Sixers Joel Embiid Tyrese Maxey

Sixers make quick work of the shorthanded Brooklyn Nets, 123-94: Embiid dominates, Maxey struggles, Justin Edwards impresses

The Sixers handled business against the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night, cruising to a comfortable 123-94 victory. With Brooklyn missing key pieces and fielding a lineup that felt more G-League than NBA, this was never going to be a fair fight. But hey, you still have to show up and take care of business—and the Sixers did just that.

Game Highlights: Sixers 123. Nets 94.

Joel Embiid Sets the Tone (and Gets a Technical)

Joel Embiid wasted no time making his presence felt, though not in the most productive way. He picked up an early technical foul after tussling with a much smaller Nets player, refusing to let go well after the whistle. Classic.

But after that moment of unnecessary drama? Total domination.

JOEL EMBIID: 28 PTS | 12 REB | 6 AST

Embiid went straight to work, obliterating the Nets’ frontcourt with a mix of deep post touches, easy pick-and-roll finishes, and his usual parade to the free-throw line. Brooklyn threw Nic Claxton, Noah Clowney, and Day’Ron Sharpe at him, but none of them had a prayer.

Embiid’s rebounding also stood out. He grabbed nine boards by halftime, building on an improved effort in that department from earlier in the week.

When Embiid is locked in on the glass, it changes everything for the Sixers defensively. Sure, it helps to pair him with a competent front court partner, but Saturday’s performance was all about Embiid deciding to take control.

When Embiid shows this level of focus against a bad opponent, it’s a good sign. He didn’t coast, and the Sixers avoided turning a blowout into an unnecessary nail-biter.

Caleb Martin Heating Up…

If you expected Caleb Martin to be the offensive spark on a night when Tyrese Maxey struggled, congrats on your clairvoyance. Martin lit up the Nets for 17 points in the first half, keeping the Sixers rolling while Brooklyn tried to hang around.

Martin’s jumper might not win any beauty contests—it’s got a funky hitch that makes you wonder how it goes in at all—but it was falling on Saturday, and that’s all that matters. He even chipped in a few buckets off smart baseline cuts, capitalizing on the attention Embiid draws in the post.

The Sixers suddenly have depth at the wing, a massive improvement from the start of the season. Between Martin, Kelly Oubre, and Guerschon Yabusele, head coach Nick Nurse has options to mix and match based on matchups.

The Justin Edwards Interview:

Justin Edwards got extended minutes and showed why the Sixers might want to give him more opportunities. The rookie wing played within himself, hitting three corner threes and flashing a nice half-spin move for a bucket at the rim.

Defensively, he’s still figuring things out, but that’s to be expected. The important part was his composure—Edwards didn’t try to do too much, and his off-ball movement created easy scoring opportunities.

Just to tap myself on the back real quick, I called Justin Edwards getting a look. You’re welcome. Justin Edwards continues G League dominance, drops game-high 30 points in Blue Coats victory over the Nets

If you’re Ricky Council IV, you have to be feeling the heat. Edwards looks more comfortable in his role, and with some softer games on the schedule, now’s the time to see what the rookie can do before the competition ramps up.

Tyrese Maxey’s “Rough Patch” Continues

Tyrese Maxey has been on a roller coaster to start 2025, and Saturday was another low point. While his stat line looked fine by the end, most of it came in garbage time, long after the outcome was decided.

The bigger issue was Maxey’s decision-making—or lack thereof. He drove into traffic repeatedly, missing open teammates for easy kickouts. Worse, his habit of complaining to officials reared its head again. At one point, Maxey was visibly upset mid-play, and even after earning an and-one call, he continued jawing at the refs.

Maxey has all the talent in the world, but his tunnel vision and focus on officiating have become recurring problems. If the Sixers want to make a deep playoff run, Maxey needs to clean this up and regain the composure that made him so electric last season but at the same time, watching him and Embiid work the two-man game was beautiful.

Sixers-Nets Game Notes:

  • Paul George: Quiet night, but that’s fine in a blowout. Not every game needs to be a masterpiece.
  • Kyle Lowry: Back to the bench where he belongs. This doesn’t need any further commentary.
  • Bench Energy: Blowouts are good for team morale, and the Sixers’ bench brought plenty of it. Justin Edwards and K.J. Martin added some spark, and even the end-of-bench guys looked ready to contribute.

The Nets didn’t have much of a roster to put up a fight, so this game won’t tell us much about the Sixers’ long-term prospects. But a blowout win is always better than the alternative, and Joel Embiid leading the way with focus and intensity is a positive sign.

With a manageable schedule ahead, the Sixers have an opportunity to build some momentum before the grind of the season picks up again. For now, they’ll take the win and look to keep improving.

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