We’d have to go back to the offseason of 2024 for the last time vibes were this high surrounding the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers have won consecutive games in the final minute to open the season 2-0
for the first time in five years. Third overall pick VJ Edgecombe has had a historic start to his rookie season. Quentin Grimes seems happy following the tragically long and ultimately fruitless end to Restricted Free Agency Decision 2025. Even Andre Drummond looks rejuvenated and productive.
Naturally, then, we were due for a fly in the punch bowl. The Sixers released the injury report for tonight’s game against the Orlando Magic, and Joel Embiid is out due to load management. Now, we were fully aware Joel is not going to play both ends of any back-to-backs this season, but seeing the first DNP of the season still hits a little bit regardless. Dominick Barlow having his elbow cut so badly that it requires a procedure and multiple games on the sidelines is also a Very Sixers Injury. Plus, it would be nice to see hints of a Paul George season debut, but it’s better than the team rushing him back to action before that knee is 100 percent, I suppose.
Let’s focus on the positives then. Tyrese Maxey looks to be back on an All-Star, maybe All-NBA, trajectory after a step back last season. Edgecombe followed up his epic 34-point debut with eight assists in the win over Charlotte. Both his playmaking and mid-range scoring game have looked much better than advertised in the scouting report. VJ definitely looks like a guy benefiting from the increased spacing of the NBA game. The Sixers look set in the backcourt for years to come, and we haven’t even seen Jared McCain yet this season.
On the opposing sideline, the Orlando Magic were every other podcaster’s “watch for them to maybe come out of the East” dark horse pick in the wake of the trade for Desmond Bane. They’ve started the season 1-2, with a win over Miami and losses to Atlanta and Chicago. Bane is currently third on the team in scoring at 17.3 points per game, behind the Franz Wagner-Paolo Banchero star duo. He’s only shooting 26.7 percent from three over the small sample size; once that normalizes to career numbers, the Magic could be looking at three players averaging around 20 points per game. Unlike the Sixers, the Magic enter tonight’s contest relatively healthy, with only Mo Wagner (torn ACL recovery) listed on the injury report.
Philadelphia is listed as 4.5-point underdogs for tonight’s game, per FanDuel, which makes sense, considering the Sixers are much more shorthanded and the Magic were projected to be the better team coming into the season. But the Sixers have shown a fighting mentality in the early going this season, and I’m excited to see what they have in store for us this evening. No matter what, it’s just nice to be looking forward to Sixers basketball again.
Game Details
When: Monday, October 27, 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers
