Bell Ringer Standings:
VJ Edgecombe – 1
The Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks closed the curtains in Abu Dhabi following their Saturday matinee matchup.
As the city of Philadelphia gears up for Red October,
the 76ers continue to prepare for their 2025-26 campaign. On the heels of a 3-for-35 shooting night from deep on Thursday, the squad continued to struggle shooting in the first half on Saturday. At the break, the Sixers were shooting 25% from three (3-of-12), and 36% from the field (11-of-30).
The Knicks’ defense made it difficult for the Sixers in the first half, with Mitchell Robinson manning the interior and the combination of OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges on the perimeter. Barring injuries, they should have one of the best defenses in the league this season. Once the starters were taken out in the second half, the game tightened up, but the Knicks outlasted the Sixers, winning 113- 104.
Tyrese Maxey was pulled at halftime for rest, so it will be interesting to see if or when he will play again before opening night. Their next preseason matchup is Friday against the Orlando Magic, then a week later on Oct. 17 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
For now, let’s find a Bell Ringer.
VJ Edgecombe: 8 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound, 1 block
Edgecombe appears to be getting more comfortable with every minute he plays on the floor. Benefitting from NBA-level floor spacing, he is seeing more opportunities to create shots for himself and others. He was trusted with running the offense in the third quarter after Maxey hit the bench, where they would outscore the Knicks 28-23.
He did not shoot at an efficient clip, but his pacing was sound and controlled for a rookie playing his first real NBA competition. He was poised in the halfcourt when needed, but has a flip of the switch ability to power his way on drives or make an athletic play in transition.
Early on, we saw good off-ball movement in some actions with Maxey. He shows no hesitancy to finish at the rim.
Edgecombe’s defensive ability came as no surprise as he swatted a Jordan Clarkson layup attempt to the Persian Gulf.
Another good sign for Edgecombe is that he was taken out of the game after the third quarter in a close game, lending itself to a valuable role in the rotation heading into the regular season. Despite a lackluster box score, the rookie’s intangibles were on full display Saturday.
Tyrese Maxey: 16 points, 2 assists 2 rebounds, 1 steal
Maxey looked fast, decisive and completely in charge of the Sixers’ offense when on the court. His handles and shot-making are in midseason form already.
The jump shot looks very smooth, and he continues to attack the paint at the right moments, and utilizing his speed to turn the corner. For moments in the first half, Maxey looked like the best player on the floor.
It should be noted he struggled at times defending Jalen Brunson, who was able to effectively use his craftiness to create shots. Outside of that, Maxey had a veteran performance in unfamiliar territory.
