Sixers recover from 10-point hole to beat Hornets 109-104

The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Charlotte Hornets 109-104 on Saturday night, completing a comeback from a 10-point deficit in the final minute. The win marks the second consecutive night that VJ Edgecombe hit a late three-pointer to put Philadelphia up four. Edgecombe drained a shot from the left wing with 36.1 seconds remaining, contributing 10 points and seven rebounds to the effort.

This game was the first leg of a back-to-back set for the Sixers. LeBron James sat out this contest, while Joel Embiid missed the previous night's game. Jaylen Brown returned from a one-game absence caused by a left knee injury. The Sixers were missing both star centers for the first time all season, which forced adjustments in the frontcourt and defensive rotation.

The team struggled to hold a lead in the first half. Philadelphia entered the second quarter with a 15-10 advantage after a strong start, but the Hornets outscored them 27-12 for the remainder of the half. Charlotte led 37-27 after the first quarter, benefiting from disorganized defense from players like Justin Edwards, who played his first minutes of the season, and Jabari Walker, who re-entered the rotation.

The Sixers stabilized in the second quarter by forcing six turnovers and limiting Charlotte to 1-for-10 shooting in the first nine minutes and 30 seconds of that period. Tyrese Maxey led all scorers with 38 points for the night. Anfernee Simons added 19 points off the bench, extending his hot streak from the previous three games.

Charlotte regained control in the second half, shooting 61 percent in the third quarter. The Hornets held a 101-94 lead with under three minutes left in the fourth quarter. Philadelphia then strung together stops, including a steal by Brown and a block by Dean Wade, to spark an 8-0 run. Maxey free throws put the Sixers ahead with 1 minute and 22 seconds remaining.

Jaylen Brown had a slow start, going 0-for-5 from the field in the first quarter and 2-for-9 through the first half. He found success attacking the rim in the third quarter to finish with 16 points. All of his buckets came in the paint or at the free-throw line. Brown and Grayson Allen, who led Charlotte with 27 points, drew offsetting technical fouls during a brief scuffle in the fourth quarter.

The Sixers' defense missed the presence of James and Embiid, as the Hornets shot 71 percent from the field. However, Philadelphia's defense tightened in crunch time. Brown iced the game with a pair of free throws with 5.2 seconds remaining.

Jabari Walker returned from a left patellar tendinopathy injury that had kept him out for three games. He finished with 12 points and six rebounds in 19 minutes, picking up four fouls that limited his playing time. Tacko Fall, signed to a two-way contract and listed as questionable with a left quad injury, was also available to play.

Rookie Labaron Philon Jr. received extended minutes due to the absences of the stars. He played five minutes in the first half, finishing plus-two on the stat line. He showcased his athleticism with multiple trips to the hoop and hit a three-pointer. Philon played another four minutes in the second half without attempting a shot.