Andre Drummond went down with an injury and the game wasn’t the prettiest, but the Sixers took care of business vs. the tanking Nets.
Nov 29, 2025, 3:03 AM UTC
The injury bug even bites hard in a much-needed win.
The Sixers snapped a two-game skid, taking down the Brooklyn Nets 115-103 Friday night. This also mercifully put an end to the Sixers 2025 Emirates NBA Cup play.
Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with a modest 22 points, shooting 7-of-16 from the floor with nine rebounds and seven assists. Jared McCain had his first 20-point game of the season, doing so on 7-of-16 shooting as well.
Paul George returned to shoot 6-of-10 from the floor to go for 14 points, three rebounds and two steals in 21:21 of play. Quentin Grimes had 19 points and nine assists. Egor Demin led all scorers with 23.
Andre Drummond left the game after suffering a knee sprain in the second quarter, adding to an injured list that also includes Joel Embiid, Kelly Oubre Jr., VJ Edgecombe and Trendon Watford.
Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.
* Neither team could buy a jumper to start the night, combining to go 4-of-15 from the field to open things up. It’s funny that Drummond has been the best three-point shooter from the backup center position. His 10 made threes aren’t just a career-best, but they lead the front-court so far (with one obvious availability asterisk).
* That remained the case from outside but both teams started getting to the basket easier. George’s first shift was his longest so far, playing over nine minutes. He got to the basket a couple times himself to start, and the three he buried just before subbing out was the team’s second of the night.
* Also making his return was Adem Bona after missing the last five with an ankle sprain. He didn’t get up to much early, save for some ball-pressure on Day’ron Sharpe that led to a Maxey pick-six. Jared McCain buried a corner three on a two-for-one opportunity, but his no-dip attempt the next time down the floor didn’t fall, so the Sixers had to settle for an eight-point lead after one.
* If there’s a team to do it against, it’s probably this one. Kyle Lowry got his first real minutes of the season, out there to start the quarter. There wasn’t much K-Lo needed to do with George taking care of things on both ends of the floor. The deflections he’s able to cause are a big help when he’s available, and his jumper continued to fall for him early.
* Bona was able to finish up a good shift himself despite picking up two unnecessary fouls. He scored six quick points finishing off dump offs and putbacks. As soon he was back though the front court took another blow. Drummond went down with an injury. It wasn’t quite clear on the replays if he hyperextended his knee or just banged it running into Lowry. He was in a lot of pain though and needed help going back to the locker room and was ruled out at halftime.
* The scramble to replace Drummond became even more immediate when Bona picked up his third foul. Nick Nurse was already breaking out everything, giving Johni Broome a chance along with Jabari Walker. They picked up three fouls quickly as well, as had Dominick Barlow. The Sixers’ inability to stop fouling inside became Brooklyn’s only source of offens e— they shot 15 free throws in the quarter after taking one in the first. They trailed by as many points though, giving the Sixers a comfortable lead at the half.
* That issue persisted to start the second half with Barlow quickly picking up his fourth as well. The same nearly happened for Bona, but Nurse was able to get that one overturned with a challenge. It was a lingering problem, but one that wasn’t harming the Sixers’ lead. Maxey had a quick burst after not having to do nearly as much in the first half.
* That changed in the third, as nearly seven minutes went by without a Sixer not named Maxey scoring. The Nets slowly and briefly were able to cut the lead to single digits. Grimes had looked fairly out of control for most of the night, but he strung together some solid drives that stopped the bleeding.
* To the point about Lowry earlier, it did not look like you could get away with playing Broome against this team. Even here he just looked too slow and small to get anything done. The front court situation remained precarious as Walker picked up his fourth and fifth fouls. The Nets also joined what is now a growing list of teams to bury heaves against them at the end of quarters as well. This time, it only cut the Sixers’ lead to 12.
* Something else that prevented the Sixers from pulling away was that they were just as cold from deep as Brooklyn. That Maxey three from the corner early in the third was the only three of their first nine attempts to fall in the second half.
* That helped Brooklyn hang around longer than anyone would have liked. Despite McCain chipping in the first time since early in the second, the Nets were again able to get the lead down to single digits. It was McCain though who made that brief when he hit the Sixers’ first three of the quarter.
* An open three by McCain was also hit coming right out of the immediate timeout. Shortly after, Bona hit his first three-pointer of his career. It was still much needed after Demin was single-handedly trying to give the Nets a miraculous comeback. Demin, like many, had a slow start but really got going once he saw a three go down.
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