By: Kylan Watson

The struggling Philadelphia 76ers finally returned to Philadelphia after their recent road trip and faced the Brooklyn Nets tonight in South Philly. Throughout this game both teams traded blows, but thanks to an offensive explosion from Jared McCain and Tyrese Maxey Philly was able to beat the Nets 113-98. This is the Sixers third win of the season and first win of the 2024 NBA In-Season Tournament.

Before this game started Joel Embiid who was listed as questionable but missed the game because of swelling in his surgically repaired left knee. Philly is now missing two members of their All-Star trio, but Jared McCain (30 points) and Tyrese Maxey (26 points) put the team on their back in tonight’s contest. They combined for 56 of the Sixers 113 points and took over this game. Especially McCain who has taken advantage of Philly’s bad injury luck. As a result of his recent dominance, he has become a permanent starter. Even when both George and Embiid comeback he has proven that he can play with them as well. For the second time in his career, he scored 30 points and has taken a playmaking leap in the last few games. With the way he has been passing the ball he can be the primary ball handler, and Maxey can move off the ball. Where he can have more room to operate and attack the opposing defense.

On McCain’s performance, “He’s good. I just told somebody that; I said he’s good at basketball, man. He’s fearless. So when you’re fearless like that, he had that type of confidence, it’s a good feeling. And we need that. We need him to be that guy. The duration of the season, [there’s] going to be different times where he has to play different roles, with [Joel Embiid] in there, with [Paul George] in there with me in there, but he has to be this guy who’s fearless, who can make shots and play defense, and kind of play a lot different of roles,” said Maxey.

The Nets had no answer for either of them tonight as they imposed their will throughout this game. Specifically in the second half where both players hit enough big-time shots to keep Philly ahead in this contest. The Sixers may have their backcourt of the future and if the team can continue to stay afloat until Embiid and George get healthy, they can make some noise in the loaded Eastern Conference.

Despite the offensive explosion from McCain and Maxey the Nets were able to retake this lead and were in control early in the second half. Cameron Johnson (37 points and hit 9/13 three-pointers in this contest) and Cam Thomas (18 points) combined for 55 of Brooklyn’s 98 points.

Philly had no answers for them early in this game and Johnson was able to save multiple Brooklyn possessions with a timely three-point bucket, Philly did not have enough lengthy defenders to keep him in check in this contest. However, thanks to their defensive intensity they were able to force the Nets to turn the ball over 19 times. That allowed the Sixers to get out and run and hit wide-open three-pointers which helped them re-take the lead and stay ahead in this contest.

The Sixers will need to continue to improve their perimeter defensive scheme, they were saved by winning the turnover battle in tonight’s contest. They cannot continue to allow opposing players to have career scoring nights and three-point performances against them. That has been their undoing and one of the main reasons they are 3-12 early in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season. Improving their communication and continuing to learn how to play with each other will help them improve their defensive and offensive schemes.

The Sixers will now prepare to face the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night. Without Embiid and George, the Sixers will need to cash in on the high-percentage shooting opportunities created off their ball movement. They were able to do that tonight, but it becomes more of a task against a Clippers team that is just as lengthy as Philly. In addition, they will have to play a stifling style of perimeter defense and win the rebounding battle, if they want to be in decent shape to win their fourth game of the season on Sunday night.