Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey & Paul George Finally Click as Sixers Find Their Rhythm
The Philadelphia 76ers may have finally turned a long-awaited corner. After months of stop-start momentum, injuries, and questions about chemistry, the Sixers’ star trio of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George are beginning to look like a cohesive force rather than three elite players taking turns.
Thursday night’s 123–108 win over the Dallas Mavericks, their second straight victory, pushed Philadelphia to 18–14 and showcased the most complete combined performance the trio has delivered together this season. Individually, each has had bigger nights before. Collectively, they’ve never looked more in sync.
From the opening tip, the Sixers’ offense felt different. There was spacing, patience, and — perhaps most importantly — rhythm. For much of the season, Maxey, Embiid, and George have spoken about needing time together to find that flow. With all three finally healthy for an extended stretch, that belief is starting to look justified.
Maxey was once again the engine. Playing in Dallas — his annual homecoming, just a short drive from his hometown of Garland, Texas — the All-Star guard attacked downhill relentlessly. Rather than forcing shots, he let the game come to him, creating stress-free scoring opportunities for himself and others. Any time Maxey can get to the rim without resistance, the Sixers are winning possessions.
Plenty of offense again tonight pic.twitter.com/NSQPUYSNT8
— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) January 2, 2026
Embiid, meanwhile, controlled the interior without needing to dominate the ball. His two-man game with Maxey has quietly become one of the league’s most dangerous actions, bending defenses and opening space on the perimeter. Even when he rested, the Sixers’ energy didn’t collapse — a notable change from earlier in the season.
George’s impact may have been the most encouraging. Instead of settling for contested mid-range jumpers, he focused on driving to the basket, doing most of his damage in decisive stretches. With Dallas worried about Maxey’s penetration, George repeatedly found clear lanes, punctuating one sequence with a powerful dunk that brought the Sixers’ bench to its feet. That version of George — aggressive, decisive, and efficient — is exactly what Philadelphia envisioned when committing max money to the trio.
Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey & Paul George Power a Confident Surge with Back-to-Back Statement Wins
Around them, role players did their jobs. Quentin Grimes, who had been mired in a multi-week shooting slump, delivered timely buckets and smart defensive possessions. His performance served as a reminder of just how valuable the Sixers’ trade with Dallas last year has been, especially when contrasted with Caleb Martin’s struggles on the other side. Grimes’ ability to contribute in what head coach Nick Nurse calls “starter minutes,” even off the bench, remains crucial.
Rookie VJ Edgecombe continued his impressive two-way play, once again showing maturity beyond his years. He never forced the issue, trusted the offense, and let opportunities come naturally — a mentality that has already resulted in nine 20-plus-point games early in his career.
Defensively, Philadelphia shook off another shaky start and locked in after the first quarter. That adjustment proved decisive, especially considering how dreadful their back-to-back losses earlier in January had been, including a fourth-quarter collapse against Sacramento and a blowout loss to Golden State.
PAUL GEORGE‼️ pic.twitter.com/iOdCoIM1Rm
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 2, 2026
Perhaps most significant is what this stretch represents symbolically. This is the longest run of the 2025–26 season in which Maxey, Embiid, and George have all been available. For the first time, they look less like individuals sharing the floor and more like a unit enhancing one another’s strengths.
There are still questions ahead — rotation choices, long-term cap implications, and whether this chemistry can hold against elite competition — but the signs are finally positive. With a rematch against the New York Knicks looming to close out a five-game road trip, the Sixers have a chance to prove that this isn’t just a brief spark.
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If this trio continues to take the right shots, make the right reads, and play off one another, Philadelphia’s ceiling rises dramatically. For the first time all season, the Sixers look like a team whose whole may truly be greater than the sum of its star-studded parts.
