Red Storm

The Philadelphia 76ers have lived in the shadow of &ldquo;what if&rdquo; for far too long. What if Joel Embiid had been healthy all along after all these years? What if the roster had held together when it mattered most? What if the Sixers had caught a break in a wide-open East?
Heading into the 2025-26 season, those questions remain, but there is also renewed belief. Philadelphia has retooled its roster with a mix of established veterans and rising stars. The blueprint is simple: keep their core healthy, and the Sixers will once again be among the conference&rsquo;s most dangerous teams.
The Embiid factor
It all starts with Joel Embiid.
When healthy, the 2023 MVP remains one of the most dominant players in basketball. A 7-foot force who blends power, touch, and skill in ways few big men in history ever have, Embiid can take over a game from the post, the midrange, or even beyond the arc. He can anchor an elite defense with rim protection and physicality, while also functioning as the fulcrum of the offense.
At his best, Embiid isn&rsquo;t just a top-5 player in the league. He&rsquo;s arguably top-3, the kind of singular star who can tilt playoff series on his own. But the caveat has always been health. Time and again, Embiid&rsquo;s postseason runs have been cut short by injuries, leaving Philadelphia to wonder how far they could have gone at full strength.
The Sixers&rsquo; entire trajectory hinges on Embiid&rsquo;s body holding up. If he can stay on the floor, they&rsquo;re contenders. If not, they risk fading into the middle of the pack in an unforgiving Eastern Conference.
The co-stars and the role players
For years, the Sixers searched for the right running mate for Embiid. After experiments with James Harden, Ben Simmons, and Jimmy Butler, they may have finally found the answer in Tyrese Maxey.
The 24-year-old guard has blossomed into an All-Star caliber player, one of the league&rsquo;s most explosive scoring guards with blinding speed and an ever-improving jumper. Two seasons ago, he averaged career-best numbers and announced himself as Philadelphia&rsquo;s backcourt centerpiece. Injuries slowed him briefly, but now, fully healthy, Maxey is poised to build on that success.
Maxey&rsquo;s ability to create his own shot and stretch defenses makes him the perfect complement to Embiid. When defenses collapse on the big man, Maxey thrives in attacking closeouts or pulling up from deep. If both stay healthy, they give the Sixers one of the best inside-out duos in the NBA.
And make no mistake: if Philadelphia is to make noise this season, Maxey will need to not just support Embiid but shoulder stretches as the lead option, particularly in moments when the big man rests.
The Sixers made one of the offseason&rsquo;s splashiest moves by adding Paul George. At 35, George is no longer in his prime, but he doesn&rsquo;t have to be. In fact, his age and experience could make him a perfect fit.
Rather than being asked to carry a team, George can settle into the role of one of the league&rsquo;s best third options. Behind Embiid and Maxey, he provides spacing, secondary playmaking, and the ability to guard multiple positions. On nights when Maxey is off or Embiid is limited, George still has the scoring chops to step into a larger role.
If he embraces this shift and stays healthy, he could be one of the most valuable veterans in the league &ndash; the kind of player who wins playoff games with savvy, shot-making, and timely defense.
Last season, rookie guard Jared McCain gave Philadelphia fans a glimpse of the future. His confidence, shooting, and poise belied his age, and he quickly earned rotation minutes. Unfortunately, an injury cut his promising campaign short.
Now, as he works his way back from another minor setback, McCain remains an X-factor for the Sixers. If he can replicate and build on what he showed last year, Philadelphia suddenly has a young spark who can keep defenses honest and provide much-needed floor spacing.
For a team often plagued by a lack of reliable shooting in the postseason, McCain&rsquo;s development could quietly swing a series.
The bigger picture ahead
The Sixers&rsquo; fate doesn&rsquo;t exist in a vacuum. The Eastern Conference landscape has shifted. The Knicks are loaded and ready to chase a title, Milwaukee still has Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Miami continues to hang around.
In this environment, Philadelphia&rsquo;s margin for error is slim. They don&rsquo;t need to be perfect &ndash; but they do need to be healthy.
With Embiid at his peak, Maxey rising, and George easing into a defined role, the Sixers have enough firepower to contend with anyone. Add a deep rotation, a hungry young guard in McCain, some role player caveats in Kelly Oubre, rookie VJ Edgecombe, Justin Edwards, Trendon Watford, among others, and a coaching staff that knows the stakes, and the recipe for success is there.
But again, it circles back to health. That word has become synonymous with the Embiid era in Philadelphia. Each season feels like a battle against the clock, with fans waiting to see if their star center can withstand the grind of an 82-game season and beyond.
For Philadelphia, the 2025-26 season isn&rsquo;t about the &lsquo;Process&rsquo; anymore. It&rsquo;s about answers.
Can Embiid stay on the floor and finally deliver a postseason run worthy of his talent? Can Maxey take another leap into true superstardom? Can George flourish in his role and become the third piece that pushes the Sixers over the top? Can McCain provide that youthful burst the rotation needs?
If the answer is yes to enough of those questions, the Sixers could very well make noise in the East and perhaps beyond. If not, they risk another year lost to the cruel combination of injuries and unmet expectations.
The Sixers know what they&rsquo;re up against. They&rsquo;ve seen seasons crumble under the weight of injuries. They&rsquo;ve seen championship windows slam shut before they were fully open.
This year feels like another chance, perhaps one of the last with this iteration of the roster. Embiid remains a generational talent, Maxey is in his prime, George is hungry to win, and McCain is eager to break out.
Health will determine everything. For Philadelphia, the question isn&rsquo;t whether they can contend &ndash; it&rsquo;s whether they&rsquo;ll be healthy enough to show it.

The Sixers’ title hopes hinge on health. With Embiid, Maxey, George, Philadelphia has the talent — but can they finally stay on the floor?

Sixers banking on a healthy season to make noise in the East

The 2025 WNBA Finals is set: the Phoenix Mercury and Las Vegas Aces will battle in a best-of-seven championship, after Phoenix edged the top-seeded Lynx 3-1 and Las Vegas survived the Fever in an unforgettable Game 5 overtime duel.&nbsp;
It marks a new Finals matchup and caps two dramatically different semifinal runs, along with the league&rsquo;s first-ever best-of-seven title series.
Phoenix rallies past top-seeded Minnesota, take series 3-1
The Mercury entered the postseason as underdogs and proved doubters wrong by dispatching Minnesota Lynx, the No. 1 seed, in four games to reach the Finals. After falling in Game 1, Phoenix won three straight &ndash; including a gritty Game 4 where they erased a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to close it out 86-81.
Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally, and Kahleah Copper all played key roles in the comeback, while the Lynx &ndash; dealing with injuries to star Napheesa Collier and a suspension to head coach Cheryl Reeve &ndash; were unable to answer down the stretch. In Game 4, the Mercury&rsquo;s fourth-quarter surge was decisive and forced Minnesota into vulnerable holes.
Las Vegas outlast Indiana in Game 5 overtime showdown
Las Vegas&rsquo; path was every bit as dramatic. In the deciding Game 5, the Aces beat the Fever 107-98 in OT to clinch their Finals berth. A&rsquo;ja Wilson dropped 35 points, Jackie Young scored 32, and Chelsea Gray delivered clutch contributions en route to the win.
The Fever, already battered by injuries (notably missing Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham as well as dealing with the loss of Kelsey Mitchell mid-game), pushed Vegas hard. Indiana rallied late in regulation to tie it, but Las Vegas took control early in overtime and held on.
What&rsquo;s Next: Mercury-Aces Finals preview
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
See you Friday. WNBA Finals | <a href="https://twitter.com/YouTubeTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YouTubeTV</a> <a href="https://t.co/BMWkd9TbuB">pic.twitter.com/BMWkd9TbuB</a>
&mdash; WNBA (@WNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA/status/1973281041323626588?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

The 2025 Finals will be played as a best-of-seven series, marking the first time in WNBA history the championship round is extended to seven games.&nbsp;
What happened was a contrast of journeys, as Phoenix&rsquo;s path was more controlled and decisive, while Las Vegas had to fight through adversity and depth.
ANALYSIS: The series will likely spotlight battles between A&rsquo;ja Wilson/Jackie Young and Phoenix&rsquo;s core of Thomas, Sabally, and Copper &ndash; two high-stakes groups fighting for the ultimate prize in the WNBA.
The Mercury will have a noticeable amount of rest, as the Aces pushed through a grueling Game 5 in OT, while Phoenix had a slightly easier close in their semifinal. Which team handles fatigue better could be a factor.

The 2025 WNBA Finals is set: the Phoenix Mercury and Las Vegas Aces will battle in a best-of-seven championship.

WNBA: Mercury, Aces set up 2025 Finals after dispatching Lynx, Fever

A&rsquo;ja Wilson has added another chapter to her legacy as the Las Vegas Aces forward was named the WNBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) for a record fourth time, becoming the first player in league history to reach that mark. She previously won the award in 2020, 2022, and 2024.
Wilson&rsquo;s MVP isn&rsquo;t just about accumulating hardware &mdash; it&rsquo;s about doing it while lifting her team. After a shaky start (11-11 mid-season), she carried the Aces down the stretch. The Aces closed the regular season with an unprecedented 16-game winning streak, finishing with a 30-14 record and the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.
Across the full campaign, Wilson averaged 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.3 blocks, and 1.6 steals per game. She again led the league in scoring and blocks, while ranking near the top in rebounds and steals. Her ability to influence games on both ends made much of the difference.
The MVP voting was never really close once the streak took hold. Wilson collected 51 of 72 first-place votes and a total of 657 points from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.&nbsp;
Finishing behind her were Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx) with 534 points and Alyssa Thomas (Phoenix Mercury) with 391. They, along with Allisha Gray and Kelsey Mitchell, were among the top finalists.&nbsp;
Wilson is now the first WNBA player ever to win MVP four times, surpassing legends like Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, and Lauren Jackson, who each won three. She also co-wins the Defensive Player of the Year this season, further underscoring her all-around impact.
Wilson this season has broken the single-season record for most 30-point games (13), further adding to a stat line that includes one of the best seasonal efficiency ratings in recent WNBA history.

A’ja Wilson has added another chapter to her legacy as the Las Vegas Aces forward was named the WNBA MVP for the 4th time.

WNBA: A’ja Wilson wins 2025 WNBA MVP to make history as first-ever 4x winner

The field for the 2025 WNBA Playoffs is officially locked, with eight teams ready to compete for the championship under an updated postseason format.&nbsp;
The opening round tips off Sunday, September 14, and for the first time, the finals will expand to a best-of-seven series. Teams are seeded strictly by overall record, with no conference separation, and the first round will now follow a 1-1-1 format.
This year&rsquo;s postseason includes a mix of proven contenders and fresh faces &mdash; headlined by the expansion Golden State Valkyries, who capped their inaugural season with a historic playoff berth. The stage is set for an unpredictable run to the WNBA title.
The Matchups
(1) Minnesota Lynx vs (8) Golden State Valkyries The Lynx finished with the league&rsquo;s best record at 34-10, dominating the regular season with balance on both ends. They&rsquo;ll face the expansion Valkyries, who clinched the final playoff spot at 23-21 and became the first new franchise in league history to reach the postseason in year one. Minnesota will be heavy favorites, but Golden State has already exceeded expectations and enters with nothing to lose.
(2) Las Vegas Aces vs (7) Seattle Storm The defending champion Aces surged late in the season, winning consistently behind A&rsquo;ja Wilson&rsquo;s MVP-level play. Seattle, led by Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike, will try to slow down Las Vegas&rsquo; rhythm and pull off the upset. The Aces are seeking another title, while the Storm are looking to play spoiler as a lower seed.
(3) Atlanta Dream vs (6) Indiana Fever Atlanta and Indiana square off in a matchup of two resurgent franchises. The Dream finished 30-14, leaning on Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray. The Fever, powered by Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston, will try to upend the dream even without star guard Caitlin Clark.
(4) Phoenix Mercury vs (5) New York Liberty On paper, this is the tightest series of the opening round. Both Phoenix and New York finished 27-17, with the Mercury edging the Liberty for home-court advantage. Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally anchor a Phoenix squad with playoff pedigree, while Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu lead New York&rsquo;s hopes of going back-to-back. This battle of heavyweights may come down to depth and execution in late-game situations, and this could be one of the most entertaining series of the first round.
<h2>&ndash; &ndash; &ndash;</h2>
The first round will be a best-of-three series with a 1-1-1 format, meaning higher seeds host Game 1 and, if necessary, Game 3. The semifinals will expand to best-of-five, while the finals move to best-of-seven for the first time in league history.
With parity at the top and plenty of star power spread across the bracket, the 2025 postseason promises to be one of the most competitive in recent memory.&nbsp;
Will the top-seeded Lynx validate their dominance? Can the Aces work its way back to the top? Or will a newcomer like Golden State shock the league?
The answers begin Sunday when the chase for the WNBA championship tips off.

The field for the 2025 WNBA Playoffs is officially locked, with eight teams ready to compete for the championship.

2025 WNBA Playoffs bracket ready to go as eight teams begin title chase

In a move first reported by Shams Charania, the Washington Wizards landed promising young forward Cam Whitmore from the Houston Rockets in exchange for two future second-round draft picks.
The picks are reportedly a 2026 pick via Chicago and a 2029 pick from Sacramento. The trade, finalized July 6, was part of a larger three-team deal involving CJ McCollum and Kelly Olynyk joining Washington from New Orleans, according to ESPN.
A Maryland native who grew up cheering for the Wizards, the 20-year-old Whitmore will return home as he enters his age-21 season, aiming to earn consistent rotation minutes. After averaging 9.4 points and 3.0 rebounds in 16.2 minutes over 51 games last season &ndash; and flashing potential with a season-high 34-point outing &ndash; Whitmore was lost in Houston&rsquo;s packed wing rotation, and now most especially after the latest additions of Kevin Durant and Dorian Finney-Smith.
For Washington, this is a low-cost, high-upside gamble. With a youthful core of recently drafted rookie Tre Johnson, Bilal Coulibaly, Alex Sarr, and others, the Wizards are stacking talent early in developmental windows. Whitmore has previously ranked among the top 10 in draft prospect analytics, and he could emerge as a future starter if nurtured properly.
Meanwhile, Houston adds draft capital, potentially valuable late second-rounders, as part of their shift from a youth-first experiment to a win-now strategy led by stars like Kevin Durant. Rockets GM Rafael Stone emphasized they are no longer in developmental mode and are focused on veteran consistency, signaling that Whitmore&rsquo;s next opportunity would be in a system built for contention.
ANALYSIS: This would be an inexpensive investment for the Wizards as they get a high-upside wing in Whitmore, with potential to develop into a rotation contributor. For the Rockets, this could maximize their current postseason window, freeing minutes and cap space while securing future draft depth. For Whitmore he enters an ideal environment to grow under less pressure and with more opportunity.
This trade marks a defining moment for both franchises &ndash; one leaning into youth and upside, the other into veteran readiness and competitiveness.

The Wizards have landed promising young forward Cam Whitmore from the Rockets in exchange for two future second-round picks.

Wizards acquire Cam Whitmore in trade with Rockets

In a major offseason shake-up reported by ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania, the New Orleans Pelicans have sent veteran guard CJ McCollum, stretch center Kelly Olynyk, and a future second-round pick to the Washington Wizards in exchange for dynamic scorer Jordan Poole, forward Saddiq Bey, and the No. 40 pick in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft.
Poole, 26, arrives fresh off a 20.5 points, 4.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game season, leading the Wizards in scoring. With Dejounte Murray sidelined by an achilles injury, he steps into a larger role beside Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III &ndash; a youth-forward Pelicans rotation poised to build around playoff potential.
McCollum, 33, brings steadiness and shooting off the bench to Washington, averaging 21.1 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.8 rebounds before his trade. Joined by Olynyk, who offers floor spacing, the Wizards also gain salary relief &ndash; to the tune of roughly $100 million in projected cap space by 2026 &ndash; while securing veteran leadership for their young core.
Saddiq Bey, though sidelined last year with a torn ACL, brings two-way versatility and perimeter shooting to New Orleans. With two years left on his contract, Bey adds depth and potential around its emerging talents.
ANALYSIS: The Pelicans aim to inject energy and scoring into a struggling roster, while refreshing their timeline with younger talent, while the Wizards prioritize cap relief and mentorship to guide a young team through development and future roster maneuvers.
Both franchises take calculated swings: New Orleans adding upside and reshaping its timeline, and Washington clearing cap space and acquiring experienced vets &ndash; highlighting the league&rsquo;s shifting strategies in rebuilding and financial planning.

In a major offseason shake-up reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Pelicans have traded for Jordan Poole from the Wizards.

Pelicans acquire Jordan Poole from Wizards

The New Orleans Pelicans have traded forward Brandon Ingram to the Toronto Raptors, according to NBA reporter Chris Haynes. In return, the Pelicans will receive forwards Bruce Brown Jr. and Kelly Olynyk, along with a first-round and a second-round draft pick.&nbsp;
After months of speculation with Ingram not signing an extension with the team, the Pelicans finally moved Ingram.
Trade Details:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Toronto Raptors Receive:</li>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Brandon Ingram</li>
</ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">New Orleans Pelicans Receive:</li>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Bruce Brown Jr.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Kelly Olynyk</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">2026 first-round draft pick (top-four protected, via Indiana Pacers)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">2025 second-round draft pick</li>
</ul>
</ul>
ANALYSIS: Brandon Ingram, 27, has been sidelined since December due to an ankle injury, limiting him to 18 games this season. Despite his absence, he has averaged 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game. Ingram is in the final year of a five-year, $158.3 million contract and is set to become an unrestricted free agent in June. He will now have to decide whether or not to sign his extension with the Raptors, sign a new contract with the team, or what the Raptors would offer to him.
Bruce Brown Jr. has averaged 8.4 points per game with the Raptors this season, while Kelly Olynyk has contributed 7.1 points and 3.7 rebounds over 24 games.&nbsp;
This trade should bring the Raptors' to possibly contend for a play-in spot next season considering how the roster is built currently. On the other hand, the Pelicans acquire valuable assets that they can use or move to support their future endeavors.

The New Orleans Pelicans have traded forward Brandon Ingram to the Toronto Raptors, according to NBA reporter Chris Haynes.

Pelicans find trade partner for Ingram in Raptors

The Philadelphia 76ers entered the Christmas Day matchup against the Boston Celtics with a lot on the line. Struggling through a challenging start to the season with a 10-17 record, the Sixers needed a win not only to boost their confidence but also to prove that they could compete with the Eastern Conference&rsquo;s elite teams. They did just that, emerging with a thrilling 118-114 victory over their longtime rival Celtics&mdash;a performance that could very well signal the turning point of their season.
In the offseason, the Sixers made some bold moves aimed at bolstering their roster and adding depth to their wings&mdash;an area that had given them trouble in matchups with Boston in the past. Their biggest addition was Paul George, a star wing known for both his defensive versatility and scoring ability. Alongside him, they brought in feisty wing Caleb Martin and re-signed Kelly Oubre Jr. , both of whom had the potential to disrupt Boston&rsquo;s offensive flow and take some of the pressure off the team&rsquo;s stars, especially against Celtics superstars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
The Christmas Day game served as a proving ground for these offseason signings, and the results were promising. The addition of George, Oubre, and Martin allowed the Sixers to execute their game plan with greater flexibility, posing a real threat to Boston&rsquo;s top-tier wings. Their collective performance showed that the Sixers might just have the tools to challenge the defending NBA champions when it matters most.
Although Paul George's offensive production wasn&rsquo;t the headline of the night&mdash;he finished with just 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists&mdash;his defensive impact was undeniable. George's ability to guard multiple positions and match up against the Celtics' star wings was a critical factor in limiting Tatum and Brown&rsquo;s offensive contributions. Tatum had been a major problem for the Sixers in previous encounters, and while he still managed to score 28 points in this game, George&rsquo;s defense forced him into difficult situations throughout the night.
The Sixers&rsquo; defensive schemes, which were often centered around their wings&rsquo; defensive versatility, kept the Celtics from getting into an offensive rhythm. Boston&rsquo;s two stars&mdash;Tatum and Brown&mdash;are at their best when they can generate offense in iso situations and create mismatches, but the Sixers did an excellent job of containing them and making the game difficult. George, although not having a standout scoring performance, still provided invaluable defensive support, proving why the Sixers were so eager to add him in the offseason.
Looking ahead, George's value to the team goes beyond just his point totals. As the postseason approaches, the Sixers will need his defensive contributions to combat high-level offenses, especially against teams with wings as dynamic as Tatum and Brown. George&rsquo;s experience and ability to lock down key players could be exactly what the Sixers need in the postseason, where the stakes are at its highest.
Another key contributor on Christmas Day was Caleb Martin, who once again showcased his ability to be a Celtics killer. Martin had been an instrumental part of the Miami Heat&rsquo;s playoff run over the past few seasons, notably delivering clutch performances against Boston in high-stakes playoff games. On Christmas Day, Martin reminded the Celtics of his knack for hitting big shots, finishing the game with 23 points, including an impressive 7-of-9 from beyond the arc.
Boston&rsquo;s defense appeared to dare Martin to shoot, a mistake they would soon regret as he punished them from deep. Martin&rsquo;s sharpshooting was pivotal in stretching the Celtics&rsquo; defense, opening up lanes for others to operate while also keeping them honest. His performance against the Celtics was reminiscent of his previous success against them, where his ability to make shots in critical moments was a key factor in the Heat&rsquo;s playoff success.
Martin&rsquo;s performance on Christmas Day is a testament to his value to the Sixers, particularly in big games. His shooting ability and defensive tenacity make him a reliable contributor, and his history of delivering against Boston suggests that he could be a key piece for the Sixers in any potential playoff series against the Celtics, and it&rsquo;s clear that Martin can provide a necessary scoring punch when the Sixers need it.
Joel Embiid&rsquo;s performance against the Celtics was another major positive for the Sixers. With 27 points and 9 rebounds, Embiid showed that he is gradually returning to his MVP-caliber form. The 7-foot-1 big man looked more comfortable on the court, hitting his patented face-up jumpers and getting to the free-throw line with ease. His ability to impose his will inside, combined with his refined jump shot, was a clear indication that he is rounding into form after dealing with some early-season struggles.
One of the most encouraging aspects of Embiid&rsquo;s performance was his athleticism. He flashed a few sneaky athletic plays, including a smooth transition layup and an effortless move under the basket for an easy two points. These types of plays are a reminder of just how dynamic Embiid can be when he&rsquo;s fully engaged. His ability to dominate both in the paint and on the perimeter is what makes him one of the most dangerous players in the league.
As the Sixers&rsquo; leader, Embiid's performance against the Celtics could serve as a precursor for what&rsquo;s to come in the second half of the season. If he continues to build on this showing, Philadelphia will have a legitimate MVP candidate leading the charge. His health and consistent play will be critical as the Sixers push toward the playoffs, where they will need Embiid at his best if they hope to challenge the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
Tyrese Maxey&rsquo;s performance on Christmas Day was arguably one of the most impressive of the season. With 31 points and 12 assists, Maxey had a game worthy of being called the best point guard in the East. He dominated the Celtics on all three levels&mdash;driving to the basket with ease, hitting mid-range shots and floaters, and drilling step-back threes. His scoring was critical in keeping the Sixers&rsquo; offense flowing, but it was his playmaking that really stood out.
Maxey&rsquo;s growth as a floor general has been one of the most promising developments for the Sixers this season. His ability to create opportunities for his teammates while also scoring efficiently makes him an invaluable asset. His 12 assists against Boston were a testament to his improvement as a playmaker, finding open teammates and setting up easy baskets. As the Sixers&rsquo; point guard of the future, Maxey&rsquo;s continued development will be key to their success moving forward.
If Maxey can maintain this level of play, he will give the Sixers a dynamic offensive weapon who can both score and facilitate. With his ability to perform in clutch moments and lead the offense, Maxey has the potential to be the difference-maker the Sixers need as they aim to make a deep playoff run.
The Sixers&rsquo; Christmas Day win against the Celtics could very well be the turning point they&rsquo;ve been looking for. With standout performances from Paul George, Caleb Martin, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey, the Sixers have shown that they have the tools to compete with the best teams in the NBA. While the win against Boston is just one game, it serves as a reminder of the potential this team has when fully healthy and clicking on all cylinders.
As the season progresses, the Sixers will need to continue to build on this momentum. With a strong supporting cast around their stars and key players stepping up in big moments, Philadelphia could very well be poised to turn their season around and better position themselves into the East&rsquo;s playoff picture. The Celtics may have been the toughest challenge thus far, but if the Sixers continue to play at this level, they&rsquo;ll be a team to watch come playoff time.

After a challenging season start, the Philadelphia 76ers may have turned things around with a thrilling Christmas Day win vs Boston.

Amid tough season, Sixers may have turned things around with Christmas win vs Celtics

PASAY CITY, PHILIPPINES &ndash; After their early season look at Philippine teams in their first EASL meetings, international coaches Garrett Kelly and Song Young-Jin had some nice things to say about the home teams&rsquo; basketball and the quality of their recruited foreign players.
Song and the Suwon KT Sonicboom of Korea were impressive in their first win after <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/easl-suwon-kt-sonicboom-beat-home-team-san-miguel-to-start-20242025-campaign-strong">beating Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner&rsquo;s Cup champions San Miguel Beermen </a>while Kelly and the Macau Black Bears <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/easl-home-team-meralco-bolts-stun-visiting-macau-black-bears-">were stunned by the PBA Philippine Cup titlists Meralco Bolts.</a> Although their teams had contrasting results, both Song and Kelly were impressed.
&ldquo;Obviously, the [Philippines] is known for its great fan base of basketball, and it got the team [San Miguel] going by feeding off their energy,&rdquo; Song said through a translator. &ldquo;We got over it and got the win today so it&rsquo;s good, but before we got here we watched a lot of films. They [SMB] are very skilled and they got a lot of shooters, so we prepared a lot before we came here.&rdquo;
Despite the loss, the Beermen&rsquo;s American reinforcement EJ Anosike balled out with 34 points, which Song acknowledged with the Sonicboom having a hard time containing him.
&ldquo;He [Anosike] got us in a tough situation [scoring all those points], so we had to put another man on him in the second half,&rdquo; Song added.
For Kelly and Macau, Meralco&rsquo;s American import Allen Durham was the one that gave them the most problems after being a force in the paint all game long. Durham had 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists in a double-double effort as the Bolts took a 12-point win over the much bigger Black Bears team.
&ldquo;Allen Durham is &ndash; he&rsquo;s a bully,&rdquo; recalled Kelly in the post-game press conference. &ldquo;The guy is built like one of the Ninja Turtles. You can&rsquo;t get around him. He puts his shoulder on you, he&rsquo;s gonna score &ndash; on his right or left hand. He also made his jump shots tonight &ndash; I know he can make them &ndash; but we kind of gambled on that. We said let&rsquo;s just live with those [Durham&rsquo;s jump shots] and try to box them out and get the rebounds. But that whole group [Meralco], as a whole, has been together for a while now.&rdquo;
Kelly further lauded the Bolts&rsquo; chemistry and their familiarity with each other that led to their win as the PH team had every answer to the Black Bears&rsquo; defensive scheme.
&ldquo;That group &ndash; you can tell. They got into new situations where we zoned them, and they reacted. We ran them, we pressed them, we ran some different sets, we had some different things, and we moved around &ndash; and they just responded and just kept moving. They&rsquo;re a well-conditioned team, a well-coached team, well-run organization by everything I can see &ndash; they&rsquo;re just really sharp,&rdquo; Kelly said.

After their early season look at Philippine teams, intl' coaches Garrett Kelly and Song Young-Jin share their thoughts on PH basketball.

EASL: International coaches heap praise on PH basketball, imports

Super rookie Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever got a rude welcome in her first-ever playoff game.
After a historic rookie season, Clark came into Sunday excited for her first taste of high-stakes basketball. However, Alyssa Thomas and the Connecticut Sun came ready to play.
The third-seeded Sun blew out the sixth-seeded Fever, 93-69, to take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three series. Thomas had a triple-double for Connecticut, dropping 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists while veteran DeWanna Bonner scored 22 points while playing outstanding defense on the aforementioned Clark.
Clark struggled from the field, going only 4-17 including 2-13 from three as she saw the entire Connecticut defense turned on against her. Kelsey Mitchell scored 21 while Aliyah Boston added 17 but it was not enough as the Fever got blown out by 24 points.
In the other games of the day, the New York Liberty began their quest for a back-to-back Finals appearance with a comfortable 83-69 win over the Atlanta Dream. Leonie Fiebich led all scorers with 21 points while former WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart added 20.
The defending champions Las Vegas Aces started their title defense after winning wire-to-wire against the Seattle Storm, 78-67. Recently crowned unanimous WNBA MVP A&rsquo;Ja Wilson had 21 points in the win.
Finally, MVP runner-up Napheesa Collier starred for the Minnesota Lynx in their Game 1 win over the Phoenix Mercury. Collier had the best game of the day with 38 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists as they won by seven, 102-95.

Super rookie Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever got a rude welcome in her first-ever playoff game.

WNBA Playoffs 2024 Day 1 recap: Caitlin Clark, Fever get reality check from Sun

It is called the greatest dynasty in basketball for a reason.
The USA Women&rsquo;s National Basketball survived a major fightback by hosts France, outlasting them 67-66, to clinch the Olympics Women&rsquo;s Basketball gold medal and their 8th straight in the tournament overall.&nbsp;
Gabby Williams had a shot to send the game into overtime after Team USA took a 3-point lead with 4 seconds to go. Williams actually made the last-second shot however she was inside the three-point line, as the basket counted for just two points.&nbsp;
Williams led France with 19 points and 7 rebounds, as the hosts made history by making the Women&rsquo;s final on their home floor. Both the French Men&rsquo;s and Women&rsquo;s teams made the Basketball final, both bowing out against Team USA.&nbsp;&nbsp;
A&rsquo;Ja Wilson saved her best for last for Team USA, working out 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Wilson was named MVP of the FIBA Olympic Women&rsquo;s Basketball tournament for her splendid play all tournament long in the process. Kelsey Plum and Kahleah Copper added 12 points each for the Americans in the title-clinching moment.&nbsp;
France played well in the game, even erecting a 10-point lead in the 3rd quarter. However, Team USA&rsquo;s overall dominance eventually took back the lead en route to the gold medal.&nbsp;
According to FIBA, Team USA has won their 10th Women&rsquo;s tournament at the Olympics and won their 8th final in a row, a run that started in 1996. They have extended their current winning streak to 61 games in the competition.

The USA Women’s National Basketball survived a major fightback by hosts France, outlasting them 67-66 to clinch the Olympic gold.

Team USA Women’s outlast hosts France to win 8th straight Olympic gold

The USA Women&rsquo;s National Basketball Team wasted no time in establishing its dominance in the competition after blowing out Japan, 102-76, at the Pierre de Mauroy Stadium in Lille, France for the Paris Olympics.
Gunning for their 8th straight gold medal, Team USA made quick work of Japan whom they faced in the last Olympics gold medal match in Tokyo 2020. Five players scored in double figures for the Americans, led by A&rsquo;Ja Wilson&rsquo;s 24 points and Breanna Stewart&rsquo;s 22 points.
Wilson added 13 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 blocks while Stewart had 8 assists, 3 assists, and 3 blocks of her own as Team USA ran away with the victory. Kelsey Plum, Sabrina Ionescu and Brittney Griner each added 11 points, while Chelsea Gray led Team USA with 13 assists, for a whopping 35 total assists for the team.
Next up for Team USA is a battle between Belgium as they figure to be in the &lsquo;Group of Death&rsquo; in this year&rsquo;s version of the Games.

The USA Women’s National Basketball Team wasted no time in establishing its dominance in the competition after blowing out Japan, 102-76.

Team USA Women’s dominates Japan in Olympic 2020 Final rematch

The USA Men&rsquo;s National Basketball will face arguably their biggest threat in the Olympics in Team Canada on July 10 in Las Vegas. This Canadian team features a multitude of NBA talents, just like Team USA. Led by 2024 NBA MVP finalist Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and 2023 NBA Champion Jamal Murray, Team Canada is poised to give Team USA all the headaches and possible roadblocks in its pursuit of gold.&nbsp;
With all things considered, here&rsquo;s what Team USA could do to stamp their dominance against their neighboring rivals up North and send a message to the rest of the world eager to challenge their throne.
Dump the ball to Joel Embiid and let him go to work
Perhaps the most dominant basketball player in the world right now, there&rsquo;s probably nobody who could guard Joel Embiid one-on-one today on God&rsquo;s green earth. A 7-foot-2 big man blessed with skill, size, finesse, and power, Embiid&rsquo;s complete game will be a main problem for Team Canada. Among the frontliners they could throw at Embiid are Dwight Powell, Kelly Olynyk, and Trey Lyles but none of them - on paper and quick eye test - are quick or strong enough to deter Embiid and his dominance. Embiid dominated some of the league&rsquo;s best defensive players, putting up 50 points on 4-time DPOY Rudy Gobert and scoring 70 points in phenom Victor Wembanyama&rsquo;s head last season.
Team USA should quickly take advantage of this opportunity and run the offense through Embiid and make Team Canada send double teams at him. That&rsquo;s when advantages and opportunities will open up to the rest of the guys like LeBron cutting to the rim or Durant and Curry spotting up for wide-open threes. It could be a pick-your-poison type of game where Team Canada could let Embiid play one-on-one and destroy them inside the paint or double him and risk putting two on the ball creating opportunities for the rest of Team USA.
Get into lots of screening actions to create advantages and confuse the defense
Team Canada&rsquo;s biggest strength will be their on-ball perimeter defense. Among Dillon Brooks, Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, they will have long wings that could disrupt passing lanes and wreak havoc on the perimeter, creating easy baskets in transition. Canada&rsquo;s a relatively young team with most players in their athletic prime so they would definitely take advantage of their biggest strength and make it their main style of play.
To counter this, Team USA could involve their players in more screening actions to create advantages on offense and confuse Canada&rsquo;s defense. They should also incorporate slips and slides in those screens and in the pick and rolls for cutters and shooters to get open shots. By doing this, Team USA will negate Canada&rsquo;s biggest strength and create easy and quality looks against their vaunted perimeter defense.
Play defense
It&rsquo;s no secret that Team USA&rsquo;s core players are aging and nearing the end of their athletic peaks. Although being the superstar basketball players that they are and still being at the top of their offensive games, Team USA&rsquo;s defense will be suspect here and would probably be the main attacking point of their opponents. Jrue Holiday, Anthony Edwards, and Derrick White will have their work cut out for them in the perimeter right from the get-go as Team USA could be punished by a guard-heavy offensive team like Team Canada.&nbsp;
Team USA might outscore everyone, but you can make them work on the other side of the floor, and this could be Canada&rsquo;s main mindset coming into the game. Despite the top-end talent and superstar-level shot-making on offense, Team USA should put more effort on the defensive end of the floor if they want to win this game.

The USA Men’s National Basketball will face arguably their biggest threat in the Olympics in Team Canada on July 10 in Las Vegas.

USA vs CAN preview: 3 things Team USA could do to win exhibition game against Canada

The 2024 NBA Free Agency underway. Here's everything you need to know about the makings and the moves around the NBA.

2024 NBA Free Agency Tracker: All the signings and deals in the offseason

The Philadelphia 76ers are in a state of dilemma right now.&nbsp;
As Philadelphia enters Game 2 in their best-of-7 series against the New York Knicks on the road at the Madison Square Garden, it has them wondering for adjustments and key plays with hopes of tying the series.
Although Nick Nurse&rsquo;s defensive scheme on the Knicks&rsquo; Jalen Brunson, his buddy Josh Hart happened and knocked down three crucial three-pointers in the 4th quarter of Game 1 to bury the Sixers. Brunson was held to 22 points on 8-26 shooting, but Hart had 22 points himself as well.
That&rsquo;s bad news for the Sixers. The Knicks star point guard have been playing at an all-NBA level this season thus far and it is clear that the game plan is to send guys at Brunson for him to see bodies and make him work for his points. However, when someone else has a performance as big as Hart&rsquo;s in Game 1, that would be difficult for the Sixers to overcome.
On offense, Tyrese Maxey shouldered most of the offensive load in the 4th quarter after reigning MVP Joel Embiid injured his knee in the first half. Embiid came to play in the second half, but was visibly not his usual self physically, missing his patented midrange jumpers and some layups around the basket. He ended up finishing the game with 29 points but shot an abysmal 8-22 from the field. Maxey himself scored 33 points but played a game-high 43 minutes for the game. This is something the Sixers should monitor because as young and spry as he is, Maxey is essential for them down the stretch especially if this extends down the line.
How could the Sixers bounce back? Heading into tonight&rsquo;s Game 2 and moving forward into the series, here are some of the things the Sixers could do to steal one on the road and possibly win the series.
Play Buddy Hield more
The Sixers&rsquo; midseason acquisition only played for 10 minutes and did not score at all. That is uncharacteristic for someone you brought in for this exact reason: to have more weapons around Embiid in the playoffs. Although a defensive liability at times, Hield&rsquo;s gravity as a shooter and threat from the outside is more than enough to compensate for those.&nbsp;
Hield is a proven knockdown shooter who can only help space the floor for Embiid when he&rsquo;s in the middle of the floor. If given the opportunity and he hits his shots, the paint will open up even more which will give Embiid and Maxey more room to operate.
&ldquo;Buddy [Hield] didn&rsquo;t get much of a chance last game,&rdquo; Nurse said on Sunday. &ldquo;He did have a couple of plays there. He didn&rsquo;t play good. It&rsquo;s a game where you can&rsquo;t extend minutes when a guy has three or four mistakes, but I do say this he&rsquo;ll be a factor in the series. He could have just as easily made that wide-open 3, and then hit another one the next time down the floor like he does, but he didn&rsquo;t. We kind of gave him this chance to impact it and we had to get back to somebody else, but he&rsquo;ll be a factor.&rdquo;
Involve Tobias Harris on more offensive actions and build up his confidence
As it stands right now, Tobias Harris&rsquo; confidence has looked to be cooked and nowhere to be found. He has been playing out of sorts over the past few games, oftentimes getting lost in translation within the flow of the Sixers offense at times. With Embiid demanding the ball and the attention most of the time and Maxey setting the offense up, this leaves Harris with little to no opportunities to have any sort of offensive rhythm.
Harris is also not the role player specialist like Kelly Oubre who brings defensive toughness, hits the occasional threes, and provides the timely cuts, or Nic Batum&rsquo;s lockdown one-on-one defense coupled with his three-point marksmanship. Harris is someone you make plays for to set him up. He has shown that capability over his career, being the third option on offense. Harris&rsquo; skill set allows him to attack off the catch, hit some catch-and-shoot threes here and there, and run some pick-and-rolls with certain guys.
If the Sixers want to have a chance to bounce back in Game 2, Harris should be more involved on offense no matter how Nick Nurse and his staff would do it. A 30-million-dollar player like Harris can&rsquo;t just camp in the corner or wings ball-watching and watch the ball come to him, he should be utilized in a way his strengths as a player can help the Sixers.
Bench production is a must
In Game 1, the Sixers only had 5 bench points. That can&rsquo;t happen again. Even though they are down two key rotation players in DeAnthony Melton and Robert Covington, both the coaching staff and the players themselves need to do a better job involving players on offense and stepping up to the plate. This is the playoffs and everyone has to contribute something. 
After scoring 20 points against Miami, Batum only had 3 points in Game 1. Hield wasn&rsquo;t even able to score a point. Backup big Paul Reed has to be more aggressive especially now that Embiid is not 100%. Cam Payne has to hit one or two shots when he comes in, just to change the complexion of the game a little bit. Maybe Nick Nurse could reach a bit deeper into his bag of tricks and activate someone like Ricky Council for an energy boost after the rookie played a good stretch to end the season. 
The bench has to help the starters at some point in the series. But it has to start in Game 2 &ndash; because it takes everyone to win a playoff basketball game.
&nbsp;

How could the Sixers bounce back? Here are some of the things the Sixers could do to steal one on the road and win the series.

2024 NBA Playoffs: 3 adjustments for Sixers to bounce back vs Knicks

On Friday night in Cleveland, Caitlin Clark and Iowa defeated Paige Bueckers 71-69 to advance to the national title game against undefeated South Carolina &ndash; but not without some late-game drama.
With Iowa just leading by one 70-69 with 9 seconds left, UConn had possession for the final shot in the game. Out of the timeout, the Huskies tried to run a split action for Bueckers with Aaliyah Edwards screening and Nika Muhl passing the ball. As the screen was set with Bueckers veering back towards Muhl to receive the pass and get ready to shoot, Hawkeyes guard Gabbie Marshall fought over the screen by Edwards which ended up with the play getting called for an offensive foul for setting an illegal screen with just around 3 seconds left in the game.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
OFFENSIVE FOUL OR NOT? 🤔<a href="https://t.co/rxB7d3Lydk">pic.twitter.com/rxB7d3Lydk</a>
&mdash; BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews/status/1776457695568216295?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2024</a></blockquote>
It was a questionable foul call, to say the least &ndash; sparking a debate each with contrasting sides to tell.
It set the internet ablaze and everyone was talking about it. Notable NBA and WNBA stars each chimed in on X with their thoughts on the questionable call, citing how the players should decide the outcome of the game with their plays whether it be good or bad rather than laying it up for the referees to decide.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
NAAAAAHHHHHH!!! I ain&rsquo;t rolling with that call.
&mdash; LeBron James (@KingJames) <a href="https://twitter.com/KingJames/status/1776451983047856248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2024</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
To call that on a game deciding play is so wrong WOW
&mdash; Kelsey Plum (@Kelseyplum10) <a href="https://twitter.com/Kelseyplum10/status/1776452745492414682?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2024</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

SportsCenter host Scott Van Pelt and ESPN Women&rsquo;s Basketball analyst Andraya Carter didn&rsquo;t agree with the call either.
&ldquo;I hated the call. You&rsquo;ve got to give Gabbie Marshall credit for trying to fight over the screen. That&rsquo;s what drew the refs&rsquo; attention in,&rdquo; Carter said on SportsCenter after the game. &ldquo;But to me, now that final play it&rsquo;s not about Iowa&rsquo;s defense. It&rsquo;s about the call the referee made. There was a slight lean, maybe Aaliyah Edwards&rsquo; elbow was slightly out. But to be honest the calls were even for both sides. There were missed calls for Iowa. There were missed contacts for UConn. To make that call at the very end of the game &ndash; to me, it took away the opportunity for players to make plays. &hellip; To be honest, that call sucked.&rdquo;
WNBA legends Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird, who had their ESPN segment &lsquo;The Bird and Taurasi Show&rsquo; grace the Final Four, also shared their thoughts in real-time with UConn legend Breanna Stewart while commentating and watching the game live.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
3 uconn huskies react to the 'offensive foul' <a href="https://t.co/wFWCbVYTMG">pic.twitter.com/wFWCbVYTMG</a>
&mdash; jaiden (@steph_turkey) <a href="https://twitter.com/steph_turkey/status/1776454140962697606?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2024</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

&ldquo;Oh my god,&rdquo; expressed a visibly disappointed Taurasi. &ldquo;Wow, what an unfortunate time to call an offensive foul. Just know how to ruin the game &ndash; oh my god that&rsquo;s terrible. It didn&rsquo;t even get her open &ndash; that&rsquo;s a tough play. We always talk about letting the players decide the game, especially in a benign call like that. It&rsquo;s just tough to end the game like that.&rdquo;
Legendary coach Geno Auriemma could not hide his disappointment as well in the post-game conference, saying UConn maybe should just get better at not setting illegal screens. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s probably an illegal screen call you could make on every single possession, and I just know there were three or four called on us &ndash; and I don&rsquo;t think any were called on them.&rdquo;
Clark and Final Four hero Hannah Stuelke &ndash; who played perhaps the best game of her life by scoring 23 points &ndash; thought their teammate Marshall did a good job of fighting over the screen, praising how she has been one of the nation&rsquo;s best defenders.
&ldquo;Gabbie is great in those situations. She always comes up with big plays, a block, or whatever,&rdquo; Stuelke said. &ldquo;You always see it time and time again, [Marshall] does not get enough credit for what she does,&rdquo; Clark added. &ldquo;She guards one of the best players in the country and it challenges her quite a bit. Paige had a great game but I thought Gabbie just played great defense on her. Even when Paige made some tough baskets, Gabbie just responded and kept going up there and guarded her.&rdquo;
Despite the tough loss, Bueckers took the high road and remained a positive attitude after what transpired late in the game.
"Players play and players decide the game. Everybody can make a big deal out of one single play but one single play doesn&rsquo;t win or lose a basketball game," Bueckers admitted. "... You can look at one play and say oh that killed us or that hurt us. We should have done a better job, I should have done a better job making sure didn&rsquo;t leave the game up to that."

Iowa defeated UConn 71-69 to advance to the national title game against undefeated South Carolina, but not without late-game drama.

Women's Final Four: Late phantom call mars Iowa-UConn ending

Philadelphia 76ers superstar center Joel Embiid made a successful return to the court from his injury to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, 109-105, on Tuesday night at the Wells Fargo Center in downtown Philadelphia.
The league&rsquo;s reigning MVP scored 24 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and dished out 7 assists in 29 minutes of play in his first game back since January 30, missing the last 27 games for the Sixers.
Embiid was actually listed out 12 hours before the game after reports surfaced he might play at home vs the Thunder. He was upgraded to questionable and a game-time decision a few hours later. It was only then 90 minutes before tipoff that it was announced he was going to play.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m just happy we got through and we got the win,&rdquo; said a visibly gassed Embiid after the game. &ldquo;Usually when I get hurt, I just move on to the next one. This one was a little &ndash; it took a toll mentally. You know, I just wanna come back [asap] and I think we got a chance even if I&rsquo;m not in the level I&rsquo;m at &ndash; and I&rsquo;m only gonna get better. But, this one was probably the hardest by far &ndash; especially mentally.&rdquo;
Embiid looked spry and ready to go by being aggressive early in the game, but it was clear he was still not in game shape conditioning-wise after some short front-rim misses on his jumpers. His minutes ended up getting managed all game long with Coach Nick Nurse playing him in spurts to help him regain his MVP form.
Embiid was mainly played alongside probably the Sixers&rsquo; best lineup in Kyle Lowry (Maxey could be in this place but was injured for this game), Buddy Hield, Tobias Harris, and Nicolas Batum and had his best stretch with those four alongside him. The Sixers ran different actions including their patented two-man game as well as dribble handoffs and pick-and-pop jumpers for either the normal or inverted screening actions.
Even up against a Thunder team missing MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and star tandem Jalen Williams, the Sixers had a hard time putting away the top team in the West. It wasn&rsquo;t until the 4th quarter when the Sixers took the momentum and eventually the lead with huge efforts from Kyle Lowry and Kelly Oubre Jr.&nbsp;
However, none of it was bigger than Embiid&rsquo;s two sequences with under a minute to go in the 4th quarter. He sank two free throws after grabbing an offensive rebound off Harris&rsquo; miss and then forced a turnover on Josh Giddey &ndash; stealing the ball and making another two free throws after getting fouled on the drive to throw the game out of OKC&rsquo;s reach.
With the win, the Sixers move to 41-35, placing 8th in the Eastern Conference. They are one and a half-game back of the Heat for 7th place and just two games behind the Pacers for the 6th spot.&nbsp;
Philadelphia is trying to make a late push out of the play-in tournament with Embiid back in the fold with six games left in their regular season. They will have upcoming big games against Miami (which they will face in their next game) and Orlando while facing non-playoff teams Memphis, Detroit, San Antonio, and Brooklyn in the other four.&nbsp;

Joel Embiid made a successful return to the court from his injury to help the Sixers beat the Thunder, 109-105.

Joel Embiid masterful in return, 76ers beat West No.1 Thunder

The Philadelphia 76ers were aiming to &ldquo;bounce back,&rdquo; according to coach Nick Nurse, from Thursday's disappointing loss to the New York Knicks, and they did just that against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.
"A lot of length, a lot of size, they got really good defense to protect the rim. I think both guards can hurt you in a lot of ways,&rdquo; Nurse said of the Cavaliers&rsquo; roster prior to the matchup.
There were an abundance of Knicks fans in Wells Fargo Center on Thursday, but the arena was packed full of Philadelphia supporters on Friday evening. The Sixers won the tip-off, wasting no time to get the crowd on their feet. Forward Kelly Oubre Jr. delivered a monster slam dunk on the opening possession over Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen. The star of the show for Philadelphia, Tyrese Maxey, kicked off his night with a stepback three-pointer. The opening quarter was highlighted by the late efforts of guard Cameron Payne, who grabbed an offensive rebound for a layup and drained a corner shot from the arc to level the score at 25 after one.
The second quarter began with Tobias Harris struggling, with multiple missed shots inside the paint within the first three minutes. However, Payne picked up for the slack on offense, with points from all three levels. Maxey operated the pick-and-roll game with forward K.J. Martin masterfully, which led to a clear lane for Martin to score. The efforts of Allen and guard Isaac Okoro kept Cleveland within reach until halftime, when the Sixers led by three points.
Payne led the 76ers in scoring at the half with 13 points, while star guard Darius Garland led the Cavs with 12 points.&nbsp;
The Cavaliers were refreshed coming out of the break as Okoro found the basket for two, followed by a drive-and-score from forward Max Strus. Maxey refused to let the Cavs take over, responding with multiple contested shots of his own. Harris was able to find a rhythm at the midway point of the quarter, draining a three-pointer and a set of free throws. Triples from sharpshooter Buddy Hield and Oubre increased their lead to 11 points. Late energy from big man Evan Mobley and Strus kept the Cavaliers competitive, with a score of 74-70 entering the final 12 minutes.
The final quarter began with an electric acrobatic finish from guard De&rsquo;Anthony Melton, followed by a fluent mid-range shot from center Paul Reed. Interior defense was a glaring issue for the Sixers throughout the night, with Allen taking full advantage. The night couldn&rsquo;t end before Maxey created a multitude of looks for himself down the stretch, which resulted in a 24-point outing. It was a back-and-forth battle until the final buzzer, but ultimately the 76ers prevailed. Despite the comeback attempt from Cleveland, a deep-range three-pointer from Hield was the dagger, resulting in the 104-97 victory.
The Sixers are facing off against the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday evening, where Patrick Beverley makes his return and Payne takes on his former team.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s turnt. It&rsquo;s turnt. Let&rsquo;s get it,&rdquo; Payne told Basketball News postgame when asked about playing against the Bucks.

Tyrese Maxey led the Philadelphia 76ers to a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.

Monstrous fourth quarter from Tyrese Maxey carries Sixers past Cavs

What seemed to be a lost season for the Utah Jazz has suddenly turned around due to the team's recent success, winning 15 of their last 21 games.&nbsp;
After starting just 7-16, the Jazz have since gone 11-4 and are now in contention for one of the Western Conference's play-in spots. They&rsquo;ve had an incredible week thus far, with wins over the contending Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets.
The win over the defending-champion Nuggets proved that the Jazz can hang with any team on any given night. Denver was 18-0 against sub-.500 teams entering the game, but Utah stained their erstwhile unblemished slate.
How did the Jazz do it? Let's take a look at some of the things they did to upend the Nuggets.
The Jazz stretched the floor&nbsp;
With John Collins starting at center instead of Walker Kessler, Utah's game plan was to pull Nikola Jokic from the paint. Jokic, who&rsquo;s usually a drop-big on defense, almost always stays near the shaded area in pick-and-roll actions. Utah tried to take advantage of this early by hunting out threes and exploiting the point-of-attack defenses of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. Four of their first five attempts were three-pointers and they connected on two to jump out to an early lead.
Denver tried to counter by running zone, leaving Collins open a couple of times in the first quarter. However, Collins made them pay by hitting two threes, as Jokic was more than content to leave him open for threes. This allowed the Jazz to get rolling even more and gave them the freedom to attack the basket and get downhill.
Another possession in the zone found Reggie Jackson and Jokic in a miscommunication, leading to Jordan Clarkson drilling an easy 10-foot jumper. When the Nuggets tried to switch up their defense back to a man-to-man, the Jazz found the answer with some off-ball movement and timely cuts to the rim. Overall, it was an offensive clinic that caught the defending champs off guard.
The Jazz mixed their coverages on Jokic and gave him different looks on defense
You can't entirely stop an all-world talent like Nikola Jokic, you could only hope to contain him, which is still really tough considering how talented he is and his ability to get his teammates involved.
Although he still put up a monstrous stat line of 27 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists on an absurd 8-of-9 shooting from the field, what the Jazz and Will Hardy did was mix-up coverages on him. They showed multiple defensive looks each time down, which partly confused Jokic as he committed 6 turnovers in the game.
Sometimes, it was single coverage; other times, they sent doubles at him. Three different players &mdash; Lauri Markannen, Collins and Kessler &mdash; each took turns guarding him and all three provided different looks on the Joker. Markannen used his strength, Collins had his quickness and quick hands, while Kessler provided verticality with his 7-foot-1 frame.
The Jazz also sent different doubles at Jokic, sometimes crowding him in the paint with early double-teams, breaking up his low-post attacks with guards doubling him, and sending late doubles with another big or using a help weakside defender to try to affect him as he attempted a shot.
All of these defensive coverages were designed to make Jokic feel uncomfortable with different styles thrown at him, and the Jazz were successful at that with this blowout win.&nbsp;
Will Hardy figured out the rotations and had the Jazz playing with confidence
Although their defense is still suspect, the Jazz&rsquo;s offense has been nothing but spectacular. This can be attributed to head coach Will Hardy figuring out his rotation and which players synergize well together. This impressive run over their last 20 games started when Hardy made Kris Dunn, Collin Sexton, Simone Fontecchio, Lauri Markannen and John Collins the starting five. Off the bench, Jordan Clarkson and Kelly Olynyk provide stability as veterans while second-year guys Walker Kessler and Ochai Agbaji help out on defense with their length and tenacity.
Utah&rsquo;s offense was on full display against Denver, picking them apart with set plays and off of read-and-react actions. Although the Nuggets were coming off two days of rest and just an hour flight, the Jazz capitalized on their momentum and pounced right from the start.
Markannen has picked up right where he left off in last season&rsquo;s All-Star campaign, maintaining his shooting and scoring while improving his ball-handling this season. He&rsquo;s much better off the dribble now, which makes him one of the most coveted (if not most coveted) trade targets as the Feb. 8 deadline approaches.
Clarkson has also learned to move the ball more since being back to his regular sixth man role while continuing to score the ball effectively, and it has produced good results.
Dunn and Sexton allow the Jazz to play with pace and energy on both sides of the floor and their efforts are infectious.
Despite all of the trade rumors swirling around this team and rival teams trying to pry their players away, GM Danny Ainge and coach Will Hardy deserve credit for helping the Jazz build good habits and play the right way, which has resulted in beautiful basketball all around.&nbsp;

What seemed to be a lost season for the Utah Jazz has suddenly turned around, as they have won 15 of their last 21 games.

How the Utah Jazz earned their statement win over the Denver Nuggets

This article was originally published on BasketballNews on July 20, 2022.
Impact Basketball's facility sits inside an unassuming section of an unassuming plaza on Dean Martin Drive in Las Vegas.
The gym contains two light-colored hardwood basketball courts with a small scoreboard, a weightlifting area, a makeshift stretching room, a kitchenette for meals and snacks and a small office. It's no place for vanities. The only flexes are the dozens of white banners hanging on the right wall, listing names upon names of distinguished players who have come through during the gym's 25 years of existence.
Among those players: Kevin Garnett, Kawhi Leonard, Chauncey Billups, Kyle Lowry, Kelsey Plum, Tayshaun Prince, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Haliburton, DeMarcus Cousins, John Wall, Al Harrington, Kristaps Porzingis, Nassir Little, Saddiq Bey and Ziaire Williams.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Kevin Garnett stopped by <a href="https://twitter.com/impactbball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@impactbball</a> and offered some advice to Blazers guard Keon Johnson, Mavericks wing Josh Green and 16-year-old prospect Dayan Nessah.<a href="https://twitter.com/Joe_Abunassar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Joe_Abunassar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/KevinGarnett5KG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KevinGarnett5KG</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/iamkeonjohnson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@iamkeonjohnson</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshBGreen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JoshBGreen</a> <a href="https://t.co/fwRjAM2WHJ">pic.twitter.com/fwRjAM2WHJ</a>
&mdash; Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA/status/1548046089877524482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2022</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Impact Basketball, founded by trainer Joe Abunassar in 1997, has a reputation for its star-studded, closed-door pickup games that take place during the NBA offseason. In the spring, it's also where some of the top NBA Draft hopefuls join Abunassar's pre-draft "boot camp" and commit themselves to an intricate world of sports training and nutrition.
The timeline is simple: arrive by April, revamp your training lifestyle and find your professional pathway &mdash; either via the NBA Draft, an undrafted free-agent deal or another contract &mdash; afterwards. The work is not flashy, isn't always fun and, if you want to stick as a pro, never ends.
But the results can change lives.
"It's not about W's or L's, it's about M's &mdash; M's being millions of dollars," said Isaac Mourier, Impact's Director of Performance Nutrition and Sport Science. "Once you say that to a guy like that, that's all they need in terms of motivation."
Mourier is a key cog in Impact's program. He's from the United Kingdom and played professional basketball in England and Germany before starting his own sports nutrition consulting business. Mourier has worked for the University of Georgia and Sacramento Kings as a nutritionist and consultant, and joined Impact in 2020 during the spring.
During his two-and-a-half years and three draft cycles with the company, Mourier has filled his laptop with infographics and progress charts for Impact athletes. They include individualized goals for each player; an example involves raising one prospect's weight by 20 pounds, lowering his body fat by 2%, increasing his bench press weight by 50 pounds and adding two inches to his vertical.
Mourier feels privileged to work with athletes at this stage of their careers. To him, the noise of team ecosystems and outside expectations all fade away. He can clearly define goals, and players know exactly what success will look like.
"This is the first time, maybe ever in their life, where they have a team of people that are only worried about them," he said. "Now, I'm just trying to get you to the NBA and keep you there. I don't care whether you win or lose games right now. This is you. All the focus is on you."
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Boot camp begins as soon as players are done with their respective prior seasons. They arrive at Impact and take part in comprehensive body testing to establish a full physical profile. The technology includes a bioelectrical impedence analysis that uses electrical currents to scan body composition. Sweat patches can read how much sodium athletes need in their system.
Variables such as blood work, stress hormone levels, nutrient deficienies, pre-workout hydration levels and post-workout hydration levels, body composition and body fat percentages all help establish a baseline of strengths and needs.
From there, each prospect receives an individualized growth roadmap. Skill development makes up one component. Players often train together in small groups, but they receive specific plans that prepare them for team pre-draft workouts and the NBA level.
"We're looking and analyzing and making assessments on the court; if guys are getting bumped off their cuts, if guys don't have enough lower-body power in their jump shot and guys seem like they need to get stronger, if guys aren't fast enough, [we'll consider], 'Okay, what do we need to do in the weight room or from a nutrition standpoint to correct that?'" Abunassar told Basketball News. "So, that's why every guy has his own program, because every guy has different goals."
Hydration and dieting are also central pieces. Mourier oversees the implementation of dietary plans through Impact's local chef connections, and says he outlines each meal, snack and supplement. Along the way are regular check-ins on body metrics, sleep schedules, mood and motivation among other factors. Mourier estimated that about 20-to-25 Impact staffers are involved with a player's development.&nbsp;
But Mourier repeatedly emphasized that the technology, food and workouts aren't what takes players to the Association. One of his most important jobs is reframing their habits and instilling discipline toward health.
"When an athlete gets to the elite level with bad habits, it's, 'Well, I'm already one of the best in the world at what I do, so why would I change?' So it's changing that mindset, and then when we've done that, it's about understanding that doing small things consistently is what gets us the results, as opposed to trying to do extreme things," Mourier said.
"The way that the structure of basketball [is] from AAU to college to the pros, a lot of the power is in the athlete's hands, where it's almost like, 'Who are you to tell me what to do?' So I think one of the main things that we have to do is cut through that barrier. And again, when our goals are the same as theirs, it becomes a little bit easier. But again, it's, 'Well, you've gotten to this level despite your bad habits. How good could you be if we instill some good habits?'"
Good habits, however, can be inconvenient and awkward. For NBA players to maintain their places in the league, they have to stick with those routines well past a pre-draft boot camp.
Dallas Mavericks wing Josh Green joined Impact's program ahead of the 2020 NBA Draft cycle. He's still entrenched with Impact today, and has been working out in Las Vegas this offseason. Part of his nutrition plan includes avoiding butter, which can be a particular hurdle when eating out at restaurants.
"I have to be the guy who requests light virgin oil, whatever it is," Green told Basketball News. "I think that's the hardest part about it. I'm about to go to Australia for three weeks, and all I'm gonna want to do is eat all the food, but I'm gonna have to stay disciplined. I want to have a big year, so my goal is focusing right now, but just taking it one day at a time."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
👀 <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshBGreen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JoshBGreen</a> <a href="https://t.co/pX0fkZzCBZ">pic.twitter.com/pX0fkZzCBZ</a>
&mdash; Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA/status/1547655829431525383?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2022</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Green said he started prioritizing nutrition after his second shoulder surgery in April 2019. Since joining Impact, Green has been floored by how much nourishment the human body loses during workouts. He has an app that lays out meal calories and hydration plans, and his goal this offseason is to skip carbohydrates, even from snacks like a simple bag of chips.
"When you're young, whatever you see in front of you is what you want," Green said. "I [was] able to start here early and realize, if I want to play ball for a while, it's important to put the right things in my body and stay healthy. It's the same thing as seeing your physical therapist and getting treatment, if not more important for your body."
Abunassar has a plethora of stories about players who embraced the importance of nutrition at the pro level. Garnett has talked about taping his meal-plan menus on the cabinets of his Minnesota home.&nbsp; Lowry, Haliburton and Serge Ibaka are examples of guys who transformed their bodies under Impact's guidance too.
Gym time and workouts are obviously valuable, but to Abunassar, nutrition is what sparks physical development.
"The nutrition is really the basis of body change &mdash; for anybody, not even just for a basketball player," Abunassar said. "You can go to the gym every day, but if you're eating cheeseburgers and fries, you're just not going to lose weight."
Mourier has his own trail of success stories. He's worked with dozens of players, including Haliburton and Green. Zeke Nnaji, another 2020 draftee, was an especially interesting case as the only plant-based-dieting prospect Mourier has guided at Impact.
Mourier does not advise athletes to follow a plant-based diet solely for performance. However, Nnaji had chosen to be a vegan for ethical reasons, which Mourier respected, and the two worked together to create a nutrition plan despite the constraints. One of Nnaji's pre-draft goals was to add muscle, and he succeeded with rigorous attention to detail.
"He gained 20 pounds and everyone was like, 'Who the hell is this?'" Mourier said. "So that was really good, just being tactful with the timing and quantities of that stuff. And [Nnaji] was really diligent with it. He nailed every single aspect of it down to the gram... He was a really easy one. I really can't take credit for all that stuff. I just put the blueprint down and he just rolled with it."
This year, Impact has worked with several 2022 draft prospects, including MarJon Beauchamp, Blake Wesley and Michael Foster Jr. among others.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
San Antonio Spurs rookie Blake Wesley (<a href="https://twitter.com/blakewesley0?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@blakewesley0</a>) working out at <a href="https://twitter.com/impactbball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@impactbball</a>: <a href="https://t.co/9lfkFikWsP">pic.twitter.com/9lfkFikWsP</a>
&mdash; Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA/status/1547643918904217604?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2022</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Wesley has been an Impact athlete since he was 17, meeting Abunassar for the first time as a junior in high school. Wesley would come in occasionally for workouts, staying on the far court and watching as NBA players like Leonard and Paul George would get their reps in. He returned in offseasons and locked in for his own pre-draft boot camp.
Mourier praised the Spurs rookie for his attention to detail regarding nutrition. Wesley frequently FaceTimed Mourier while at restaurants and stores, and asked questions about what he should eat. He's also a staunch advocate of Herbalife's CR7 Drive sports drink mix, and even has an endorsement deal with Herbalife.
As part of his pre-draft plan to put on weight, Welsey would cook three eggs, plus have oatmeal, milk and orange juice for breakfast.
"[Changing my nutrition] helped my body a lot," Wesley told Basketball News over the phone. "I kept doing this, so I kept getting better on the court and did everything good on the court. So yeah, my nutrition helped me a lot."
The result: Wesley turned himself from a relatively unheralded four-star recruit into Notre Dame's first one-and-done player &mdash; then bulked up to 190 pounds in the spring and became a first-round NBA draft pick.
"I met [Wesley] a year ago, before he went to Notre Dame, and his transformation from then to the start of the pre-draft [process] to now &mdash; it's phenomenal," Mourier said.
The next challenge is to maintain discipline once that contract gets signed.&nbsp;
"You gotta stay focused; the NBA is totally different from college," Wesley said. "I mean, you're getting paid, you got a high profile [and] a lot of people are watching you &mdash; &nbsp;watching how you move, who you hang out with, stuff like that. So it's a whole different lifestyle."
Abunassar, Mourier and the Impact staff are hands-on with their players during the offseason and pre-draft process. But what happens when those players head back to their respective NBA franchises?
"For the most part, from a strength-and-conditioning standpoint [and] from a player development standpoint, the NBA teams have stuff really dialed in," Mourier said. "From a nutrition standpoint, for the most part, they do not."
Mourier estimated that there are only six full-time nutritionists and dietitians in the entire NBA. The Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitians Association (CPSDA) lists <a href="https://sportsrd.org/career-development/full-time-sports-rds-working-with-usas-top-institutions/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nine full-time registered dietitians.</a> Mourier said that teams often have physicians and trainers covering several responsibilites, including nutrition, due to budget restrictions and front-office priorities. This means some athletes, specifically reserve players, receive less health guidance.
"We're kind of the ones who are the last for the front office to see the value in it, so a lot of times we're really just a check-box," Mourier said. "So especially for those lower-order guys that are maybe No. 7, 8, 9, 10, all the way through to 15 on the roster, they're not really receiving any support at all. They're receiving provision. They're receiving meals and supplements. But in terms of education and behavior change, they're really not receiving it."
Over the last 25 years, Abunassar has seen sports nutrition dramatically change, with data and technology more interwoven into practice than ever. He thinks there are positives and pitfalls to the advancements.
"From a nutrition standpoint and strength-and-conditioning standpoint, it's clearly useful information to help prevent injury, to increase lean body mass, etc.," he said. "All of the technology that has come out has been very helpful for us, but you do have to watch that you don't get too reliant on it. Sometimes, you gotta watch the games and see how guys move and that kind of thing. But a combination of the two is very effective."
Impact Basketball is one progressive frontrunner in the field of sports science, but Mourier emphasized that, at this point, all basketball pros should be setting themselves up for success with some sort of offseason developmental map. Pre-draft prospects especially cannot afford to lose that critical period before team workouts to maximize their appeal.
"It's like doing the SAT without looking at the study guide," Mourier said "...I think it's definitely a standard. There's people doing this all over the country, really. Nobody does it like us, and nobody's been doing it for as long as us, but people are seeing the value."

A behind-the-scenes look at how Impact Basketball helps players realize their full potential by focusing on their training and nutrition.