The Philadelphia 76ers seem to be facing an uphill battle, and Joel Embiid’s presence alone isn’t enough to steer them back to their former glory. The return of their franchise star just before tip-off sparked excitement among fans, but the optimism was short-lived. The Sixers squandered a hefty 19-point lead, leading them to tie with the Washington Wizards for the NBA’s worst record at 2-11. Joel Embiid, the team’s cornerstone, acknowledged the need for improvement across the board, including his own role in their struggles.
Despite the presence of their stars, including Jared McCain, who kept his scoring streak alive by putting up 20 points for the fifth consecutive game, the Sixers fell short. Paul George also added 18 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. Joel Embiid himself managed only 11 points on 5-of-11 shooting, along with 8 rebounds and 5 assists—far below the expectations fans had for the MVP.
While addressing the media after the game, Embiid said, “We know where we’re at, and we know we got to do better. We sure will. It is unacceptable and something is gonna be done about it.” His tone was one of determination, but he also took a subtle jab at the referees, adding, “I don’t know. I took zero free throws. That must be a first.” Though it wasn’t actually the first—the last occurrence was back in 2018—the comment clearly hinted at frustration. The referees awarded Miami 11 more free throw attempts, and Embiid wasn’t shy about suggesting a disparity.
What Went Wrong for Joel Embiid and Co.?
After halftime, the 76ers completely stalled, shooting only 32.4% from the field and managing just 33 points in the entire second half while Miami racked up 53 points to secure the win. What started as a promising game, with stars like Embiid and George leading the way, quickly turned into a familiar story of complacency and lack of aggression. After building up a 19-point lead, the Sixers seemed content to sit back rather than press forward.
The third quarter exposed the team’s greatest weakness: they could not handle pressure. In just 12 minutes, the Heat outscored Philadelphia by 19 points, an all-too-familiar trend that’s been haunting the team this season. A foul by Eric Gordon on Tyler Herro’s three-point attempt, followed by a turnover from Jeff Dowtin Jr. leading to an easy Herro layup, highlighted the unraveling of their game plan.
Where Do the Sixers Go From Here?
The fourth quarter turned into a mere formality. The Sixers couldn’t recover, and the outcome was never in doubt—the Heat were simply too dominant. To make matters worse, there were no notable positives for Philadelphia to take away from this game, signaling a deeper issue. Following the loss, the Sixers reportedly held a closed-door meeting that lasted over an hour, which suggests some tough conversations were had. Though the details are scarce, it’s clear the coaches are urging the players to dig deeper and find ways to shift the momentum before their season slips away entirely.
