2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 19
Joel Embiid – 8
VJ Edgecombe – 7
Paul George – 6
Dominick Barlow – 2
Andre Drummond – 2
Jared McCain :’( – 2
Adem Bona – 1
Justin Edwards – 1
Quentin Grimes – 1
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1
The Sixers are back in the win column after a 109-103 victory over the Phoenix Suns in the desert.
VJ Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid all sported matching headbands for the contest, a rare occurrence, especially for the All-Star
guard.
It was a very slow start to this one, as both teams struggled to find the bottom of the net. The Sixers began to pick their offense up in the second quarter, going on a huge run to garner a respectable lead heading into the halftime break.
Once again, they ran into the third quarter wall and the Suns began to pull closer. In the fourth, the Suns would pull to within five, but not enough to withstand the strong performances we saw from our Bell Ringer nominees.
Tyrese Maxey: 29 points, 8-of-21 FG, 3-of-10 3PT, 10-of-11 FT, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal
Maxey once again did not have his most efficient shooting night out West, but there were many pivotal moments that aided the Sixers victory.
His work in the first half took place mainly on the right baseline, finding different angles to drain midrange and fadeaway jumpers. The broadcast revealed his parents were courtside in seats near that baseline, as he pointed to them after the buckets. His speed and decision making were on full display, while mixing in effective ball-handling to open up easy drive opportunities.
His playmaking continues to be a plus during a tough shooting stretch from deep. He had multiple outlet passes against the Suns that led to very easy buckets in transition.
In the fourth he hit a huge step back three, his second of the game, to bury the Suns and force them to resort to fouling.
Joel Embiid: 33 points, 9-of-19 FG, 4-of-7 3PT, 11-of-13 FT, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block
Embiid was a dominant force from the midrange. The Suns decided to not double team him, and lived with the consequences of either a made shot or foul committed. His persistence in his approach got into the Suns heads quickly, leading to a chatter-filled second half.
As long as the Suns kept manning him up, he kept cooking and shooting over whoever was guarding him. He would also add a flurry of threes into his offensive attack, including a big one in the fourth quarter to help extend the Sixers lead back into double digits.
Kelly Oubre Jr.: 18 points, 6-of-14 FG, 3-of-7 3PT, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Oubre Jr. was a much needed third option offensively as VJ Edgecombe had gotten into foul trouble early. He kicked off scoring with a three and helped pick the Sixers scoring up in the second with this highlight dunk:
His defensive presence kept the Sixers in phase with the riled up Suns, still finding composure when they needed it most. After a Suns run in the third, Oubre finished a silky lefty layup to help stem the tide. His play today can make fans feel more comfortable during Paul George’s suspension — though he did have a couple silly fouls late.
Trendon Watford: 6 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks
Watford, along with Oubre, played the glue-guy positions to a tee. Where Oubre was focused on shooting, Watford’s impact was his playmaking. He found multiple shooters after drives, and had a creative possession after setting a screen for Embiid on the elbow. Worth a watch if you missed the game, as more offense like this could be on the horizon.
His energy in the fourth quarter was crucial in keeping the Sixers ahead through relentless defense from the Suns, making multiple plays in a row with the ball in his hand.
