How LeBron-less Sixers overcame a 22-rebound deficit and still won by 11

How LeBron-less Sixers overcame a 22-rebound deficit and still won by 11 originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Ask anyone around the Sixers when this new group will fully understand what it can become, and the answer tends to sound the same.

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It is far too early.

Three games have nevertheless revealed something about them. The Sixers are finding different ways to win.

They survived a difficult shooting night against the Knicks by turning defense into transition offense. They erased a 29-point deficit against the Cavaliers. On Saturday, they beat the Bucks without LeBron James while getting outrebounded by 22.

On the first leg of a back-to-back, Milwaukee grabbed 62 rebounds to Philadelphia’s 40. The Bucks collected 17 offensive boards and scored 20 second-chance points.

The Sixers still won by 11.

According to Sportradar, it was only the 26th game since rebound differential began being tracked in 1974-75 in which a team won by double digits despite getting outrebounded by at least 22. It was the first such win in Sixers history.

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The last time Philadelphia won any game with a rebound deficit of at least 20 was April 20, 1989, when Charles Barkley, Hersey Hawkins and the Sixers beat the New Jersey Nets, 105-92.

“We’re not completely thrilled,” head coach Nick Nurse said. “They played incredibly fast, and they crash everybody. We kind of knew that going in. I guess we made up for it in some other areas.”

The Sixers did. With James sitting for injury management, Joel Embiid directed the offense, VJ Edgecombe supplied desperately needed rebounding from the perimeter and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope made timely plays at both ends.

The result was a 127-116 victory and the franchise’s fourth 3-0 start since the beginning of the 2000-01 season.

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A different floor general

James’ first absence with the Sixers presented a straightforward question.

Who would organize the offense without him?

The answer began with Embiid.

He recorded 28 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his 10th regular-season triple-double. He assisted four baskets in the opening quarter and continued creating shots as…

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Publish date : 2026-10-25 03:09:00

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