For one night, the Sixers’ vision was a reality (without squinting)

The Sixers went all out on their recruitment pitch for Paul George.

They even enlisted the help of one of the most legendary figures in franchise (and basketball) history, Julius Erving. So, why have Erving involved, aside from him being arguably the coolest person to ever exist? To sell George on what he could be for the Sixers: the missing piece on a championship contender, much like big man Moses Malone was for Erving in 1983.

Lofty, even for a player as accomplished as George.

This isn’t breaking news, but things have not gone as planned for George or the Sixers. In his first season, George played just 41 games in a dismal 24-win campaign. This season was off to a much better start, but a 25-game suspension for George taking a banned substance threatened to derail the whole thing.

But the team survived, still in the thick of the playoff hunt as George, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey returned.

While we haven’t seen Daryl Morey’s vision for the Sixers, for one night in Charlotte, you didn’t have to squint to see the potential of the Big 3 he’s assembled.

All three of George, Embiid and Maxey were available Saturday for the first time since Jan. 29, the game before the league handed down George’s suspension. In a game with plenty of playoff implications, the Sixers outlasted the upstart Hornets in a gutty 118-114 win.

The victory improved the Sixers’ record to 41-33, good for seventh in the Eastern Conference. With eight games remaining, there is plenty of room for movement. They sit 1.5 games up on the eighth-place Orlando Magic, but also just a half game back of the sixth-place Atlanta Hawks and fifth-place Toronto Raptors.

Now finally healthy, the Sixers don’t exactly control their own fate, but they have a real opportunity to avoid the play-in and secure a guaranteed playoff spot. It will take more games like Saturday, where the stars play like stars and the supporting cast does what it’s supposed to do.

Much like in his return vs. the Chicago Bulls, Embiid was brilliant from opening tip, putting up 14 points in the first quarter and 21 for the half. That allowed Maxey to ease into the game in his return and for the Sixers to stem the tide of Charlotte’s torrid start. For the first three quarters of the game, it sort of felt like the Sixers were just hanging around. In the fourth, they took over.

Unsurprisingly, it was Maxey who led that charge to start the period, getting the whole bench off their feet with a poster dunk on Miles Bridges. It looked like the All-Star guard had plenty to say to Bridges afterwards, which only got Maxey’s teammates even more fired up.

At the end of the game, it was George’s turn. With the Sixers trailing 114-113, Embiid missed his second free throw. George fought Grant Williams for the rebound. Williams could never fully grasp it and the ball went out of bounds, earning the Sixers another possession. On the inbounds play, Maxey found George for a corner three. Splash.

But George wasn’t done. He forced a LaMelo Ball turnover and Maxey was fouled on a drive with 31.1 seconds left, splitting the free throws. After Ball missed a 31-footer, Charlotte was able to retain possession. Ball then snaked into the lane, finding Brandon Miller, who scorched the Sixers on multiple occasions Saturday, for a three in the corner. It was then Embiid who rumbled out there for an impressive block with 7.4 seconds left.

On the final possession, Ball was able to corral the inbound pass and get to the corner. George jumped for Ball’s pump fake, but recovered to contest Ball’s actual attempt, which was way off the mark. George was then fouled, splitting the pair of free throws to seal the Sixers’ win.

Embiid finished with 29 points, six rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Maxey had 26 points, eight assists, seven rebounds, a steal and a block. George recorded 26 points, 13 rebounds (his highest total since 2021), two assists, four steals and one block. A balanced effort from three stars.

But it wasn’t just the stars. Rookie VJ Edgecombe, who took a backseat offensively, filled his role to perfection, making plenty of timely plays on both ends. Kelly Oubre Jr. provided a huge spark off the bench in his return and closed the game. Andre Drummond, who was summoned like a rebounding geist in the fourth quarter, restored order on the glass.

The Sixers outscored the Hornets 26-17 in the fourth. It felt like a playoff-level intensity — and the veteran Sixers were up for the challenge.

Maybe George won’t be the Moses who leads the Sixers to the promised land, but Saturday’s win in Charlotte was just what the Doctor ordered.

For one night, the Sixers’ vision was a reality (without squinting)

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