The Philadelphia 76ers began their five-game road trip losing to the Chicago Bulls 109-102 on December 26th. Philadelphia was disjointed and fans questioned its status as an Eastern Conference contender. Eight days later, the 76ers concluded their getaway by defeating the New York Knicks 130-119 to expand their win streak to three. Now, the fandom is more optimistic than they’ve been in years.
Philadelphia finished its road swing with a 3-2 record, compiling wins against New York, the Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks while falling to Chicago and the Oklahoma City Thunder. It saw multiple pivotal developments such as Joel Embiid’s resurgence, VJ Edgcombe’s continued success and proof that its trio of Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George can work.
HAVING FUN AGAIN
The 76ers held a nine-point lead against the Knicks with 26 seconds remaining in the game on Saturday night. Edgecombe found Embiid cutting to the basket in transition and he threw down his first dunk of the season to secure victory–a possession that reflects his recent stretch of play.
Joel Embiid was HYPE after his first dunk of the season 😭🔥 pic.twitter.com/u1ulnsiDTm
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 4, 2026
The nine-time all-star tallied 28 points on 60.9% true shooting, seven rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.2 blocks in his last five outings. This stretch is a testament to Embiid’s physical improvement from Philadelphia’s first game of the year to now. With each game the 31-year-old plays, it seems like he is moving better on both ends of the court, from his isolation scoring to defensive activity.
Embiid is finding success in a 76ers offense that no longer requires him to average north of 30 points to be competitive. He has had little issue scaling down and playing off Maxey and Edgecombe, which has only yielded him quality scoring opportunities and reduced his usage. Nonetheless, the 2022-23 Most Valuable Player can revert to Philadelphia’s go-to option when needed.
IT’S JUST BIG ME
Edgecombe is nearing the point where it’s almost unfair to limit the 76ers’ group of stars to a big three rather than a fantastic four–say that again. The rookie eclipsed 23 points in his last three performances. This span includes his 25-point showing against the Grizzlies on December 30th when he knocked down the game-winning three-pointer in overtime.
The 20-year-old’s growth in just 29 games has been incredible, whether it’s his off-the-dribble scoring or poise in clutch moments. Instead of deferring with Embiid and George’s continued availability, the guard has remained aggressive–being Philadelphia’s third-leading scorer in its last five contests. Edgecombe’s ability to break down defenses has reduced Embiid and George’s loads, but he has remained effective off the ball as well.
FIGURING IT OUT
Before the 76ers embarked on this road trip, they had yet to win a game with Maxey, Embiid and George this season. Now on the flight home, Philadelphia has emerged victorious in three consecutive games with its trio.
Prior to December, Embiid played just seven games and Maxey grew accustomed to serving as the 76ers’ offensive engine. With the center appearing more consistently, he and the one-time all-star suffered minor setbacks, most apparently in Philadelphia’s 114-106 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on December 23rd. Maxey struggled to remain assertive alongside Embiid, but they quickly redeveloped chemistry and have each scored at least 20 points in their last three games.
The only challenge left was integrating George, who began to find his role on both ends of the floor. The 35-year-old doesn’t have the offensive responsibilities that Maxey and Embiid hold, but he has made his mark by spacing the floor and being an alternate option if a play involving either of the two falls through. Not to mention, George has been the 76ers’ best defender, providing timely help rotations and taking on a variety of matchups.
While it’s only five games, Philadelphia's developing much-needed cohesion on the road is impressive and displays the culture shift that began this season. Now, the 76ers (19-14) built their largest cushion above .500 of the year to show for it.