Sixers coach Nick Nurse also provided an injury update on McCain, who had a split removed from his surgically repaired hand.

V.J. Edgecombe believes 76ers to win NBA title if Joel Embiid remains healthy originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. No one is more confident around the Philadelphia 76ers right now than V.J. Edgecombe.

Without Embiid on Monday, the Sixers fared well. They rolled out Adem Bona in the starting five, having Andre Drummond play as his backup. With another 40-point-plus outing for Tyrese Maxey, the veteran guard led the way for a third-straight Sixers victory. They now start the year off 3-0 with a 136-124 win.

Joel Embiid channeled Degenerationg X and did the "Suck it" move as he and the other 76ers players heckled fans.

The NBA season is just a week old, but that's already enough to spark some early predictions about where certain teams might stand by spring 2026. Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Reggie Miller recently shared his own take, breaking down several teams across the league on "The Dan Patrick Show."

Embiid had his best showing of the season with 25 points in 23 minutes, while forward Trendon Watford flashed his playmaking ability in his Sixers debut.