Key Takeaways: Sixers lose to Phoenix Suns 118-116 in heartbreaker
The Sixers kicked off their west coast trip last night with a gut-wrenching loss to the Phoenix Suns, falling 118-116 in a game that came down to the final seconds. It was a night filled with drama, frustration, and a bit of controversy, as the Sixers dropped to 1-5 on the season.
The last shot
With the shot clock off and the Sixers down two, George took control, calling for a screen and getting Grayson Allen on the switch.
George pulled up for a mid-range jumper, but it clanked off the rim. Philly wasn’t done yet, though. They snagged the offensive rebound, giving Tyrese Maxey one last chance to play hero on his birthday.
Maxey launched a three for the win, but the shot rimmed out as the buzzer sounded, sealing the Suns’ victory.
On the other side, Kevin Durant was a man on a mission. He dropped 35 points, with 15 of those coming in the fourth quarter. Durant’s dagger with 24 seconds left proved to be the difference-maker, pushing Phoenix to their fifth straight win.
Paul George’s 76ers debut
Paul George had a tough debut with the Sixers, and it wasn’t just about the missed shots. After the heartbreaking 118-116 loss to the Suns, George admitted to a crucial mental lapse in the game’s final moments.
With the Sixers down two, George created space with a slick stepback move on Grayson Allen and pulled up for what could have been a game-tying mid-range jumper. The shot rimmed out, leaving the Sixers just short of a comeback. But in the post-game, George revealed he misjudged the situation entirely.
“I thought we were down one,” George confessed, via NBC Sports Philadelphia. “When KD made that layup, I thought it put them up by one. If I had known we were down two, I would’ve gone for the three to try to win it.”
That’s a tough pill to swallow for a nine-time All-Star, especially in a game where every decision matters. Instead of potentially stealing a win, the Sixers are left lamenting what could have been—and George is owning up to his late-game misstep.
Tyrese Maxey’s birthday was ruined
Tyrese Maxey may have not gotten a win on his birthday, but he produced a team-high 32 points on 12-22 field shooting and 6-14 shooting from downtown.
Tyrese Maxey didn’t get the birthday win he deserved, but he sure made his presence felt. Maxey dropped a team-high 32 points, shooting an efficient 12-22 from the field and knocking down 6 of his 14 attempts from deep. The young guard was in attack mode all night, showing no fear as he torched the Suns’ defense.
Maxey had the Suns scrambling, punishing their drop coverage by raining threes and going right at switches—including a memorable and-one against none other than Kevin Durant. He played with a relentless energy that kept Philly in the game until the bitter end.
After weeks of a stagnant offense, seeing Maxey and Paul George take turns leading the charge was a welcome sight. Maxey’s aggressiveness and ability to create offense on his own are exactly what this team needs to shake off the early-season rust. Even in a loss, his performance gave Sixers fans something to smile about.
Guerschon Yabusele catches FIRE
Guerschon Yabusele was absolutely cooking against the Suns, and for a while, it looked like his hot shooting might just carry the Sixers to a much-needed win. Phoenix had other plans, though, rallying with a decisive 12-2 run to snatch the game late. Still, Yabusele’s performance was one of the biggest bright spots in an otherwise tough night.
The big man finished with a solid stat line: 19 points, 7 boards, and 6 dimes. He shot 6-of-14 from the field and was deadly from deep, hitting 5-of-11 from beyond the arc. Yabusele thrived in the pick-and-pop, consistently finding his rhythm and making the Suns pay for leaving him open.
Beyond the offense, his energy and athleticism on both ends of the floor were contagious. Yabusele’s hustle and versatility are turning heads, and he’s making a serious case to be the Sixers’ starting power forward when Joel Embiid gets back in the lineup. If he keeps this up, it’ll be hard for the coaching staff to overlook him.
For the Sixers, this one stings, especially with a chance to steal a win in a tough road environment. They’ll need to regroup quickly as their west coast swing continues. It’s early in the season, but the clock’s ticking on turning things around.
Luckily, it appears that Joel Embiid could return to the lineup as early as Wednesday night and we’ll finally get to see the Big 3 on the court at the same time.
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