76ers Memphis Recap Joel Embiid

76ers lose in Memphis 117-111, fall to a miserable 2-12 on the season

Welp, the Philadelphia 76ers dropped another one tonight in Memphis, falling 117-111 to a shorthanded Grizzlies squad.

It’s was game that perfectly summed up the mess this season has become for the 76ers, who are now 2-12 on the season and sit in dead last in the NBA standings.

While it already felt like rock bottom after Miami earlier this week, this team keeps finding new ways to dig themselves deeper into the ground.

The Philadelphia 76ers “Big 3” Make Their Season Debut:

Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George finally shared the court—for a little while, anyway.

George limped off in the third quarter after hyperextending the same knee he tweaked in the preseason. Nick Nurse said after the game that George could’ve come back in but decided to sit out due to “tightness.”

It’s the kind of injury update that doesn’t sound serious but feels ominous, especially for a team that can’t seem to stay healthy and fails time and time again to provide any sliver of insight into their player’s injuries.

The Return of Tyrese Maxey:

Maxey was back after missing time but clearly wasn’t himself. On a minutes restriction, he struggled in his 20 minutes, shooting 3-of-13 from the field and missing all six of his three-point attempts.

Normally, you’d just call it rust and move on, but with this team’s dreadful start, every misstep feels like a disaster.

Joel Embiid actually looked good?

Joel Embiid finally delivered a performance that reminded everyone why he’s the best big man in the league. He dropped 35 points with 11 rebounds, hit all 14 of his free throws, and looked comfortable for the first time all season.

The 76ers even rediscovered some pick-and-roll magic, getting Embiid the ball at the nail, where he feasted. It’s hard not to wonder why it’s taken this long for them to consistently put him in his comfort zone, but at least they figured it out for one night.

Jared McCain was a bright spot yet again, stepping into the starting point guard role and dropping 20 points with five assists. Nurse confirmed he’ll keep that role moving forward, which makes sense given how steady he’s been despite the chaos around him.

Caleb Martin was also a defensive standout with three blocks and a steal. Offensively, he only managed two points, but he played like someone who cared, fighting for loose balls and giving the kind of effort this team desperately needs.

Then there’s Guerschon Yabusele, who was lights-out from deep, hitting 5-of-6 from beyond the arc. Somehow, he only played 19 minutes, which is baffling for a team that’s starving for shooting. It’s hard to figure out what Nick Nurse is thinking when decisions like this keep happening.

Meanwhile, Andre Drummond got extended minutes and was completely exposed defensively. Memphis rained down 19 threes, and Drummond couldn’t close out or defend in space.

Paul George, before exiting with the knee issue, continued to struggle. He couldn’t get any separation, and his shot selection reflected that—contested turnarounds and smothered step-backs. If he can’t start creating easier looks, his shooting struggles won’t be going away anytime soon.

And then there’s Joel. Look, the Embiid flopping narrative has always been overblown, but he’s not making it easy to defend lately. Tonight’s attempt to trip over Jaren Jackson Jr. for a call was embarrassing. While he’s trying to get his body back to 100%, it’d be nice to see him stay on his feet a little more.

At 2-12, the 76ers are running out of excuses. Embiid finally looked like himself, and McCain continues to shine, but the injuries, bad rotations, and overall lack of execution are killing this team. Sunday’s game feels like another must-win—not that there’s much room left for anything else.

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