Atlantic Notes: Brown, Embiid, Lowry, Shead
Jaylen Brown is set to return for the Celtics‘ matchup with the Heat on Thursday after missing Monday’s loss in Indiana due to back spasms, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel notes (Twitter link). The Celtics have lost two consecutive games after winning nine of their previous 11 contests.
Brown believes that the Celtics have not been getting the whistle they should from the referees, Jay King writes in an article for The Athletic. He was fined $35K earlier in the week for criticizing the officiating after a game against the Spurs, which he expected.
“I think something had to be said,” Brown said. “As a team, we get to the free-throw line the least in the league. So just protecting our guys and myself. I think that we deserve a little bit of more respect.”
King points out that the Celtics are the only team in the league averaging fewer than 20 free throw attempts per game, and that Brown is 15th in attempts, despite driving more than anyone in the league other than Deni Avdija and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who both rank in the top four in free throw attempts.
Brown says he’s studied what referees look for and doesn’t believe that the whistle he and the team receive is consistent with the calls other teams get.
“They just pick and choose who they like to call it on. That’s the part that pisses me off,” Brown said. “It should just be everybody should just get reffed evenly and consistently, but it just seems like there’s an agenda where some guys they choose to call certain fouls for, some guys they don’t. So I don’t know what goes into that decision-making, but it’s kind of clear that certain guys on certain teams, certain markets or certain profiles get preferential treatment versus others when it should just be basketball.”
Head coach Joe Mazzulla agreed with his star player’s assessment, though he cautioned against getting too caught up in it.
“We can’t put ourselves in a situation where other people are allowed to control the outcome of the game,” Mazzulla said. “So we have to get better.”
We have more from around the Atlantic Division:
- Joel Embiid is the healthiest he’s been in two years, Tony Jones writes for The Athletic. His body responding the way he wants it to has helped bring him a newfound sense of joy to the Sixers. “I can’t sit here and say that I thought this would happen again. I was skeptical that I would have a chance of being this consistent,” Embiid said. “That’s why I’m kind of emotional about it. I think there were a lot of people that thought this would never be possible again. So, I’m happy that I’m getting the chance to play again and be consistent again. I just want to keep playing, and keep trying to get better every single night.” Embiid isn’t as explosive as he once was, as evidenced by his recording his first dunk of the season in a recent win over the Knicks, but he has been able to play with fluidity and intention, Jones writes. “What we love is that he looks happy,” said teammate Tyrese Maxey. “We want him to be happy, more than anything. And he looks healthy. I think the thing that I’m most proud of is that he’s staying on top of his treatment. He’s staying on top of getting ice and seeing the training staff. Just seeing him healthy, that is the stuff that really matters.”
- Kyle Lowry got to experience a special moment at the end of the Sixers‘ win against the Raptors on Monday, writes Ian Harrison of The Associated Press. With just under two minutes to go in the fourth quarter and the road crowd chanting his name, Lowry was inserted into the game and was greeted with an enthusiastic standing ovation. The game marked what could be the point guard’s last appearance in Toronto, six-and-a-half years after he helped bring the city its lone NBA championship. “I got an opportunity to experience probably one of the greatest basketball moments of my personal career,” Lowry said after the game. Coach Nick Nurse heard the crowd chanting, “We want Lowry,” and gave them what they wanted. “I thought they didn’t think I was really going to do it, but I was planning on it there and got a good moment to do it,” Nurse said. “It was nice to be able to kind of bring him in on his own there.” Lowry emphasized after the game that his retirement plan still involves signing a one-day contract with the Raptors to retire with the team he spent nine seasons playing for.
- Jamal Shead has been one of the standout performers for the Raptors this season, Eric Koreen writes in his midseason report card for The Athletic (subscriber link). Shead is one of two players, along with Scottie Barnes, whom Koreen awards an A grade, writing that the guard’s defense and ability to get downhill have earned him coach Darko Rajakovic‘s trust late in games. Koreen also notes that in Shead’s clutch-time minutes, the Raptors outscore their opponents by 26.2 points per 100 possessions.
Sixers Notes: Lowry, Oubre, Barlow, Embiid
Kyle Lowry didn’t see any playing time Sunday night as he made possibly the final Toronto appearance of his long NBA career, writes Eric Koreen of The Athletic. Lowry is still a beloved figure in the city, where he spent nine years and helped the Raptors win their only NBA title. But the Sixers guard has moved into a player-coach role in his 20th NBA season, logging 43 total minutes in five appearances. Head coach Nick Nurse refers to him a “middle man” who serves as a liaison between the coaching staff and the other players.
“Sometimes, I try to talk to those guys as a coach,” Lowry said of his younger teammates, especially Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. “As a player, I wish I could say certain things or say, ‘Do this or do that.’ It’s that balance of I know I’m not on the court, so I can’t yell at them or curse at them. But I can say, ‘Hey, here are the things I see. Let’s try to do that.’”
It’s an unexpected role for Lowry, who was known for his hyper-competitive approach to the game during his prime, Koreen adds. But the wisdom he gathered during his two decades in the league and the influence of other players have prepared him to be a mentor.
“Throughout my career I had the opportunity to be around a guy like Fred VanVleet,” Lowry added. “That kind of (told me), ‘Why not try to continue to do that and help a guy like Tyrese Maxey.’ And then, you get fortunate enough and they draft a guy like VJ. You got two young guys. And Jared McCain. Sometimes, the game gives you something you have to do.”
There’s more on the Sixers:
- Kelly Oubre Jr. shot a combined 1-of-9 from the field in his first two games after returning from a long injury absence, but he rediscovered his scoring touch on Sunday, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer notes in a subscriber-only story. He contributed 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting while setting season highs with four steals and three blocks. “It definitely felt good,” Oubre said. “It’s just, I think I could be better. I got blocked because I’m not trusting myself and the work that I put in. So you know, just watching film, continue to just show up every day and get better. That’s all I can do. But it definitely felt good to get some run.”
- Oubre and Dominick Barlow were both in the starting lineup on Sunday because Paul George was a late scratch with left knee soreness, but Nurse will eventually face a difficult lineup decision, Pompey states in a mailbag column. Although it’s a close call, Pompey suggests the team is better with Barlow starting because that means George doesn’t have to play power forward and it’s easier for him to defend on the perimeter.
- Joel Embiid has an interesting case for an All-Star spot, Pompey adds in the same piece. Embiid has only appeared in 19 of the team’s 37 games — and was held out Sunday for left knee injury management and left groin soreness — but he’s been outstanding when he does play and his scoring average of 23.5 PPG tops all Eastern Conference centers. Embiid offered his opinion after Friday’s game, telling reporters, “Am I going to make it? I think I should. I don’t think we’re pushing it enough. I think I got pretty good stats. So, maybe you guys should put the word out that Joel Embiid is back.”
Sixers Notes: Oubre, Lowry, Edgecombe, Embiid
While the Sixers‘ backcourt play has understandably garnered most of the attention during the team’s 5-1 start, veteran forward Kelly Oubre Jr. has been a key contributor as well, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (subscriber link).
In Sunday’s matchup with Brooklyn, Oubre was tasked with slowing down Michael Porter Jr., who had a season-high 32-points in his previous game against Atlanta. Not only did Oubre limit Porter to two first-half points, he scored 24 of his own, including a career-best 22 in the first quarter alone.
“So [Kelly] set the tone big-time on that,” head coach Nick Nurse said. “And, again, I really believe this to be true: When you start the game super focused on D, that really usually translates to the other end, too. It really does.”
Oubre, who will be an unrestricted free agent next summer, is averaging 19.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 38.0 minutes per contest on .526/.416/.800 shooting through six games.
Here’s more on the 76ers:
- Kyle Lowry officially became the 12th player in NBA history to play 20 seasons when he checked in for garbage-time minutes at the end of Sunday’s win against the Nets, according to Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press. The six-time All-Star, who was born in Philadelphia and played his college ball at Villanova, is a leader in the 76ers’ locker room. “That’s a Hall of Famer we’re talking about,” Tyrese Maxey said. “Jersey’s probably getting retired in Toronto. And he’s up cheering for everybody, motivating people, talking in the locker room. I’ve got nothing but love and respect for K-Low and we appreciate having him.”
- In a column for The Inquirer, Pompey (subscription required), Pompey wonders whether VJ Edgecombe will be able to reach his full potential offensively playing alongside a ball-dominant center in Joel Embiid. Edgecombe has been the league’s top rookie in the early going, averaging 20.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 5.0 APG and 1.5 SPG on .495/.421/.824 shooting in six games (39.0 MPG), but has often ceded touches to Embiid when they share the court, Pompey explains.
- Embiid’s defensive mobility has been limited in his four appearances this season after he underwent another knee surgery in April. In a subscriber-only mailbag, Pompey speculates that the former league MVP may have lingering issues with the knee, though he acknowledges it will probably take another month or so to determine if Embiid will look like this going forward or if he’s just trying to work himself back into playing shape. Pompey also tackles questions about Paul George‘s play-making and how the nine-time All-Star forward might impact the team’s defense when he makes his season debut.
- In case you missed it, second-year guard Jared McCain is expected to make his season debut on Tuesday in Chicago.
Sixers’ Kyle Lowry Joins Amazon Prime Video As Analyst
Sixers guard Kyle Lowry has signed a contract to be an analyst with Amazon Prime Video, the new NBA broadcaster announced today (via Twitter).
According to Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press, Prime Video’s press release specified that Lowry signed a multiyear deal and that he will make “select appearances” this season in addition to having “increased responsibilities in the future.”
“I’m excited to start the next chapter of my basketball journey with the Prime Sports team,” Lowry said. “The talent they’ve assembled is incredible, and together we’ll deliver something fresh and special for basketball fans worldwide. It’s an honor to be part of this from Day One, and I’m committed to sharing the insights I’ve gained from my career through NBA on Prime for years to come.”
A Philadelphia native who played two seasons of college ball at Villanova prior to being selected 24th overall in the 2006 draft, Lowry is entering his 20th season in the league, and will soon become the second point guard in NBA history (Chris Paul was the first last season) — and just 12th player overall — to reach that mark of longevity, Reynolds notes.
Lowry is highly regarded by both players and coaches, Reynolds writes, adding that it “seemed inevitable” the 39-year-old would transition to a television role at some point.
A six-time All-Star and 2019 champion with the Raptors, Lowry is entering his second full season with his hometown 76ers after an injury-plagued 2024/25 campaign. Lowry was a diminished version of his past self last season from a production standpoint, putting up career-worst statistics in most major categories (3.9 PPG, 2.7 APG, 1.9 RPG) in just 35 games (18.8 MPG).
Kyle Lowry Remains With Sixers On One-Year Deal
4:48 pm: Lowry’s new deal is now official, according to a press release from the Sixers.
“Kyle’s championship experience and Hall-of-Fame resume speaks for itself. He is a proven floor general with tremendous knowledge of the game that is a resource to everyone in the organization,” president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said in a statement. “It’s only fitting that his 20th NBA season will be right here in Philadelphia, the city he calls home.”
4:20 pm: Free agent guard Kyle Lowry has agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Sixers, ESPN’s Shams Charania tweets.
The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey predicted last month that Lowry would sign another contract with the team since the Sixers value the Philadelphia native for his leadership and mentorship of young guards like Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain.
Lowry, 39, played on the veteran’s minimum last season and figures to do so again. He only appeared in 35 games last season, including 12 starts, averaging 3.9 points and 2.7 assists in 18.8 minutes per game.
Not too long ago, Lowry was once one of the highest-paid guards in the game. His NBA career dates back to 2006, when he was a late first-round pick with Memphis. He’s a six-time All-Star and won a championship with Toronto in 2019.
He only projects as an insurance policy for next year’s Sixers team with Maxey, McCain and first-round pick VJ Edgecombe likely ahead of him on the depth chart.
He’ll become the 12th player in NBA history to play 20-plus seasons and the second point guard to do so, Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports tweets, joining Chris Paul.
Eastern Notes: Carter, Lowry, Porzingis, Cavaliers
Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. feels energized by watching this year’s NBA Finals matchup between a pair of small-market franchises, according to Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel.
“It shows that anything is possible,” Carter said. “It’s very possible. We’ve just got to be even more locked in, be in better shape [and] take care of our bodies even more so that we can withstand 82 games and then go into the playoffs and not drop off at all.”
The Magic were injured early and often last season, with Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs missing a combined 105 games. Still, all three players remain on an upward trajectory, having each posted career-best scoring averages in shortened seasons. That leaves Orlando, a playoff team in spite of the injuries, feeling optimistic.
Carter sees the Magic as capable of playing in a similar style to the Thunder and Pacers.
“It’s been nothing shy of amazing. With these two teams in the Finals, it’s very good for the NBA,” Carter said. “Very healthy that two small-market teams [are] getting this type of exposure. Of course, I want us to be there one day playing for a championship, to bring a championship to Orlando [but] it’s a good thing what’s going on right now with both teams young, scrappy [to have] made it that far. It’s a good sign, for sure.”
We have more from the Eastern Conference:
- Sixers guard Kyle Lowry is likely to be back for another season, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes in a subscriber-only mailbag. Philadelphia values Lowry for his leadership and mentorship of young guards like Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain. As Sam Neumann of Awful Announcing writes, Blake Griffin revealed during a recent podcast on the Pardon My Take podcast (YouTube link) that Lowry may be joining Amazon’s NBA coverage in some capacity. However, Griffin referred to it as a “player correspondent” role, which suggests Lowry could work in that role prior to retiring as a player.
- Trading Kristaps Porzingis would be a mistake in the eyes of one anonymous front office executive, Heavy’s Steve Bulpett writes. “Unless they know something about Porzingis that we don’t, I don’t see how they can let him go,” the source said. “When Boston was right, he’s a major factor and they win. Yeah, he wasn’t a huge part of what they did in the playoffs last year. Because of the matchups, it didn’t hurt them that bad when he missed a bunch of games. But then you look and see, he scored well when he did play, and he was giving them a couple of blocks a game in limited minutes.” Porzingis was a major factor in two Celtics wins in the Finals last season but averaged just 7.7 points per game in the playoffs this year while dealing with the effects of a lingering illness.
- The Cavaliers will face an uphill battle to retain both Ty Jerome and Sam Merrill due to their already large payroll. According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com on the Wine and Gold Talk podcast (YouTube link), the Cavs’ front office is canvassing the league to see if salary-shedding trades are on the table. Fedor says they have had a hard time finding any takers for Isaac Okoro‘s contract that runs through 2026/27 unless they attach an asset. The team has also explored moving Dean Wade, per Fedor (hat tip to RealGM).
Sixers Notes: George, Maxey, Lowry, Grimes, Oubre, Drummond
There were sky-high expectations for the Sixers heading into this season after Paul George signed with the team as a free agent last summer, joining Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey to form a big three. However, Philadelphia lost 12 of its first 14 games en route to a massively disappointing 24-58 season, as injuries decimated the roster and prevented the team from ever gaining any real momentum.
“Yeah, it was just, to be honest, one of the toughest seasons for me,” George said on Sunday, according to Tim Bontemps of ESPN. “Just with a lot of adversity on the court, off the court and, then again, the injury stuff was some stuff that I didn’t necessarily know I had going on … which was frustrating.”
As ugly as this season was, George and Maxey indicated on Sunday that they still believe the core is capable of competing for a championship in future seasons.
“The names on the paper … it looks nice. It does,” Maxey said. “And I think we’ve seen where our peaks can be this year. There wasn’t a lot of them. But there was some stretches where we all played and we looked really good. We found the right rotations, we knew who to get the ball to, who we need to get the ball to them, everybody got shots, everybody looked good.
“So the sky’s the limit. That’s the thing that I can say. But the work has to be put in from day one, not from in the middle of the season. … Today is our last game. Whenever everybody decides to start working out again, that’s when our season for next year starts, individually and collectively. And it has to be taken serious. And I think we will take it serious and I have the ultimate faith in the organization and the guys up top and my teammates to do that.”
Here’s more on the 76ers:
- Maxey told reporters on Sunday that he needs “about another month” before his finger injury recovery has progressed enough for him to resume basketball activities, tweets Derek Bodner of PHLY Sports.
- Veteran point guard Kyle Lowry said after Sunday’s regular season finale that he’d like to play at least one more year in the NBA and hopes to do it with his hometown Sixers, per Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports (Twitter link). Lowry, who turned 39 last month, is finishing up his 19th NBA season, so one more would give him an even 20.
- Quentin Grimes, who entered Sunday’s game with 1,978 minutes played this season, logged 35 minutes in Philadelphia’s loss to Chicago to surpass the 2,000-minute threshold and meet the starter criteria. That means his qualifying offer as a restricted free agent this summer will be worth $8,741,210 instead of $6,311,825. That change is unlikely to affect how Grimes’ free agency plays out, since he’s a strong candidate to sign a lucrative multiyear contract.
- Here’s what Sixers wing Kelly Oubre, who holds an $8.4MM player option for 2025/26, had to say about his contract situation on Sunday, according to Bodner (Twitter link): “This is a business, but at the end of the day I’m happy. And I like to finish what I start, and I don’t feel complete. So, godspeed.”
- Big man Andre Drummond also has a player option for ’25/26 (worth $5MM) and expressed interest in remaining in Philadelphia. “My plan is to be back,” he told reporters after Sunday’s game (Twitter link via Bodner).
Sixers’ Nurse: Health Of Embiid, George Crucial For Next Season
The Sixers‘ nightmare season is about to end, but there are no guarantees that next season will be any better or that their stars will be any healthier. Before Monday’s game at Miami, which marked Philadelphia’s 12th straight loss and its 29th in 32 games, coach Nick Nurse talked about the prospects for 2025/26, acknowledging that everything centers around the availability of Joel Embiid and Paul George, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
“There’s, obviously, a good number of them that need to get taken care of, get back to health, but obviously, Joel and Paul will be the big concerns,” Nurse said. “Can they get back and get ready to go? And I guess we won’t find that out for a little while, and then you start unpacking and then you get back to thinking there’s some really, really good players there and start piecing it together and then we get ready to build out the rest of the roster around them.”
Embiid dealt with left knee issues all season long and was limited to just 19 games. Swelling in the knee delayed his season debut until November 12, and he was in an out of the lineup after that. He was eventually shut down for good on February 28 and will undergo arthroscopic surgery later this week.
Embiid remains a force when he’s healthy, having averaged 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 30.2 minutes per game, but the Sixers will need him on the court far more often to be competitive. The extension he signed last summer gives him $179MM in guaranteed money over the next three years, with a $69MM player option for 2028/29.
The Sixers viewed George as the missing piece to a title contender when they signed him to a four-year max deal in free agency. Various injuries limited him to 41 games before he was ruled out for the rest of the season on March 17 due to adductor and knee issues.
George averaged 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists in his first season with Philadelphia, but he never reached the All-Star level he displayed during his time with the Clippers. He’s owed $51.7MM next season, $54.1MM in 2026/27 and holds a $56.6MM player option for 2027/28.
As Pompey notes, the Sixers’ injury woes didn’t end with their two veteran stars. Tyrese Maxey appeared in just 52 games and hasn’t played since March 3 due to an injured finger tendon. Rookie guard Jared McCain quickly found his way into the rotation, but was lost for the season after 23 games with a torn meniscus. Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon, Kyle Lowry and several others have also missed significant time due to injuries.
The results have been ugly, as the Sixers have struggled to field a competitive team since the All-Star break. Nurse used his 53rd different starting lineup of the season on Monday, Pompey notes in a separate story, consisting of Lonnie Walker, Quentin Grimes, Adem Bona, Marcus Bagley and Jared Butler. Pompey points out that Bona was the only member of that group who was on the roster before February.
Nick Nurse Reflects On Difficult Season After Sixers Officially Eliminated
Head coach Nick Nurse discussed the frustrations of a lost year after the Sixers were officially eliminated from postseason contention with Saturday’s loss to Miami (Twitter video link from PHLY Sixers).
“Obviously it’s not anywhere near where we had hoped it would be when we set out this summer and this fall, that’s for sure” Nurse said. “That’s the only thing you can say, it was a super struggle. You know, most of the way I think there was only a couple times of some momentum. Right? December, and there was another I think four- or five-game winning streak in there, too, where you were always holding out hope that the team was playing better and getting some wins and hopefully get some players back.”
That turnaround never came, as the Sixers were plagued by injuries to stars and role players throughout the season. Franchise cornerstone Joel Embiid was limited to 19 games before being declared out for the season in late February. Top free agent addition Paul George appeared in 41 games before he was ruled out for the season in mid-March. Tyrese Maxey was active for 52 games, but he hasn’t played since March 3 due to a sprained finger and probably won’t return this season.
Injury issues affected virtually the entire roster, as Philadelphia got just 40 games out of Andre Drummond, 39 from Eric Gordon and 33 from Kyle Lowry. Rookie guard Jared McCain was lost after 23 games due to a meniscus tear following a promising start.
Tonight marked the Sixers’ 50th different starting lineup in 74 games, notes Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel (Twitter link), with Justin Edwards, Guerschon Yabusele, Adem Bona, Quentin Grimes and Jared Butler opening the game.
“It just didn’t seem like the injury bug would ever leave us,” Nurse said. “It just seemed like every time we’d have a good game it would cost us a player or two for the next one. We never could build any momentum.”
The good news for the Sixers is that tonight’s defeat, combined with Brooklyn’s win, drops them a half-game behind the Nets and gives them the fifth-worst record in the league. Philadelphia’s first-round pick in this year’s draft is top-six protected and will convey to Oklahoma City if it falls outside that range.
The 23-51 Sixers have now dropped seven straight and 24 of their last 28. Five of their final eight games are against teams under .500, starting with Sunday’s home contest against Toronto.
Sixers Notes: Grimes, Yabusele, Butler, Nurse, Injury Report
Quentin Grimes, a trade deadline acquisition, continues to shine for the Sixers. The combo guard — a restricted free agent after this season — erupted for a career-high 46 points against the Rockets in an overtime loss on Monday. Grimes, who also finished with a career-best 13 rebounds, has scored 30 or more points in five separate games since coming to Philadelphia.
“It’s cool,” Grimes told Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “But I had a costly turnover that cost us the game late in the fourth. I have to be better in those situations, probably on the ball, try to get fouled. It’s cool and all, but we probably should have just ended the game, ended it with a win.”
We have more on the Sixers:
- While they have been decimated by injuries, big man Guerschon Yabusele has continued to play despite battling knee soreness. Yabusele sat out Monday’s game, but he’s appeared in 62 of 68 games and has served as a few of the few constants in Philadelphia this season. “That’s just who I am,” he told Pompey. “I always try to keep playing no matter what. You know that’s just me. I just want to compete. I want to be out there and help the guys. I hate just being on the bench and looking at the guys over there, struggling or losing. It’s something I don’t like to be a part of.” Yabusele has some extra incentive to stay on the court — he will be an unrestricted free agent after the season.
- The Sixers had only nine players available on Monday, yet nearly knocked off one of the better teams in the Western Conference. “I think it’s just outside of our nature to go out there and try to lose,” guard Jared Butler said, per Pompey. ”I can’t see myself playing like that in any kind of way.”
- While some fans might be unhappy with head coach Nick Nurse, he shouldn’t be the scapegoat for the team’s dismal season, Pompey argues. Nurse has been forced to juggle the rotation throughout the season due to the rash of injuries, using 44 different starting lineups, Pompey points out.
- Kelly Oubre Jr. is doubtful for Wednesday’s game against the Thunder due to a sprained right knee, Pompey tweets. Yabusele is questionable, while Tyrese Maxey, Andre Drummond, Adem Bona, Kyle Lowry and Lonnie Walker remain out.
- In case you missed it, Paul George has been ruled out for the season. Get the details here.