2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 10
VJ Edgecombe – 2
Andre Drummond – 2
Paul George – 1
Dom Barlow – 1
Adem Bona – 1
Justin Edwards – 1
Quentin Grimes – 1
Jared McCain – 1
Kelly Oubre Jr – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1
Stepping on the court back at home while riding a three-game winning streak, the Philadelphia 76ers took the lead into halftime, before the usual third-quarter woes reared their head in an eventual 112-108 defeat to Los Angeles. LeBron James turned back the clock
with 29 points on 12-of-17 shooting, and hit some huge shots to carry the Lakers across the finish line in the final minute and change. Luka Doncic had a ho-hum 31-point, 15-rebound, 11-assist masterclass. The Sixers definitely had their chances to come away with a win, and probably would have if Joel Embiid didn’t have an absolutely dreadful shooting night, but objectively speaking, it was at least a fun game to watch. They’ll have plenty of time to think about it as they don’t play again until Friday, but for now, let’s talk Bell Ringer.
Tyrese Maxey: 28 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 3 turnovers
Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Tyrese Maxey were all in the same class tonight, and honestly, that’s basically every night nowadays for the Sixers star guard. Tyrese had the outside shot working, draining 5-of-8 shots from behind the arc, with a couple coming off screens as an off-ball mover. He also roasted some Lakers off the dribble to convert scoop shots and floaters, and made advanced reads to find open teammates in the corners. Maxey’s defensive acumen continues to grow, as well, whether he was digging down to steal the ball from LeBron when his back was turned, or swiping the ball out of Luka’s hands from behind on a shot attempt. He’s doing it all in every phase of the game for the Sixers.
VJ Edgecombe: 15 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 turnover
The Baylor product keeps taking everything thrown his way and running with it. It was Edgecombe’s third straight game with multiple threes, and he’s at a rock-solid 36.7 percent on the season. He is creating off the dribble, both for himself and others, getting valuable backup point guard reps. All the holes in his scouting profile have already been answered two months particularly off-the-charts performance from VJ, but we’re at the point where 15 points and some good sides is a baseline night for a 20-year-old rookie.
Jared McCain: 8 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 0 turnovers
McCain had a terrific two-minute stretch in the second quarter where he feinted a dribble handoff with Embiid and knocked down a three, caught the defense back on its heels in transition for a lay-in, and came off a Joel screen to nail an off-the-dribble three. It was a flashback to the instant offense he provided last season. So it was definitely weird that he only saw three minutes and change in the second half, without any minutes in the third quarter as the usual sand ran through the hourglass on the Sixers’ lead. I know he isn’t the two-way force of the rest of the guard rotation, but Jared is looking more or less like his old self, so the usage, or lack thereof, is confusing.
