Sixers Fall to Clippers Without Embiid and George

The Philadelphia 76ers’ hopes of extending their early-season success were dashed Sunday  night in a 125-99 blowout loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Playing without Joel Embiid (left knee swelling), Paul George (left knee bone bruise), and Kyle Lowry (right hip strain), the Sixers struggled to keep pace with the Clippers, who were also missing key players, including Kawhi Leonard (right knee injury recovery) and Norman Powell (left hamstring strain). Despite strong performances from Tyrese Maxey (17 points) and rookie Jared McCain (18 points), the Sixers couldn’t recover from a disastrous start, falling to a 3-13 record.

Sixers Dig Themselves into a Hole Early

The Sixers’ game got off to a dreadful start. Using the same lineup that defeated the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, which included Kelly Oubre Jr., Caleb Martin, and Guerschon Yabusele alongside Maxey and McCain, the team quickly found itself in a double-digit deficit. The Clippers  dominated  the boards early, especially with put-back layups from Ivica Zubac and Derrick Jones Jr., leading to a 9-0 run in the opening minutes. The Sixers were quickly undersized, allowing nine second-chance points in the first six minutes.

Compounding the issue, the Sixers’ shooting woes  from beyond the arc were evident as they missed eight of their first nine three-point attempts. Miscommunications also led to illegal ball screen calls from Yabusele  and Andre Drummond, adding to the frustration. On the defensive end, the Clippers easily exploited the Sixers’ pick-and-roll defense, with James Harden scoring 12 first-quarter points, including a pull-up three that extended the Clippers’ lead to 32-13.

Struggles for Maxey and McCain

The promising Maxey-McCain backcourt duo, which had shown flashes of brilliance in previous games, failed to ignite against the Clippers. McCain’s streak of seven consecutive games with 20+ points ended as he struggled with his shot, finishing 1-for-8 in the second quarter alone. At times, McCain hesitated and seemed out of rhythm, failing  to create the same level of impact he had in previous contests.

Maxey, still recovering from a right hamstring strain, also struggled in the first half, starting the game 1-for-5 and failing to score in the opening quarter. His 30 minutes on the court were a mixed bag, and while he showed some life in the second half, it was clear the team was already too far behind to make a meaningful comeback.

No Late Push for the Sixers

Although the Sixers tried to shift momentum in the second quarter by switching  to a zone  defense, the Clippers continued to outplay them across all areas. The Sixers entered halftime down by 12 points, and things only worsened  in the third quarter. Maxey tweaked his right ankle after missing a layup but continued to play. However, the Clippers extended their lead to 20 points thanks to Harden’s free throws and a fast-break layup by Kris Dunn. The home crowd grew restless, and boos echoed through Wells Fargo Center as the Clippers built a commanding 30-point lead.

The Sixers showed brief flashes of life late in the third and early in the fourth, with Maxey and McCain providing some scoring, but the game was well out of reach. By the fourth quarter, the Clippers had empty  their bench, and two-way players like Adem Bona, Lester Quinones, and Justin Edwards saw action. Meanwhile, the G League’s Delaware Blue Coats were busy securing a victory over the Westchester Knicks.

Looking Ahead

With their blowout loss to the Clippers, the Sixers will need to regroup  quickly as they prepare for their next game against the 12-6 Houston Rockets on Wednesday. The ongoing absences of Embiid, George, and Lowry continue to pose challenges, but the Sixers will need to find ways to stay competitive while their stars recover from injury.