No Dogs: Sixers embarrassed by the Spurs 131-91 in South Philly

Drew Smith
March 4, 2026
Sixers
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There is no good way to write about what happened at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Tuesday night, so let’s just call it what it was. The Sixers were beaten by 40 points at home by the San Antonio Spurs. Final score 131-91.

The Sixers trailed by as many as 49 points. Nick Nurse was burning two-way contract players in the second half. It was one of the most embarrassing performances this team has put together at home in recent memory and the injury news that came out of it made everything worse.

VJ Edgecombe, the best Sixer on the floor for most of the night before it happened, took a hard fall after being fouled by Carter Bryant on a three-point attempt with 0.2 seconds left in the first half. He hit the floor, grabbed his back, gutted through his three free throws, and was ruled out at halftime with lower back soreness.

A rookie who has been averaging 35.4 minutes per game, sixth most in the entire NBA and first among all rookies, now has a back injury to deal with going into the stretch run.

VJ Edgecombe exits early after getting jumped by Carter Bryant

VJ Edgecombe lands hard on his back after this contest by Carter Bryant. Will be curious to see if he plays in the second half with the Sixers down 25 at halftime. pic.twitter.com/sfEOPKmy0j
— Drew Peltzman (@dapeltz13) March 4, 2026

The most telling moment of the night was not the score. It was that not a single Sixers player stuck up for Edgecombe after he hit the floor.

Not one.

VJ Edgecombe has been carrying this team on his back all season and when he takes a hard foul that sends him to the floor, the response from his teammates was silence. That says everything about where this locker room is right now.

On the court it was a disaster from the opening possession. Victor Wembanyama blocked Andre Drummond on the first play of the game, swatted four shots in the first quarter alone, and finished with six blocks in 24 minutes.

The Sixers started 0-for-9 from the field. San Antonio opened on a 9-0 run. Dylan Harper, the second overall pick and reigning Western Conference Rookie of the Month, dropped 11 points in the first quarter on 4-of-5 shooting. The Spurs went on an extended run in the second quarter and led by 27 at the half.

Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 21 points. Devin Vassell had 22 for San Antonio. Dylan Harper finished with 22. Stephon Castle had 15 and 10 assists. The Spurs are 44-17 and they played like it.

Joel Embiid was out with his oblique strain. Kelly Oubre was out sick. The roster was thin. Those are real factors. But a 40-point loss at home where your teammates do not respond when a rookie who has been playing 35 minutes a night hits the floor hard is not something you can explain away with the injury report.