Increase in restraints for Pa. students with disabilities sparks concerns
The Sixers last season needed 15 games to notch three wins.
They’re three games into the 2025-26 season and have yet to lose.
The Sixers moved to 3-0 Monday night by earning a 136-124 victory over the Magic at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Kelly Oubre Jr. were all tremendous.
Maxey led the Sixers with 43 points and eight assists. Edgecombe had a great third game in the NBA, recording 26 points on 10-for-17 shooting and seven assists. Oubre posted 25 points and 10 rebounds.
Magic star Paolo Banchero scored 32 points.
The Sixers were down Joel Embiid (left knee injury management), Dominick Barlow (right elbow laceration), Paul George (left knee surgery recovery), Trendon Watford (left hamstring tightness) and Jared McCain (right thumb surgery recovery).
McCain put up jumpers after the Sixers’ morning shootaround. Head coach Nick Nurse said pregame that was McCain’s second time shooting since he suffered his right thumb injury. Nurse noted he still has further steps to take before returning, including practicing with contact.
The Sixers will finish their first back-to-back of the season on the road Tuesday night against the Wizards. Here are observations on their win over Orlando:
Frontcourt replacements
Jabari Walker and Adem Bona filled the starting frontcourt spots that Barlow and Embiid had taken in Saturday’s win over the Hornets.
Though he picked up two early fouls, Bona’s energy and rim protection were excellent in his first stint. Oubre sandwiched a block between Bona’s two first-quarter swats.
The 29-year-old wing was a major part of the Sixers’ strong start.
He played the whole first quarter and had nine points on 4-for-5 shooting, five rebounds, an assist and a steal. Oubre played hard and fast on both ends of the floor without treading into reckless territory. He helped the Sixers score the night’s first 10 fast-break points.
Guards keep delivering buckets
After Orlando went up 16-14 on a Banchero three-pointer, the Sixers responded with an 8-0 run. Edgecombe had five of those points and sunk a deep, tough jumper over Banchero late in the shot clock.
The Sixers’ guard trio of Edgecombe, Maxey and Quentin Grimes was very impressive in the first half against a high-level defense.
Maxey shot his way through a slow start, making 5 of 6 field goals after opening 2 for 8. Grimes let jumpers fly and provided much-needed offensive juice off the bench. He had the Sixers’ only bench points until Eric Gordon, playing his first minutes of the season, made a driving layup late in the second quarter.
Edgecombe stretched the Sixers’ lead to 67-52 with a nifty runner. He’s continued to display tons of offensive skill beyond pure athleticism — mature decision-making, confident outside shooting, varied finishing.
The No. 3 pick and Maxey posted 40 of the Sixers’ 72 first-half points. Adding in Grimes and Oubre, the tally was 67 of 72.
The Sixers’ main issue in the first half was fouling. The Magic attempted 23 free throws in under 18 minutes. Offensively, the Sixers seemed to do almost nothing wrong.
Holding the fort down in Maxey-less minutes
While the Sixers’ offense hit a lull during the third quarter, they still entered the fourth with the lead.
Justin Edwards made a timely three with 26.3 seconds left in the third. It appeared the Sixers would hold a 101-91 advantage after three periods, but Anthony Black made a very improbable, nearly full-court heave at the buzzer.
Maxey’s rarely rested over the Sixers’ first three games, but he obviously has to sit here and there. The Sixers began the fourth quarter with him on the bench.
The Maxey-less stint did not go badly.
Edgecombe fared well as the lead guard, feeding open teammates and also converting a leaner and a mid-range jumper. Gordon drilled two long-range shots. When Maxey checked back in at the 7:18 mark of the fourth, the Sixers had a five-point edge.
Orlando’s offense kept the points flowing. The Sixers’ lead dwindled to two points on a Black layup and Nurse called timeout. Andre Drummond subbed out and Bona came in at center.
Nurse had to make another sub when Grimes fouled out with 4:07 to go. Edwards closed the game and made important plays, drilling a mid-range jumper and contesting a Banchero miss.
Maxey was happy to ice the game and surge to his second 40-point night of the season. He buried a dagger three to lift the Sixers to a double-figure lead and extinguish any Orlando comeback hopes.
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.
