TITLE: Injury-Thinned 76ers Stay Unbeaten as Maxey Leads Surge; Grimes Adjusts to Bench, McCain Nears Return
SLUG: sixers-keep-perfect-record-maxey-grimes-mccain-updates
CONTENT:
PHILADELPHIA — Even without several key players, the Philadelphia 76ers extended their perfect start by defeating the Orlando Magic on Monday night. The victory leaves Philadelphia as one of four NBA teams yet to lose this season.
Head coach Nick Nurse managed the win without Joel Embiid, who sat out for left knee injury management, and forward Dominick Barlow, sidelined after a procedure to treat a lacerated left elbow. Paul George, Jared McCain and Trendon Watford have yet to appear in a game this year.
Patchwork lineup delivers
Nurse turned to a reworked rotation that included forward Jabari Walker’s first start of the season. Walker logged four points, five rebounds and one block in 14 minutes. Veteran guard Eric Gordon and rookie Hunter Sallis also saw their first action of 2025-26.
Historic production from the backcourt
Tyrese Maxey and rookie VJ Edgecombe have combined for 186 points through three games, the highest total by any starting backcourt since the NBA began tracking starters in 1970-71, according to the team. Maxey poured in 43 points Monday and leads the league at 37.0 points per game, drawing MVP chants from the home crowd.
“I’m just trying to close games out,” Maxey said, noting that Embiid has pushed him to handle end-game possessions more frequently.
Grimes embraces reserve role
After a summer stalemate that ended with him signing his qualifying offer, Quentin Grimes has transitioned to a sixth-man role. The guard followed a 24-point outing against Charlotte on Saturday with 14 points off the bench Monday.
“I know I’m going to get starter’s minutes,” Grimes said. “I just get the opportunity to play my game and help the team win. We’ve got a lot of versatility, so it’ll work itself out.”
McCain progressing from thumb surgery
Second-year guard Jared McCain, recovering from right-thumb surgery, no longer wears a splint and impressed teammates with a post-shootaround shooting session Monday. Nurse cautioned that McCain must complete several full-contact practices before activation but expects him to join Maxey, Edgecombe and Grimes in the guard rotation once cleared.
Source: Hoops Rumors
