The Philadelphia 76ers delivered a resilient, high-energy performance Friday night, powered by Tyrese Maxey’s 22 points, to secure a 115–103 victory over the Brooklyn Nets in an NBA Cup showdown at Barclays Center. In a game where depth was tested and momentum swung wildly, the Sixers found the answers they needed, snapping a two-game skid with a statement win that highlighted both their young talent and their ability to adapt under pressure.
Philadelphia entered the night without Joel Embiid, sidelined due to right knee management, and VJ Edgecombe, who was held out with calf tightness. Their situation grew even more challenging when Andre Drummond went down in the second quarter with what appeared to be a significant right knee sprain. Drummond collapsed awkwardly after contesting Tyrese Martin’s floater and immediately grabbed for his knee, leaving the Sixers with limited options in the frontcourt.
Despite the adversity, Philadelphia’s offense found its rhythm early and often. Maxey once again played the role of offensive catalyst, pushing the tempo and creating mismatches that kept Brooklyn on its heels. Rookie guard Jared McCain was outstanding off the bench, pouring in 20 points with confident shooting and poise well beyond his years. Quentin Grimes added 19 efficient points, and Paul George chipped in 14, helping Philadelphia maintain control every time Brooklyn threatened to make a run.
The Nets, who continue to search for answers on their home floor, leaned heavily on Egor Demin, who delivered a career-high 23 points. Tyrese Martin added 16 in a strong outing for the former Allen High School standout, but Brooklyn’s struggles in closing out quarters once again proved costly. The loss dropped the Nets to 0–9 at home this season—a stunning drought for a franchise that last celebrated a home win on April 8.
Brooklyn showed sparks of life midway through the third quarter, rattling off an 11–2 run capped by Demin’s three-pointer that trimmed Philadelphia’s lead to nine. Each time the Nets inched closer, however, the Sixers responded with execution and timely shot-making. McCain, Grimes, and Maxey combined to keep the momentum in Philadelphia’s favor, refusing to let the home team seize control.
Down the stretch, the Nets made one more push as Demin’s late layup cut the deficit to 112–103 with just over a minute left. But Grimes quickly found Adem Bona in the corner, and the rookie forward calmly drilled a decisive three-pointer that sealed the win and quieted the arena.
The matchup added another compelling chapter to an early-season NBA Cup slate that has already delivered some unpredictable moments, and it also offered another layer of intrigue for fans following regional and national sports trends. Readers looking to stay plugged into the latest developments across basketball and beyond can find more coverage in our expanded section on sports.
Philadelphia and Brooklyn both sit at 1–3 in NBA Cup play as they head into the next stretch of group-stage games. The Sixers will return home to take on the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night, while the Nets travel to Milwaukee for a challenging Saturday matchup as they continue searching for elusive stability—and their first home win of the season.
