While many were likely asleep on Monday night, Paul George made his Sixers debut in a 10:15 pm tip off in Phoenix. The Sixers lost 118-116 to the Suns, dropping to 1-5 on the season. Here are my 3 biggest takeaways from the game:
1. Simply put: This team can not buy a win right now
Monday night’s game wasn’t unwatchable the way the majority of the Sixers other losses have been this season, but finding the win column remains a huge struggle for this team right now.
They got Paul George in the lineup, a huge night from Tyrese Maxey, Guershon Yabusele’s best game as a Sixer and six total players in double figures. The Sixers either led or were tied for 10:30 of the 4th quarter minutes and still, it was Kevin Durant in the end who converted a game-winning layup with 24 seconds left. Didn’t matter that the Sixers played well, they still lost.
2. Paul George took a backseat to Tyree Maxey in his debut, except for in the game’s final moments
If you simply look at the box score of Paul George’s debut, you’d likely say to yourself that it was underwhelming. 14 points, 4-14 shooting, 17 from three and six turnovers. Nothing special.
However, it should be noted that his closing stat line was at least somewhat held back by the night that Tyrese Maxey had. Maxey took charge of the offense for the majority of the night, finishing with 32 points on 22 shots.
This is what made it so interesting that, with the shot clock unplugged and the Sixers down two, Nick Nurse elected not to call a timeout following Durant’s go-ahead bucket and allowed the game’s final possession to be George in isolation, not Maxey. George’s stepback jumper at the top of the key wouldn’t fall, Sixers lose by two.
3. Guershon Yabusele was this close to not playing in the NBA ever again
In case you’re not familiar with his story, Guershon Yabusele last played a meaningful NBA game in 2019 prior to this season. He spent the 2017-18 and 2018-19 season’s with the Celtics.
The guy has been playing in Spain and other overseas leagues for years at this point, he goes on to have a career-changing performance for France in the 2024 Summer Olympics. Yabusele averaged 14 points, second most of any French player, on a team that won the silver medal.
In particular, his 20 points in the Gold Medal game against Team USA was enough to get Daryl Morey to pick up the phone.
On Monday, Yabusele finished with 19 points on 6-14 shooting (5-11 from 3), 6 assists and 7 rebounds. His points and assists totals were both career highs in the NBA.
The Sixers remain in search of their second win of the season. They’ll have two more chances to do so on Wednesday and Friday night of this week, 10:00 pm tip offs in Los Angeles against the Clippers and Lakers respectively.