Thunder cruise past the ‘Process’ Sixers 118-102, but at least Justin Edwards was fun to watch

The Sixers essentially waved the white flag before tip-off Tuesday night, sitting Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George in the first leg of a back-to-back against the Thunder. Unsurprisingly, OKC took full advantage, coasting to a 118-102 victory that never felt competitive.

Justin Edwards?

But while the game itself was a wash, one bright spot emerged for Philadelphia: hometown kid Justin Edwards, who dropped 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the field, 4-of-9 from beyond the arc, to go along with six rebounds, four assists and a steal.  

Justin Edwards had himself a breakout game tonight against the Thunder. 📈

He finished with 25 PTS (career high), 6 REBS, 4 ASTS, 1 STL, 70.4 TS%, & 4 3PM.

Edwards looked extremely comfortable off the dribble, getting to his spots at a high rate, & scoring at all 3 levels. pic.twitter.com/SKeHR8gRLd

— Recruits Zone (Blake Smith) (@recruitszone) January 15, 2025

JDJ ➡️ J3DWARDS pic.twitter.com/ImgMiUE98Q

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 15, 2025

If you tuned in hoping for something, anything, to feel good about, Edwards answered the call. The 76ers are such a bummer these days but Edwards had no problem showing off an offensive arsenal that looked as polished as ever.

The 76ers, not like they had a choice, leaned on him heavily, running him off screens for catch-and-shoot threes, but it was his midrange game that really stood out. Turnarounds, pull-ups—you name it, Justin Edwards nailed it.

Edwards has been steadily making his case for a bigger role, and against the Thunder, he looked every bit the part of an NBA rotation player.

More Justin Edwards minutes moving forward. Good stuff.

Guerschon Yabusele still grinding…

The Sixers’ resident “Dancing Bear” was once again a model of energy and effort, giving the team a much-needed spark in an otherwise bleak game. Yabusele finished with 15 points, going 3-for-5 from beyond the arc, and threw his weight around on both ends of the floor.

THANK YOU YABU!! pic.twitter.com/BdW6HxeQhS

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 15, 2025

I feel for Yabusele. NBA return, thinking he’s going to be ballin’ with Embiid, PG, and Maxey every game, coincidentally playing the best basketball of his career, and yet the Sixers’ dysfunction continues to overshadow just how good his contributions to the team have been this year.

Whether he ends up as a trade asset or walks in free agency, it’s clear Yabusele deserves more than what this season has offered in return.

Boo the Product, Not the Players

The Sixers’ players on the floor Tuesday night didn’t deserve the boos they heard at times during the game. Guys like Edwards and Yabusele are playing their hearts out despite the circumstances. Hopefully, everyone was booing an organization that has made it painfully clear that putting a competitive product on the court isn’t a priority right now.

The Philadelphia 76ers’ handling of Joel Embiid and injuries, in general, has become a masterclass in confusion and frustration

76ers fans, for the most part, are smart and I think we are all very well aware that back-to-backs are tough, and player health matters. However, if you’re just going to punt on games and undermine the product, you’re also screwing over fans.

Every team has gone through injuries, including OKC but they still show up every night ready to win basketball games. Maybe it’s just the overall nightmare of a season but at times, it feels like Sixers decided it wasn’t worth the effort if they weren’t all healthy.

Whatever.

All I’m saying right now…is that at some point, the 76ers shouldn’t be be surprised when your fanbase stops showing up to games. Another night, another disappointment. But if Justin Edwards can keep this up and Guerschon Yabusele keeps battling, maybe there’s something worth sticking around for. Just don’t blame anyone who decides to sit out, too.

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