2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 19
Joel Embiid – 9
VJ Edgecombe – 7
Paul George – 6
Dominick Barlow – 2
Andre Drummond – 2
Jared McCain :’( – 2
MarJon Beauchamp – 1
Adem Bona – 1
Justin Edwards – 1
Quentin Grimes – 1
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1
Well, that was technically a basketball game.
The Philadelphia 76ers seem to have started their All-Star break early, falling 138-89 to the New York Knicks on Wednesday night.
The Sixers had finally returned home from their West Coast trip for Wednesday’s contest. Though, it sounded like another away game, with a loud crowd seemingly more in favor of the Knicks than the Sixers.
With Joel Embiid (right knee injury management), Paul George (suspension) and Quentin Grimes (illness) all sidelined, expectations that Philadelphia would be able to keep up with the Knicks were low. Apparently, they weren’t low enough. This was an absolute mess for the Sixers from the start, with their offense cold at best and their defense completely nonexistent.
Truly, the Sixers made the Knicks look like the Harlem Globetrotters dancing all over the Washington Generals in this one. By halftime, Philadelphia was already down 30 points. They managed just 42 by the break. It was somehow even worse than it sounds, genuinely. The embarrassment dragged throughout the second half and the Sixers ultimately fell 138-89.
Thankfully, there’s not another Sixers game for just over a week, with the team heading into the All-Star break that will give them off until Feb. 19.
In the meantime, let’s get to the Bell Ringer.
(Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) Getty Images
I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking “but Erin, you just said Embiid didn’t play in this game” and you’d be right. He didn’t. And my goodness, how evident it was. It absolutely baffles me when anyone — from media members to fans to just people online — acts like Embiid isn’t completely crucial to the success of this team. I would point them in the direction of this game and the game on Monday. Yes, they were also missing Paul George (suspension) and Quentin Grimes (illness) making them shorthanded all the way around, but the gaps those guys leave are a bit easier to fill.
On Wednesday night, the Sixers simply could not put up any sort of defense in the paint or at the rim on the Knicks. Seemingly no one could even slow down Karl-Anthony Towns. Embiid might not be as explosive as he once was, but he still contributes a hell of a lot in this department.
That’s not even to mention the offensive scoring, spacing, playmaking and more that Embiid has been able to contribute on a consistent basis over the last month and a half for the Sixers. It’s not a coincidence that, not only do they miss out on his points, but the rest of the Sixers’ offense struggles as a whole when Embiid is off the floor.
I’m not saying it should be all on Embiid to keep an entire team from completely imploding… but it certainly seems like he’s a major factor in it. The Sixers better hope for their sake he doesn’t need to miss any sort of extended time, because the past two games make it seem like he’s the only thread holding the damn thing together at this point.
I think everyone — from the team to the fans — are ready for a bit of a break. With Embiid continuing treatment for his right knee, an illness going around the squad, everyone still bouncing back from their West Coast trip and the passing of the trade deadline, this All-Star hiatus is coming at the perfect time.
The best case scenario for this next week is to serve as a reset for the Sixers. Get everyone rested up and as healthy as possible, hopefully getting Embiid back in the lineup right away. Try to mentally flush both the drama of the trade deadline as well as the sour taste of these last few games. Work out the situations with the two-way contracts and 10-day guys to get some stability in the roster and rotation. Something has to give.
Well, we’ll see what happens and where we are in eight days.
Tyrese Maxey: 32 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) Getty Images
OK, I’ll give credit to one guy that actually played in this game: Tyrese Maxey. It’s wild that the guy averaging damn near 40 minutes a night, who probably needs a break more than anyone, was the only one able to do much of anything on Wednesday night. By the end of the third period, Maxey had scored 32 of the Sixers’ 71 total points. You have to give him credit: even down an insane amount of points, if he’s on the floor, he’s giving it his all. For better or worse. He still is looking for the open shots from long range, he still is going to use his speed and athleticism to drive to the rim, and he’s still going to finish directly into contact, no matter how physical it gets.
Unfortunately, he didn’t get much help tonight. Only Dominick Barlow (13 points) and VJ Edgecombe (14) also managed to score in double digits for the Sixers.
Now, did Maxey necessarily need to even play 32 minutes (including the entire third) in this game that seemed pretty out of reach earlier on? Well, that’s up for debate… At least Nick Nurse let him sit for the fourth!