Dec 26, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse talks with guard Tyrese Maxey (0) against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images David Banks
All in all, when you consider all the distractions that the Sixers have had surrounding them this season, the team feels pretty good about themselves heading into Wednesday's Play-In game against the Orlando Magic.
A win for the host Sixers means a seventh seed is secured and a trip during the weekend to Boston to start the opening round series against the Celtics. A loss and the Sixers would play the winner of Charlotte-Miami at home on Friday to determine the eighth seed and a meeting with top-seeded Detroit in the first round.
Philadelphia put itself in that position with a 126-106 win over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, coupled with Orlando's surprising loss in Boston to a depleted Celtics team. And while health isn't where coach Nick Nurse or the organization wanted it to be with Joel Embiid sidelined indefinitely after having his appendix removed on Thursday, the only thing they can do is move forward. And the players and coach insist that is exactly what they are going to do.
"They beat us down pretty bad the last time they played here, so I guess that's motivation enough for us to go in and protect home court with a chance to lock a seed in," said Paul George, speaking of Orlando's 144-103 win back in November. "One less game that we've got to play which for a group that has been injury plagued all season long, one less game on our bodies and that's the biggest thing right there. We don't have to travel for another game on another opponents' floor in a Play-In situation. We get a home court game for a Play-In situation and that's the advantage for us.
"I feel pretty good. I think our chemistry is good, continuity is great. I think we've gotten stronger as the season went on. Obviously, the big fella being out is a huge blow for us, but I think our chemistry, our vibes are pretty high. We've been playing together, we've been playing well down the stretch. So I think there is some carry over coming Wednesday night."
Just how the Sixers, particularly Nurse, approach the game will be interesting to see. Will Adem Bona or Andre Drummond start at center? Who will be the first forward off the bench among Dominick Brown, Justin Edwards and Jabari Walker? How many minutes will the starters have to log? Can Nurse's guard-oriented offense be able to shake free from what will certainly be many double-teams?
Edwards is feeling good about himself, following a 20-point effort against Milwaukee when he drained five of eight three-pointers. That would be a welcome addition for Nurse, who begs for his team to hunt threes.
"They bring a lot of challenges, but the main focus is just us and how we come out in that game," said Edwards of Orlando. "So we've just got to prepare for that game. I'm pretty sure that no one wants to play a road game. To have our fans come and support us I feel like that will be good for us. I feel good. This is my first time playing in the Play-In, so that was a good way to go to carry this on to the next game."
The Sixers will need all of it and from everyone, not just the guards.
"He's doing a good job, no doubt about it, and we needed it, too," said Nurse of Drummond after he posted 12 points and 13 rebounds off the bench on Sunday.
"Just a little bit of everything. I think the rebounding, always, is a big one. A couple good passes, some back cut passes, two of them at least. A good number of offensive rebounds, getting us some extra possessions. I know of the six of them [offensive rebounds], three of them he may have gotten his own shot, but he finished so it doesn't matter, as long as he doesn't leave until it's in the basket. Just pretty good solid play. And I thought defensively he started getting up pressuring the fives. They were wheeling and dealing, handing off to all those three-point shooters. He got up and played really aggressive in the second half, that's probably the best thing he did."
It's time for all to bring out their best if the Sixers want this time of the year to last much longer. Another challenge in a season that has been full of them.
Following the game on Sunday, it was reported then announced by the team that coach Doc Rivers was stepping down as head coach. The former Sixers lead man hinted before the game that age and grandchildren would play a big decision on what his move was going to be, and it didn't take long after his loss to the Sixers for it to become official.
The affable Rivers has pleasant memories of his time here, both on and off the court.
"My record was amazing when I was here, wins and loss-wise," he said of his 154-82 record here, with three playoff appearances. "I think when I took the job, the team had been swept in the first round and we won Eastern Conference in the regular season and were one game away from making it to the Eastern Finals, which was never my goal. My goal was to go deeper. Obviously, the history here hadn't been to the Eastern finals (since 2001) and that was the goal, but that's not the goal. The goal is to win it and that's what I hoped for. I really believe we were on the right track to do that, with health.
"I made friends here. I'm still a member of a golf club here. Because I like the people here. Last night, I had dinner at Philly Cricket with all the friends that I've made. If I'm never here, I would have never had that."
Rivers admitted he shot an 82 at Philadelphia Cricket Club on Saturday. He was here during the early start of Maxey's career, and can't help but notice how good he's gotten and how much better he's going to get.
"First of all, he's added muscle," Rivers said. "Maxey's gone from a quick little guard to a stocky, strong, quick guard. That was the No. 1 thing he had to do and he's done that. Secondly, he realized his speed and the ball pressure that he can apply to the ball. I think VJ really helps him, too, because now he has two guards and he knows him and the other guard can apply pressure. He improves every year. He's serious. Three-a-days in the summer. It's just there's very few people that put in the work as him so he naturally is going to improve."
With the Flyers playing home on Tuesday, the Sixers had to play Wednesday, though the league had scheduled the Play-In games to being on Tuesday. If the Sixers lose and have to play Friday, they'd probably begin their first round series in Detroit on Sunday... George chest bumped a fan after the man hit a half court shot to win $10,000 in Crypto Currency. The man was wearing a George jersey and the Sixers forward ran out of his team's huddle to find the winner... Longtime Sixers PA announcer Matt Cord called his final regular season games after 28 years behind the mic. He was bombarded with interviews and well-wishers all night long, though no acknowledgement by the team was given. Certainly, that will come at some other time... Game time for Wednesday's game is 7:30.
