Sixers Bell Ringer: Embiid’s triple-double, VJ Edgecombe’s extra effort secure win over Bucks

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 24: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks in the fourth quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 24, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Bucks 127-116. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Regular Season Bell Ringer Standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 1.5
Jaylen Brown – 0.5

The Sixers are 3-0 to start the season after taking down the Milwaukee Bucks 127-116 on Saturday night.

This was the first game of the first back-to-back of the season for Philadelphia. LeBron James was ruled out for this contest early on for sciatica management. This being the first back-to-back means that we’re still slowly figuring out exactly what the Sixers are planning in terms of resting the likes of LeBron and possibly Embiid, who played in Saturday’s contest. Perhaps they’ll always stagger them, or perhaps it will be a case-by-case basis depending on the opponents faced in each set of consecutive contests. With Embiid’s status for Sunday’s contest still up in the air, we just have to wait and see.

But, back to tonight. The Bucks, the consensus underdogs, were not taking this as a loss lying down. They put up a fight and took advantage of the opportunities the Sixers continued to give them at points throughout this one, even taking the lead for a lot of the second frame. It was, overall, a lot harder of a battle than maybe it appeared it would be on paper pregame, but that’s the nature of the NBA. The important thing is that players like Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe went to work to regain control of the game in the Sixers’ favor by time the fourth quarter rolled around. The Sixers wavered a bit, but held on to take down the Bucks.

Let’s get to the Bell Ringer.

Joel Embiid: 28 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, 1 steal

<p>Bill Streicher-Imagn Images</p><br> | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

It didn’t take long for Joel Embiid to warm up in this one. In fact, the big fella was involved in every facet, filling up the stat sheet, right off the tip. Through the first six minutes of the game, he had already amassed six points, three rebounds and two assists. Between hitting his jumpers and constantly drawing fouls, Embiid was pretty much able to do whatever he wanted on offense. Thank goodness too, because there were a few times no one else from Philadelphia could do much of anything.

But speaking of his teammates, Embiid was an absolute playmaker for the Sixers tonight — especially important on a night without LeBron James’ facilitation. You can see Embiid working patiently to pull in a help defender to allow him to kick out to an open teammate, he’s setting up huge screens to create space for guys like Maxey to pull up, and he’s just hitting some really great passes (sometimes with a flair for the dramatic, for style points).

Embiid finished with a floor-leading 28 points to go with 11 rebounds and 10 assists for the triple-double. He also had one steal.

Joel Embiid. What a night. The big fella was an absolute playmaker for the Sixers tonight (especially important without LeBron playing), racking up 10 assists as part of a huge triple-double evening.

28 PTS, 11 REB, 10 AST, 1 STL in 36 minutes. Some of the highlights here ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/VUfU8Xyujv

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) October 25, 2026

Jaylen Brown: 27 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals

<p>Bill Streicher-Imagn Images</p><br> | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Something that is quickly becoming evident about Brown is he just seems to show up when his team needs him to the most. In the Cavs game, that came in the form of three huge buckets as the Sixers mounted their comeback. Tonight, it was with two big triples and eight points in the second to help the Sixers break out of an ice cold streak that allowed the Bucks to take the lead out from under them. After putting up 16 points in the first two quarters, Brown was a floor-leading +18… not bad considering the Sixers led by just four at the break.

It’s not just about Brown’s ability to create shots for himself in isolation. It’s that he also shoots incredibly well and is creating opportunities for his teammates at the same time. Add that to Brown’s well-known impact on the defensive end, and the former Celtic continues to show exactly why his addition to the squad was such a massive one for this franchise.

Brown finished Saturday with 27 points, three rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Next up is Jaylen Brown, who was just a consistent contributor throughout this up-and-down night for the Sixers. From creating his own buckets in isolation to diming up his teammates to his solid defense, Brown did it all tonight.

27 PTS, 3 REB, 5 AST, 3 STL📽️ Highlights here! pic.twitter.com/X9OHOM3pBp

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) October 25, 2026

Tyrese Maxey: 26 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists

<p>Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images

It is truly incredible what Maxey is able to do on the offensive end of a basketball court. It’s even more incredible what he’s able to accomplish when he has just a bit of space to operate in.

Working especially with Embiid, Maxey was able to find a ton of pockets of space tonight within which to create good looks for himself. But let’s be real, they don’t even really need to be the easiest shot opportunities for Maxey to make something out of nothing. This was yet another night of Maxey finishing out the easy buckets, hitting his jumpers, and making a few fantastic finishes that make you wonder how in the world he does it. He shot well from long range (4-for-9) and was just consistently chipping in points for Philadelphia — which was incredibly important against a Bucks team that was not giving up and kept biting back with buckets of their own.

Maxey finished the night with 26 points, four rebounds and four assists.

TURNING DEFENSE INTO OFFENSE x2 pic.twitter.com/U79e3i5Q6b

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) October 25, 2026

VJ Edgecombe: 17 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 block

<p>Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images</p><br> | Getty Images

Edgecombe has been open about still finding his spot on this new-look Sixers offense. Tonight was a great glimpse of what it can be. It doesn’t always have to be finishing through contact at the rim or his high flying, acrobatic dunks. It can, in fact, be waiting patiently for the right opportunities to pull up for the jumper. Tonight, he got a lot of those opportunities, and took full advantage, sinking 5-of-10 attempts from long range.

Frankly, even if he had a terrible game otherwise, sinking that many triples for a Sixers franchise that so often goes ice cold from long range would earn a nomination. But it wasn’t a terrible game otherwise. Edgecombe continues to be a monster on the boards, pulling in 13 for the double-double tonight. He is also putting a ton of effort into finding ways to be truly disruptive on the defensive end (which is probably a big part of why he got himself into a bit of foul trouble tonight, but I digress).

His best sequence, in fact, involved him scoring zero points, but making a hell of a lot happen for Philadelphia, including securing the victory for the home team.

A MASSIVE effort sequence from VJ Edgecombe who may have just secured the win for the Sixers.

On one end, a huge offensive board that leads to a triple. On the other, a steal that leads to a transition 3. pic.twitter.com/Ntre14E7Jd

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) October 25, 2026

His offensive game with this roster will take time to fall into place, but tonight was a great sign of things to come for Edgecombe. VJ finished the night with 17 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block.