It couldn't have gone much worse for the Philadelphia 76ers in their most recent game with their three best players. The 76cers were playing against the Detroit Pistons today at the Little Caesars Arena. Despite the absence of Detroit standout Cade Cunningham, the 76cers lost to the Detroit Pistons 125–112 in a humiliating performance that saw them fall down by as much as 34 points.
The talking point of the NBA match was the heated exchange between Joel Embiid and Kelly Oubre Jr. Embiid entered the timeout in frustration after his teammate Oubre made a clumsy attempt to hustle back on defense during a fast break in the third quarter.
The two got into a furious argument after he imitated Oubre's running. Tyrese Maxey and Justin Edwards' expressions speak for themselves. Before the game started up again, Embiid and Oubre ended up hugging it out. It is not unusual for teammates to argue, even if they are heated.
Joel Embiid calling out Kelly Oubre for not hustling back on defense pic.twitter.com/F7rRIVRe9a
— Pistons Talk (@Pistons__Talk) February 8, 2025
Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid combined for 50 points, but the 76cers fall short in Detroit
Despite his slight rustiness, Joel Embiid scored 23 points, pulled down seven rebounds, and dished out six assists on 7 of 18 shots. Both players finished with the team's worst minus-19, but Tyrese Maxey also had a strong game with 27 points on 45% shooting, four 3-pointers, and seven assists.
Paul George only managed to score 14 points on 10 shots and grab one rebound in his meager 30 minutes of play. Quentin Grimes, a recently acquired guard, scored 14 points on nine shot attempts while playing well off the bench.
The Pistons' Malik Beasley scored 36 points and made nine of his 19 shots from outside the arc, setting a career-high performance. Tobias Harris filled in for Cade Cunningham, scoring 22 points and pulling down nine rebounds, while Ausar Thompson contributed 14 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. In the end, the Detroit Pistons got the better off the 76cers by beating them 125–112.