Five minutes into the preseason opener against the New York Knicks, 76ers backup center Ariel Hukporti suffered an Achilles tear.

The noncontact injury occurred with 7:06 remaining in the first quarter. Hukporti fell and immediately grabbed his lower right leg.

The big man signed a one-year, $3.4 million free agent contract in July after winning the finals with the Knicks.

Sixers coach Nick Nurse said after the win that Hukporti would get imaging on his right Achilles the following day.

Hukporti’s new teammates offered support and concern for the 24-year-old German.

“Huk has been a joy to have,” Jaylen Brown said. “He’s been great in the locker room, so it sucks to see a guy like that go down.” 

Jabari Walker came off the bench to fill in for Hukporti as a stretch big, finishing with 11 points (3-for-5 on 3-pointers) and 11 rebounds in 19 minutes. Walker feels that he has already grown close with Hukporti in a short amount of time.

“He’s like my brother,” Walker said. “It’s especially hard for me because I see the work he puts in. He just came to training camp and his energy has been great. He’s a great locker room guy. Man … that messed me up, honestly.” 

 “I just saw him for a little bit during the game. Gave him a big hug. He’s been a joy to coach in the short time he’s been here. Really a good dude. So, we’ll just hope for the best,” Nurse added.

The injury has put the 76ers in a tough spot with no healthy backup for Joel Embiid. Adem Bona and Tacko Fall are currently out with injuries, with Bona who has yet to participate in training camp after an injury with the Turkish national team.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is headed to the 76ers after negotiating a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies, giving Philadelphia another proven wing just one day after the franchise’s headline-grabbing signing of LeBron James.

The Grizzlies and Caldwell-Pope’s representation, Klutch Sports founder Rich Paul, finalized the buyout Saturday, clearing the way for the veteran guard to clear waivers and sign a new one-year deal worth $3.9 million with Philadelphia. The move unwinds the three-year, $66 million contract Memphis had handed him, a deal negotiated by the same Klutch Sports agency now steering both his and James’s moves this offseason.

Caldwell-Pope’s fit in Philadelphia carries obvious familiarity. The two-time NBA champion won his first title alongside James during the Lakers’ 2020 bubble run before adding a second ring with Denver in 2023, making him a known quantity as a three-and-D wing capable of spacing the floor around a ball-dominant star. His production dipped in Memphis compared with his best seasons — he averaged 8.4 points, 2.7 assists, 2.5 rebounds and just 21.3 minutes across 51 games, his lowest scoring and playing-time figures since his rookie year — but he still knocked down 45 three-pointers at a 37.8% clip from beyond the arc, numbers that made him an appealing target for a Sixers team looking to surround its new core with reliable shooting.

Landing him won’t be entirely simple from a roster-management standpoint. Philadelphia is already operating under the league’s first luxury-tax apron restrictions following its earlier signing of forward Dean Wade, meaning the team will likely need to shed at least two other roster spots to formally accommodate Caldwell-Pope once his deal becomes official.

If he does stick, Caldwell-Pope figures to compete for bench minutes alongside players like Anfernee Simons, Labaron Philon and Justin Edwards, adding depth to a roster that’s undergone rapid transformation in a matter of days — first landing Jaylen Brown in a blockbuster trade, then signing James, and now bringing back one of his most trusted championship teammates to round out the wing rotation.

LeBron James is heading to the Philadelphia 76ers for his 24th NBA season, agreeing to a two-year, $8 million deal that represents a stunning financial step down from the roughly $53 million he earned last year with the Lakers.

The 41-year-old announced the move himself on X, framing it less as a business transaction than a personal reckoning.

“I still truly love this game, and I have more to give,” James wrote, adding that the weeks leading up to his decision gave him rare space to reflect. “I’ve never been able to have no clue what to do and take real time to just think.”

His new contract starts just under $3.9 million this season, close to a veteran’s minimum salary, with a player option attached for year two.

The exit from Los Angeles wasn’t entirely James’s call. The Lakers had signaled they were ready to build their future around Luka Dončić rather than continue centering the roster on their longtime star, according to reporting on the situation.

James’s longtime agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, described the move to Philadelphia as free of the pressure that shaped James’s earlier career choices. “This is the first time that LeBron James is making a decision pressure-free,” Paul said. “He’s won already. He’s made good on his promise — he won in L.A. This is strictly for his happiness.”

Philadelphia’s pitch got help from inside the locker room. Star guard Tyrese Maxey, also a Klutch client who has called James a “big brother,” reportedly took a lead role in recruiting him personally, alongside center Joel Embiid and newly acquired forward Jaylen Brown. Maxey greeted the news with an exuberant round of Instagram stories, while Brown marked the occasion on X with a simple “#throwtheballup.”

James’s arrival caps a remarkable offseason build for the 76ers, who landed Brown in a blockbuster trade with Boston before adding James on top of it — giving Philadelphia two former Finals MVPs in the span of a single summer alongside Embiid and Maxey. Whether the aging superstar has enough left to meaningfully lift a team already reshaping itself around a new core remains an open question, but for a player who has spent parts of two decades chasing championships in Miami, Cleveland and Los Angeles, the move reads as much like a victory lap as a basketball decision.

Jaylen Brown is headed to the Philadelphia 76ers in a blockbuster trade completed Wednesday night.

The NBA offseason delivered drama Wednesday night as the Boston Celtics agreed to trade All-NBA forward Brown—one of the league’s top players—to the Philadelphia 76ers in one of the most shocking deals in recent history. The trade ends Brown’s 10-year run with the Celtics and reshapes the power structure of the Eastern Conference.

The Celtics will receive Paul George from the Sixers, along with two first-round picks and two second-round picks, in exchange for Brown. The move comes just after Boston’s unsuccessful attempt to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks.

Brown had the best season of his career last year. The 29-year-old averaged 28 points, six rebounds and five assists, finishing sixth in MVP voting. He established himself as one of the NBA’s premier two-way players and helped form one of the league’s most successful duos with Jayson Tatum, winning a title in 2024.

Brown was selected third overall by the Celtics in 2016. His biggest accomplishment came in 2024, when he won Finals MVP and led Boston to its 18th championship. Now, the Sixers’ backcourt will feature Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe—a rookie standout—giving Philadelphia one of the most talented cores in the Eastern Conference.

The trade has already impacted expectations across the league, with sportsbooks dramatically shifting Philadelphia’s NBA title odds, while Boston’s championship chances dropped significantly after the deal became public.

For Boston, it marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter as the NBA offseason continues. This blockbuster trade will likely be remembered as one of the defining moves of the summer.

​

After an embarrassing exit in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the 76ers fired president of basketball operations Daryl Morey. However, head coach Nick Nurse will remain in Philadelphia for another season. Bob Myers will temporarily oversee operations until Morley’s replacement is hired.

Managing partner Josh Harris made the announcement Tuesday night through a statement.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Daryl personally and professionally, and I’m grateful for his contributions over the last six seasons,” Harris said. “After speaking with Daryl, we determined that it was time for a fresh start.”

Morey’s dismissal raised some skepticism about the team’s direction, given Nurse’s track record. Despite winning a title for the Toronto Raptors in 2019, Nurse has a 6-11 postseason record in his 76ers tenure. The 76ers also haven’t advanced past the second round during Morley’s tenure, increasing their conference finals drought to 25 years. Nurse compiled a 116-130 record in the last three seasons, including a 24-58 record last season.

This postseason, the 76ers came back from a 3-1 first-round deficit to defeat the Boston Celtics in seven games before losing in a four-game sweep to the New York Knicks the next round.

Ahead of the 2023-2024 season, James Harden criticized Morley during a promotional tour in China, telling spectators, “Daryl Morey is a liar, and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.”

Harden would be traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in October 2023 for a 2028 unprotected first-round pick and swap rights in 2029. The 76ers also acquired Nicolas Batum, Marcus Morris, Robert Covington and Kenyon Martin Jr.

Paul George and Joel Embiid were also signed to massive contracts in 2024. George, Embiid and Tyrese Maxey played together for only 43 games, with the trio owning a 21-22 record.

Ex-Baylor guard VJ Edgecombe was picked third overall in the 2025 draft. Edgecombe finished in third place in Rookie of the Year voting, behind Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel.

Time would tell whether Morey’s successor would initiate an organizational shakeup, but a lot of work would need to be done to undo the unfortunate events that happened under Morey.

V.J. Edgecombe became the fifth-youngest player to score 30 or more points in a playoff game in the Philadelphia 76ers’ victory over the Boston Celtics.

The 76ers defeated the Celtics 111-97. This tied their playoff series at one win for each team. 

Edgecombe scored 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. At 20 years old, Edgecombe is one of the youngest players to score 30 or more in a playoff game. The only players who did it at a younger age are Derrick Rose, Brandon Jennings, Tyler Herro and Anthony Edwards. Rose and Herro also scored 30 or more against the Celtics.

Edgecombe also surpassed Magic Johnson as the youngest player to score 30 or more points and grab 10 or more rebounds. Johnson scored 42 points and 15 rebounds against the 76ers in the 1980 NBA Finals to clinch the Los Angeles Lakers’ championship. Johnson was 20 during the 1980 NBA Finals. Johnson famously had to play center in this game because Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was injured and missed it. 

Although Edgecombe stole the headlines, other 76ers had strong performances as well. Paul George scored 19 points in the 76ers victory. 

The Celtics got a good performance from their star duo. Jaylen Brown scored 36 points, and Jayson Tatum nearly got a triple-double with 19 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists. Despite a good game from the Jays duo of Brown and Tatum, the Celtics didn’t get much contribution from their support pieces. 

76ers center Joel Embiid is currently out after an emergency appendectomy. This procedure removes the appendix from the patient due to inflammation or rupture. Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby missed the entire 2019 playoffs after an appendectomy. However, he had a rupture while Embiid only had inflammation, so the 76ers currently believe that Embiid will return sometime this season.

Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey is having quite the start to the season.

After 16 games played, the 25-year-old is having his highest points per game since joining the league in 2020. He’s averaging 33.4 points per game while also averaging his best field goal percentage (47.3%) since the 2022-23 campaign.

In the 76ers’ victory against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, Maxey recorded a career-high 54 points as he led the team to its ninth win of the season. The guard also tallied nine assists and five rebounds during the overtime win.

Maxey followed his career night with another big performance three days later against the Miami Heat. He led the team with 27 points and notched six assists, but it wasn’t enough for a tenth victory as the Heat won 127-117.

Out of the 16 games played for the team this season, only two of them have seen Maxey record less than 25 points. But even in those two games, he tallied over 20 points.

The 76ers are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2024-25 campaign. The team finished 13th in the Eastern Conference with a 24-58 record, its fewest wins since the 2016-17 season.

Maxey will look to continue his strong form in the upcoming week, where the 76ers will play two NBA Cup games. Philadelphia will host the Orlando Magic on Tuesday before facing the Brooklyn Nets on the road on Friday.

The Philadelphia 76ers entered this season with postseason hopes, having been first-round exits in 2024. They got stronger over the offseason on paper, re-signing All-Star Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr., as well as adding first-round pick Jared McCain through the draft – all, of course, built around 2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid.

Maxey is having a stellar season, sitting fifth in the NBA with 27.4 points per game. But that’s a position he’s been forced to step into, as it begins to look increasingly like neither McCain nor Embiid will play more than 25 games for the Sixers this season.

McCain was a bright spot in Philadelphia’s opening stretch – before injury forced him into season-ending left knee surgery just 23 games in. A lateral meniscus injury Embiid sustained in February 2024 has sidelined him for extended periods in both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons already. He played 36 games last year, and has played just 19 of 56 this year, dealing with a foot sprain on top of the injured knee.

Now, as the 76ers have dropped to 20-36 on the season, Embiid is reportedly “considering alternative options, such as surgery,” for his knee.

Embiid has evidently been constrained by his injury this season, even while playing. He’s averaging 23.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, well below his career averages of 27.7 and 11.0, and has the worst field goal percentage of his career. 

76ers coach Nick Nurse said as much following the team’s Saturday night loss to the Brooklyn Nets.

“He’s giving us what he can,” Nurse told reporters. “He’s not himself; we all know that. He’s not, certainly, the guy that we’re used to seeing play at a super-high level. But I commend him for giving us what he can.”

With championship hopes definitively buried for the time being, and Embiid’s injury continuing to impede his play, shutting him down may be the smartest move for the franchise. It’s in the 76ers’ interest to have Embiid, who turns 31 next month, stay healthy for the long-term. And every night he plays on his injured knee shortens his potential time – and productivity – in the league.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid will miss the team’s upcoming road trip due to swelling in his left knee. According to the Sixers, he will receive treatment in the coming days.

The 76ers announced that Embiid recently recovered from a foot sprain that sidelined him for six games and caused knee swelling following an on-court workout on Thursday. He will be re-evaluated in seven to ten days, meaning he won’t play against the Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets.

Embiid’s season has been significantly impacted by injuries, with the star center missing 26 games so far. The Sixers have faced difficulties without him, with an 8-18 record in his absence. His injuries have included left knee soreness and a sinus fracture, in addition to his three-game suspension following an incident with a reporter in the locker room.

With Embiid in the lineup, the Sixers have a record of 7-6.

His point and rebound career averages have also hit lows this season, with 24.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. His career averages in those areas are 27.8 points and 11.1 rebounds. He’s also shooting a career-low 45.2 percent from the field.

The team will need to rely heavily on Tyrese Maxey and Paul George to fill Embiid’s scoring void. However, George recently expressed frustration with his role. He told the media he feels “bored” playing the center position in Embiid’s absence. So far, the three of them have played just 10 games together.

The Sixers currently sit at the 11th seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 15-24, the eighth-worst in the league. This means their pick is currently eighth, but it will go to the Oklahoma City Thunder if it’s between 7-30.

Seven-time All-Star Joel Embiid has had a rough season.

Much-maligned for his injury troubles, Embiid missed the first nine games of the season under a suspension and “left knee management,” played four of the next five games, and then missed seven straight. When he returned, he suffered a sinus fracture that sidelined him for a game. Combined, going into Monday’s game against the Spurs, Embiid had played just seven of a possible 26 games. The 76ers were 9-17.

Starting against the Spurs, Embiid put up nine points, an assist, and three rebounds in 14 minutes. With three minutes left in the first half, though, he was hit with an offensive foul for charging through Victor Wembanyama.

Clearly upset, Embiid argued vehemently with referee Jenna Schroeder about the call. The argument created a prolonged altercation, during which Embiid followed Schroeder, ripped his protective face mask off, and continued to get in her face after receiving a technical foul for his behavior. He was eventually restrained by teammates, handed a second technical foul, and ejected.

The game was a wild one for ejections, with Schroeder also handing out an ejection to the 76ers’ Andre Drummond before overturning it via video review.

Philadelphia was able to pull out a five-point win on the back of a 32-point appearance from G Tyrese Maxey, and Embiid returned the following game, contributing 27 points to lift the 76ers over the 22-8 Boston Celtics.

The Sixers now sit at 11-17, but continue to rely heavily on the production of the 2023 MVP to win games, particularly with rookie Jared McCain out for the season. At 12th in the Eastern Conference, they have work to do if they plan to secure a playoff spot. And that will require Embiid to play more than eight full games per 28.

He and the 76ers return to action Saturday night against the Utah Jazz.

The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated a depleted Philadelphia 76ers team 114-106 Wednesday, improving to 13-0 in an astounding start to the 2024-25 season. It is the best start to an NBA season since the Golden State Warriors’ mythical 24-0 run in 2015.

Throughout this torrid stretch, the Cavs have relied heavily on guards Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, and both star players delivered yet again with stellar performances against Philadelphia. Garland led the team with 25 points, while Mitchell put up 23 with 13 rebounds and 9 assists.

The 76ers, who had to compete with Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey, would have been completely hopeless if not for a massive effort from rookie Jared McCain. The 20-year-old guard scored 34 points with 10 assists, but Cleveland still managed to wear down its shorthanded opponent and marched to an eight-point win.

The Cavaliers were not on many people’s radars as a serious championship contender before the season, but the results are becoming hard to deny. They have picked apart a weak Eastern Conference to this point, winning over the Knicks, Bucks and Magic, all playoff teams last season. 

Cleveland’s most dominant victory this season was also against its toughest opponent, when the team took a 41-point lead at the half against the Warriors and cruised home in a 136-117 blowout on Nov. 8. The Cavs have not yet been tested against the Celtics, the defending NBA Champions who knocked them out of the playoffs last year, but that hurdle is coming up in a game on Nov. 19.

“We’re just sticking together,” Garland said after the game Wednesday, according to ESPN. “Just taking it game by game. We know we’ve got a target on our back, so we’ve got to come in with that aggressiveness and that confidence that we’re going to win every game, and that’s what we’ve been doing. Even though like I said, long nights, not a lot of sleep, but we’ve got to stay together and just continue just to be great. That’s what we’re trying to do.”

Joel Embiid’s name came up twice in NBA news this week as he continues to rehab from a lower-body injury and has yet to take the court.

In a game against the Indiana Pacers, he waved a towel during Andrew Nembhard‘s free throw attempt, which the NBA later assessed as a technical foul, although the referees did not see it or call it during the game. The Philadelphia 76ers won 118-114, which is their only win of the season, starting from the year 1-2.

On Tuesday, the NBA announced that it is fining the Philadelphia 76ers $100,000 for “inconsistent messaging” about his injury. In the off-season, Embiid said he would be willing to play below the 65-game threshold that the NBA instituted for players to be eligible for individual recognition to curb resting players.

The former MVP played less than half of his team’s game last season and does not have a timetable on when he will play this year as he deals with “left knee management.” Paul George, who signed a four-year deal with the 76ers in free agency during the off-season, has also not played after getting banged up in the pre-season and dealing with a hyperextended knee. Head coach Nick Nurse spoke on his two star’s health on Tuesday.

“We want these guys to play and we want them to be healthy and we want them to play great, and we want them to play great all season,” Nurse said. “Then my main focus is, I’ve got to do the job that I’ve got to do. I’ve got to try to get this team to play as good as it can tomorrow night. That takes a big chunk of my focus and whatever. I’m just trying to concentrate on my job at hand.”

Philadelphia takes on the Detroit Pistons at home on Wednesday.

Veteran point guard Kyle Lowry plans to stay put in Philadelphia for the 2024-2025 season after getting an opportunity to play with his hometown 76ers last season. Lowry agreed to a one-year contract Thursday to remain in Philly despite speculation of the point guard leaving for Los Angeles.

The Clippers were interested in Lowry’s services and a reunion with Chris Paul to “stock up” backcourt depth as Rusell Westbrook had a $4 million player option for 2024.

Lowry played with the Miami Heat for roughly two and a half seasons before being shipped off to Charlotte in exchange for Terry Rozier. The veteran joined his hometown squad soon after being bought out by the Hornets. In 23 games, Lowry averaged eight points, 4.6 assists and 2.8 rebounds while shooting over 40 percent from beyond the arc.

Prior to joining the Heat in 2021, Lowry spent nine seasons with the Raptors, winning the 2018-19 NBA Finals over the Warriors alongside Kawhi Leonard and Pascal Siakam. The point guard averaged 16.2 points in the NBA Finals that season and recorded 26 points in game six to clinch Toronto’s first title. The former Villanova Wildcat was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the 2006 draft.

Philadelphia also brought in Paul George as part of their roster overhaul. Lowry’s presence enables a leadership role for Tyrese Maxey while being a distributor to George and Joel Embiid.

President Daryl Morey also recruited Caleb Martin, Andre Drummond and Eric Gordon to increase veteran presence. The roster overhaul comes in response to a devastating first-round exit to the Knicks, who utilized late-game heroics from their star players to steal games that the Sixers were mere seconds away from winning. Philly hasn’t appeared in the Eastern Conference Finals since 2001.

“The goal is always to win a championship,” Joel Embiid told ESPN in his first sit-down since general manager Daryl Morey put together a big three in Philadelphia by adding Paul George to the roster.

Embiid appears healthy, playing summer basketball with Team USA this summer at the Olympics. But, he cannot wait to touch the floor with George, a nine-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA performer.

“I don’t have to exert myself and make sure I have to have 30, 40 every single night for us to win, and I can let them do their thing.”

“On paper, and as far as the fit, it looks fantastic because you got both guys that can play off the ball, and they can play on ball, and they’re great shooters, and they can handle the ball, and then you also got me.”

George can carry a team on his own, something the 76ers have not given Embiid during his time in Philly. Ben Simmons was the first attempt at someone who could pair with the former MVP, but he never found his rhythm and flamed out of Philadelphia.

Tobias Harris and Jimmy Butler were the next options, but the former worsened each season, and the latter bottled for Miami after a one-year stint. Tyrese Maxey just received a max extension from the 76ers, but being the third star, not the co-star, fits his game as he develops as a player. George and Embiid have never advanced to the NBA Finals or won an NBA championship, but the new trio will have the best crack in their professional careers at a title.

While stars influence winning the most in the NBA, the 76ers got depth around their top talent. Caleb Martin took a flight north from the Miami Heat, signing a four-year $32 million deal with his former Eastern Conference rival. Kyle Lowry decided to stay in his hometown for at least one more season.

The pieces have fallen into place and Philadelphia can start dreaming of the season for the first time in years.

There is a new big three in the Eastern Conference, as Paul George signed with the Philadelphia 76ers during the start of NBA free agency. He joins Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, who just extended with the 76ers as they try to dethrone the Boston Celtics in the east.

George opted out of his final season with the Los Angeles Clippers, leaving James Harden and Kawhi Leonard on the West Coast. Reports suggested that the 34-year-old would meet with the Orlando Magic or try to facilitate a sign-and-trade with a contender. Ultimately, the chance to chase his first NBA championship landed him in the city of brotherly love. He spent five years with the Clippers and left just before the opening of their new arena. He never fully meshed with the other stars on his team and has a fresh start.

The 76ers needed to splash in free agency this year after their disastrous end to last season. Embiid missed most of the second half of the year and returned for the playoffs, yet never looked fully healthy. Philadelphia lost to the New York Knicks in five games during the first round but had enough cap space for a max contract with Tobias Harris joining the Detroit Pistons. General Manager Daryl Morey struck when the clock turned to midnight, cooling off his seat for a moment from the pressure of this sports town. Morey joins the Knicks in pursuing wing players because of the need to stop Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

While there have been injury concerns for George at his age and long-term contract, he played 74 games in the 2023-24 season, the most for him in five years. His points per game declined each of the last three seasons in L.A., finishing last year with 22.6. Next season will be the eight-time All-Stars’ 15th season in the NBA. He did not qualify for the USA men’s Olympic basketball team.

Philadelphia 76ers guard Cameron Payne was arrested in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Friday afternoon, facing two charges related to providing false information to law enforcement. Scottsdale police confirmed the arrest to KPHO-TV in Phoenix.

Payne, 29, was charged with one count of refusing to provide a truthful name and one count of making a false report to law enforcement. The incident stemmed from a disturbance in the early hours of the morning, leading officers to engage with Payne and another individual. Following the interaction, Payne was taken into custody, booked into Scottsdale’s city jail and later released.

The veteran guard recently concluded a season divided between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers, having been traded to Philadelphia on February 8. Throughout the season, Payne averaged 7.4 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.

Before joining the 76ers, Payne played four seasons with the Phoenix Suns, contributing significantly to their Western Conference title win in 2021. Originally from Memphis, Payne played college basketball at Murray State before embarking on his professional career. His NBA journey has also included stints with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Payne’s arrest marks a challenging moment in what has otherwise been a journeyman career. Known for his energy and playmaking ability, Payne has carved out a niche as a reliable backup guard. However, this off-court incident could impact his standing with the 76ers and his future in the league.

The 76ers and the NBA have not yet released statements regarding Payne’s arrest. As the legal process unfolds, it remains to be seen how this will affect his career and his role with the team. For now, Payne’s immediate future is uncertain as he deals with the legal repercussions of the charges against him.

There was already bad blood between the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers’ fan bases before their opening-round playoff series this year. Still, more conflict has surfaced in the media after the Knicks went through on Thursday.

When the Knicks won the series after an intense, gritty and back-and-forth game 6 in Wells Fargo Arena, 76ers fans let visiting Knicks fans know how they felt.

A video captured by the Philadelphia Inquirer showed what appears to be a Knicks fan being held back by security guards while trying to approach a Sixers fan at the entrance to seating sections 117 and 118.

The reporter Vaughn M. Johnson, who shot and posted the video, commented on the scene.

“It’s hella rowdy at the Wells Fargo Center tonight. Just saw a Knicks fan get thrown out of the arena… at halftime ,” before posting and captioning the video, “Like I said, hella rowdy.”

At halftime, the Sixers led 54-51 and had just recovered from a 22-point deficit. Buddy Hield‘s introduction boosted Sixers fans’ hopes, as he had caught the hot hand in the second quarter, making five three-pointers in 10 minutes. That’s likely why many Sixers fans shout “Budd Hield” in the video clip.

As the Knicks fan is pushed back and slowly removed from the stadium, Sixers fans clapped and cheered, and some yelled, “Oh s—” and “Holy s—.” Others yelled, “Get him the f— out of here,” as the large fellow was removed from the premises.

However, that entertainment would only last for a while for Sixers fans, as the Knicks came out on top. A clutch three-pointer from Josh Hart and a 41-point performance from Jalen Brunson saw the Knicks advance to the next round despite impressive plays from Sixers stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.

The Knicks are set to host the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals, with game one scheduled for Monday at 7:30 p.m.

Such conflict is not to be expected in the Knicks-Pacers matchup, but it will be interesting nonetheless to see what fan stories the rest of the NBA playoffs can bring.

The New York Knicks sealed the series against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night in a thrilling Game 6 that ended 118-115 with a massive 41-point performance from star guard Jalen Brunson and a clutch three-pointer from Josh Hart.

A gritty, hard-fought and intense series in the Northeast played right into the Knicks’ basketball style. It felt even sweeter in Brunson’s hands.

Early on, it looked like the Knicks would run away with the game after opening a 17-4 lead and then extending it to as high as 22 points in the first half. Once shooting guard Buddy Hield came in off the bench for the Sixers, the game got a lot closer as Hield’s 17 points in the first half helped them take a four-point lead into the halftime break.

The second half brought everything fans have come to expect in this series – grit, physicality, intensity and remarkable shot-making from both teams.

Fourteen of Brunson’s game-high 41 points came in the fourth quarter, but the Sixers kept fighting back with plays from Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. It wasn’t until Hart’s three-pointer with 24.4 seconds left that the Knicks took control of the game.

The Knicks made their free throws down the stretch and held on to win the series 4-2 in Philadelphia despite a valiant Sixers effort.

Earlier that night, the Indiana Pacers secured their spot in the Eastern Conference semifinals, winning their series against the Milwaukee Bucks 4-2 on the road.

The Knicks and the Pacers will face off in New York in Game 1 on Monday as the number two and six seeds, competing for a spot in the Eastern Conference finals.

Meanwhile, the Sixers and the Bucks will look ahead to the offseason and begin to reform their rosters after another disappointing early exit for superstars Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The Philadelphia 76ers looked ready to tie the series against the New York Knicks in Game 2 of their opening-round playoff series, leading 101-96 with 47 seconds left on Monday night. What followed was one of the craziest sequences in NBA playoff history.

Knicks star guard Jalen Brunson made a clutch three-pointer, and a tipped inbound pass led to a scramble for the ball, another Knicks possession, and then a Donte DiVincenzo three-pointer gave the Knicks a one-point lead, which they would hang on to for the remainder of the game to secure a 104-101 victory.

According to the NBA’s two-minute report, multiple officiating mistakes were made during the inbound sequence against the Sixers, leading to the loss.

With 27.2 seconds remaining, “an attempt to call a timeout by Coach Nurse (PHI) during this play is neither recognized nor granted by the officials.” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse grumbled about this after Game 2. “I called timeout,” Nurse explained. “The referee looked right at me and ignored me. Tyrese Maxey got the ball. I called timeout again. He ignored me again. Then the melee started.”

With 27 seconds remaining, “Brunson (NYK) pulls Maxey’s (PHI) jersey away from his body, which affects Maxey’s ability to secure the pass.” The referees did not call this pull, which affected Maxey as he attempted to secure the inbound pass Josh Hart tipped. It should have been a foul.

With 24.9 seconds remaining, “Hart (NYK) steps forward into Maxey’s (PHI) space and initiates lower body contact that causes Maxey to lose his balance and fall to the floor.” This should have been a foul as well, meaning the Knicks fouled Maxey twice on the way to their steal, but neither was called.

While these were the most critical mistakes made in the final seconds, the officials also missed others in crucial moments of the fourth quarter.

With 1:14 remaining, OG Anunoby committed a defensive three-second violation, which was not called. It didn’t matter when Maxey made a three-pointer five seconds later, though.

With 34.7 seconds remaining, Joel Embiid fouled DiVincenzo as he began his dribble. This no-call also worked out for New York in the end, as it led to Brunson’s three-pointer, which cut the Sixers’ lead down to 101-99.

Although the Sixers will not protest the result of Monday night’s game, they will file an official complaint with the league, per team spokesman John Clark. With these missed calls, the NBA’s last two-minute reports have declared Philadelphia the most disadvantaged team regarding officiating mistakes this season.

The Sixers will host the Knicks at home on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday at 1:00 p.m., trying to win their home games convincingly enough to make the officiating a non-factor and get back into the series.

Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey combined for 69 points in the Philadelphia 76ers’ last-minute loss to the New York Knicks in Game 2 of the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. Both came into Monday as questionable with injury and illness, but Embiid’s 34, 10, 6 and Maxey’s 35, 9, 10 weren’t enough to win on the road. Philadelphia had a five-point lead with less than a minute to go, but a Josh Hart steal and a Donte DiVincenzo three-pointer helped the Knicks secure the victory and go up 2-0 in the series.

Despite having their two-star players and a late lead, the Sixers couldn’t hold off the Knicks in Madison Square Garden. One reason for the loss could also be the officiating, and the 76ers said they intend to file an official grievance with the NBA for multiple missed calls throughout the game. Philadelphia head coach Nick Nurse had complaints about the referees after the game.

“I called timeout. The referee looked right at me and ignored me. It went into Tyrese. I called timeout again. Then the melee started,” Nurse said. “I guess I’ve got to run out on the floor or do something to get his attention. I needed a timeout to advance it. It would’ve been good. I couldn’t get it.”

Embiid, who played on Monday despite leaving Game 1 after being poked in the eye and dealing with a lingering knee injury, also raised questions about the officiating throughout the series. Regardless, he claimed the Sixers are still in a position to advance to the second round.

“We’re good,” Embiid said. “We’re going to win this series. We’re going to win this. …We’re the better team.”

Maxey missed the team’s morning shootaround and was questionable coming into Game 2 with an illness. Despite that, he led the team in points, defensive rebounds, assists and minutes, playing all but four minutes the entire night. He hit three three-pointers in the first quarter to help the Sixers grab an early seven-point lead, but along with Embiid, needed help to get the job done against the much more balanced Knicks team. Maxey and Embiid were the only players for Philadelphia to score more than 10 points on Monday night and are averaging a combined 65.5 points per game in the series, more than half of the team’s 102.5 playoff average.

For the Knicks, the Game 2 win was something they could have only dreamed of with a minute to play. They were down most of the night, shooting only 40.7% from the floor as a team, but had a solid second half to bring the game back within closing distance.

With 30 seconds left, Jalen Brunson hit a three-pointer to bring the lead down to two. Then, Hart stole the ball from Maxey on the inbound pass, feeding it to DiVincenzo to give New York the lead. DiVincenzo missed, but Isaiah Hartenstein came up with the offensive rebound, and the ball eventually got back to DiVincenzo, where he hit a three-pointer to take a one-point lead with 13 seconds left.

Hartenstein then blocked Maxey’s layup attempt with six seconds left, giving the Knicks the ball and two free throws. Maxey ran up the court for one final tying attempt and passed it to Embiid, who tried a last-second three-pointer but missed.

The Knicks finished the last 30 seconds of the game on an 8-0 run, as the first team in playoff history to win a game in regulation after being down by five with half a minute remaining. New York had five players score at least 10 points, with Brunson and Hart leading the way with stats of 24, 8, 6 and 21, 15, 3 respectively.

The Knicks won the first two games of the series at home but with an average margin of victory of just five points. The 76ers have been unhealthy but are still getting great performances out of their stars, and now have back-to-back games at home. New York still has the upper hand in the series but must take advantage of a short-staffed Sixers roster that relies heavily on their top talent. The Knicks have Brunson as their undoubted leader, but big games from Hart, DiVincenzo and Hartenstein, like on Monday, are the key to their success.

Game 3 of the series is on Thursday at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.