Sixers beat Bucks 127-116 to improve to 3-0, host Pistons tonight

The Sixers are 3-0 after a 127-116 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena, and they got there without LeBron James.

James was ruled out with lower back and sciatica management on the first night of a back-to-back. The Sixers did not need him. Joel Embiid had a triple-double with 28 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Jaylen Brown scored 27 on his 30th birthday. Tyrese Maxey added 26.

Sixers Recap: Embiid Runs the Offense Without LeBron

🚨 PHILADELPHIA 76ERS HISTORY

For just the SECOND time since 1971, three 76ers players have scored 25+ points in the same game, with one recording a triple-double.

This team is generational 🔥 pic.twitter.com/HZMm5rwEWy

— Novig (@Novig) October 25, 2026

>> Shop 76ers Gear Here

Embiid clinched his own triple-double with a pass to Brown for a three that made it 120-114. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope followed with a three off a turnover for a nine-point lead, and that ended Milwaukee’s push.

Maxey played more as a table-setter with James out. He still ended the first quarter with a half-court buzzer-beater and the third quarter with a fadeaway jumper for a 10-point lead. VJ Edgecombe added 17 points, 13 rebounds, two steals and a block. Dean Wade made his 76ers debut.

The Sixers shot 40.8% from the field and hit 19 of 44 from three. Embiid went 12 of 14 at the line. They had no fast break points until late in the second quarter and finished with 13.

Milwaukee made it a game. The Bucks led 40-37 in the second quarter and grabbed 17 offensive rebounds for 20 second-chance points. Jaime Jaquez Jr. led them with 21 points, and Kyle Kuzma had 14 points and 12 rebounds. The Bucks are 0-3. The Sixers also got another rough stretch from Adem Bona.

Sixers vs. Pistons Preview: Second Night of a Back-to-Back

The Sixers host the Detroit Pistons tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET. Detroit is 2-0 after a 60-22 season that ended in a Game 7 loss to Cleveland. Philadelphia is first in the East at 3-0.

Availability decides this one. Embiid is a game-time decision listed for rest, and he said after Thursday’s win over Cleveland that he was told he would not play both games of the back-to-back. James was out last night, but may come back for Sunday’s contest, it’s still up in the air. Jabari Walker is a game-time decision. Dominick Barlow, Tacko Fall and Ariel Hukporti are out. Detroit will be without Jalen Duren, and Ausar Thompson is questionable.

If Embiid and James both sit, Maxey, Brown and Edgecombe have to carry the Sixers against a bigger Detroit team. Fox lists the Sixers as 2.5-point favorites with a total of 226.5.

Three wins is a good start. Tonight shows what the Sixers look like on the second night of a back-to-back with a thinned roster.