No rest for the weary — the Philadelphia 76ers are back in action to host the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night.
This is the second leg of a back-to-back for the Sixers, their sixth already of the 2025-26
season. A reminder that they have a league-leading 16 back-to-backs (tied with four other teams) this campaign. So far, they are 3-2 in games on zero days rest.
On Friday night, the Sixers took down the recently-crowned NBA Cup champion New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden 116-107. Tyrese Maxey was back in the lineup for Philly after missing two games due to illness and certainly seemed to be feeling better, putting up a floor-leading 30 points with nine assists. Rookie VJ Edgecombe shined in the New York City lights as well, coming alive in the second half where he scored 18 points and was absolutely clutch when the Sixers needed it (yet again). He put up 23 total points on 10-for-18 field goal shooting (3-for-6 from long range) and had some incredibly impressive defensive moments guarding Jalen Brunson. For more on Friday’s game, check out our recap here and vote for the Bell Ringer here.
Joel Embiid was notably sidelined for Friday’s contest, first listed as questionable with an illness before being downgraded to out for illness AND right knee injury management. The Philly Voice’s Adam Aaronson posted pregame on Friday evening that Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said both issues were a factor in Embiid missing the game, but that he didn’t think anything new had happened to the right knee.
You all might know the drill by now for back-to-backs: no injury report for Philadelphia until this afternoon. With Embiid having not played last night, there is a chance he could feature in Saturday’s contest depending on how he is recovering from that illness and right knee management. Paul George did play on Friday and has notably not played on zero days rest yet this season, so that may mean he is sidelined today. For now, we wait and we will bring you all Sixers’ injury report news as it becomes available.
For this one, the Sixers return home to South Philadelphia to host a Mavericks team that, despite still trying to find its footing as a squad after an eventful past 10 months, has won six of their last eight contests. The pieces seem to be starting to come together a bit for Dallas. No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg has looked like… well, a bona fide No. 1 overall pick as of late as well, averaging 25.4 points on 52.4% field goal shooting with 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.3 blocks per game in that stint. In Dallas’ most recent game, an overtime win over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night, Flagg put up 23-point, 10-rebound double-double — his fourth of the season. The game prior to that, he put up a young career-high of 42 points in an overtime loss to the Utah Jazz.
NBA-veteran Anthony Davis has been back in the lineup for the Mavericks as of late after missing the majority of November with a left calf strain, playing in seven of the last nine Dallas contests. In that time since returning, the 10-time All-Star is averaging 18.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 1.0 steal and 2.1 blocks in 30.3 minutes per game. As of Saturday morning, Davis is listed as probable to take on the Sixers due to illness.
Other Dallas injury report mentions includes Klay Thompson, listed as questionable due to left knee soreness. Kyrie Irving (knee surgery) is sidelined indefinitely and Dereck Lively II’s season is over after it was announced earlier this month he would have foot surgery.
Some other players that have been stepping up for the Mavericks include P.J. Washington, who has somewhat-quietly been the most consistent player they’ve had this season. The 27-year-old is averaging 16.0 points and 7.9 rebounds per night, failing to score in the double-digits in just four of his 23 contests played so far this campaign. He’s notched three points-rebounds double-doubles in that time and is a constant defensive threat, featuring a 7-foot-3 wingspan. Naji Marshall has also been thriving as of late in his new starting role, averaging 15.8 points on 6.3-for-9.9 field goal shooting over the last eight games.
Nothing is a walk in the park on zero rest as it is, but this Mavericks squad is hungry to keep finding wins however they can and they’ll look to take advantage of a tired Sixers’ team to try to make it happen.
The Sixers and Mavericks tip off at 7 p.m.
Game Details
When: Saturday, December 20, 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers
