Sixers Bell Ringer: Stars Shine Bright To Pull Out Big Win Over Hornets

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer season standings:

Tyrese Maxey – 22
VJ Edgecombe – 12
Joel Embiid – 10
Paul George – 6
Justin Edwards – 4
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 4
Quentin Grimes – 3
Jared McCain :’( – 3
Dominick Barlow – 2
Andre Drummond – 2
MarJon Beauchamp – 2
Adem Bona – 1
Cam Payne – 1
Jabari Walker – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1

The Sixers traveled to Charlotte for a Saturday evening tilt with the red-hot Hornets.

For the first time since January, the Sixers had their full complement of players available as Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr both returned to the lineup following extended absences. The Sixers entered tonight’s contest in seventh place in the Eastern Conference playoff standings, just one game up on the eighth-place Hornets and also just one game back of the fifth-place Toronto Raptors and a half game back of the sixth-place Atlanta Hawks.

Joel Embiid picked up where he left off against Chicago in the first quarter of this one. Embiid led the Sixers with 14 first-quarter points. No other Sixer had more than four points in the opening frame. The Sixers struggled to contain the Hornets’ attack as they knocked down six threes in the first. The Hornets were led by Brandon Miller, who put in 16 first-quarter points. Charlotte led 36-25 after one.

The Sixers fought back, winning the second quarter 39-33. Embiid led all scorers with 21 points at the half. Embiid was joined in double figures by Tyrese Maxey and Paul George, who put in 17 and 12 points, respectively, in the first half. The Sixers trailed 69-64 at the halftime break.

There was zero separation in the third quarter as the teams tied 28-28 in the period. George’s eight points in the third put him up to 20 for the game. The Hornets continued to kill the Sixers on the offensive glass as they had for the entirety of the first half. Charlotte led 97-92 after three.

The Sixers’ stars shined bright in the fourth quarter to give the Sixers their first lead of the night and ultimately the win. They held the Hornets to 17 fourth-quarter points. Maxey, George and Embiid all made timely shots and stops down the stretch to get the Sixers over the finish line for a 118-114 victory.

Time for the Bell Ringer.

Joel Embiid: 29 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 8-for-19 from the field

Embiid did most of his work in this one in the first half as he had 21 points at the intermission. Embiid’s massive block down the stretch on a Brandon Miller corner three in the final seconds helped propel the Sixers over the finish line. Embiid has continued to flash his defensive prowess as the year has gone on after a slow start on that end early in the season.

Tyrese Maxey: 26 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, 10-for-18 shooting, 3-for-4 from three

Welcome back, Tyrese Maxey. The Sixers’ star guard returned to the lineup and continued to add to his All-Star campaign, stuffing the stat sheet and sharpshooting as is common practice for him. Maxey was a handful in transition all night for the Hornets as his speed allowed him to get to the rim and finish with an array of different finishes. Maxey’s massive slam over Miles Bridges early in the fourth quarter helped spark a Sixers run and momentum they would carry through the end of the contest.

Paul George: 26 points, 13 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 assists, 9-for-19 from the field

Paul George is looking as good as he ever has in a Sixers uniform since his return from his league mandated suspension. George’s work on the glass was big in this contest as the Hornets gave the Sixers issues on the boards for a majority of this one. George hunting threes is a welcomed sight for the Sixers, who will need him to consistently be around that 20 points per game mark if they want to make a run in the postseason. George’s defense continues to be high level and makes a glaring difference with him in the lineup.

The veteran forward has also been more aggressive going to the rim than we have really seen him be in his Sixers tenure. Paul George as a three-level scorer and high-volume three-point shooter adds a completely different element to this Sixers team and raises both their floor and ceiling significantly.