on the floor and blew by Nets rookie Danny Wolf for a bucket and then, of course, drilled a triple to keep the scoreboard moving. His mere presence on the floor allowed the offense to be spaced as the Nets had to pay attention to him. The impressive part about Gordon’s night was his ability to put the ball on the floor and make things happen against a much younger and athletic Nets team.

Justin Edwards: C

The night for Edwards started with him getting to the line and knocking down two just to get the scoreboard moving for Philadelphia. He then had some good moments defensively to help the Sixers on that end. Overall, he had a tough time converting on the open looks he received within the offense and it hurt the overall flow.

Kyle Lowry: B

The stint for Lowry was good. Once again, he organized this group on the offensive end, and picked up a couple of assists in his minutes on the night. Every time the 39-year-old has stepped on the floor, he has made things happen for the Sixers in the 2025-26 season.

Adem Bona: C-plus

The Sixers turned to Bona when Walker picked up three fouls in the first half, and he gave some good minutes. He grabbed a rebound and was flying around on defense, but he did pick up two quick fouls himself in his initial stint. He received another look in the second half and made some things happen in the paint.