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Sixers’ starters dazzle at times, play sloppy at others in preseason loss to Nets

The Philadelphia 76ers’ newly formed starting lineup took the court for the first time in a preseason showdown against the Brooklyn Nets, delivering flashes of brilliance alongside moments of sloppiness in a 114-108 defeat. Tyrese Maxey and LeBron James led the offensive charge early, with Maxey scoring 14 points—including a pair of three-pointers—and James contributing 10 points, five assists, and four rebounds before exiting in the second half.

Jaylen Brown topped the scoring chart with 18 points, while VJ Edgecombe added 11 points, and Joel Embiid, despite six points and three assists, struggled with eight turnovers and occasional rustiness under pressure. The Sixers’ transition offense was electric at times, with LeBron’s precision passing sparking multiple fast-break dunks, though defensive lapses allowed the Nets to capitalize on opportunities.

Injuries also limited the rotation, as Anfernee Simons, Dominick Barlow, and Adem Bona sat out with hamstring, back, and foot issues, respectively. The team’s next preseason test comes Saturday night in Boston against the Celtics, where they’ll look to build on the promising glimpses of their full lineup in action.

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