76ers Vs Pelicans: Pelicans 126-111 76ers (Feb 21, 2026) Game Recap
The 76ers vs pelicans matchup on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, ended with the New Orleans Pelicans beating Philadelphia 126-111 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The loss was Philadelphia's fourth in a row, and it came amid continued absences and a ragged, stop-start night.
Final score and context
New Orleans defeated Philadelphia 126-111. The Sixers lost their fourth straight game, while the Pelicans managed the win despite being down Trey Murphy III and Yves Missi. Joel Embiid, listed with shin soreness, missed his fourth straight game for Philadelphia.
Key performers and shooting splits
Tyrese Maxey finished with a game-high 27 points on 9-of-23 shooting and added seven assists. VJ Edgecombe scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds on 5-of-14 shooting. Kelly Oubre Jr. totaled 25 points on 7-of-15 from the floor. Zion Williamson led New Orleans with 21 points.
Start of the game and early sequence
The game opened slowly: it took nearly three minutes to record the first field goal. Philadelphia managed to convert ugly shot attempts into free throws and began play on an 8-0 run. Dominick Barlow sank his first two attempts but then bricked two shots in a row. Edgecombe followed with a quick burst that included hoisting two threes in a row, while Oubre knocked down an early three and worked to his push shot on a drive. Quentin Grimes hit two of his first three three-point attempts.
Bench contributions and first-half finish
Adem Bona checked in and provided energy, blocking one shot and altering others before picking up two fouls and coming out of the game. Grimes added points at the line that helped pad his quarter. Maxey appeared to get a three at the buzzer for his first field goal, but the shot did not count in time; the Sixers led by five after one quarter. Philadelphia then opened the second quarter with cleaner offense, and Edgecombe hit a turnaround jumper to start the period. Cam Payne drilled a three for his first points back as a Sixer (again) but missed his next two attempts.
Officials, stoppages and confusion
New Orleans found a groove with Williamson working in the post, and the game was halted by a stoppage after a hard foul. Andre Drummond was assessed a technical for a hard foul on Derik Queen. Play then delayed for an extended stretch and the Sixers were assessed a delay of game as it took a long time for play to resume; even the official scorers were confused. Once play resumed, Oubre hit a three that stopped Pelicans momentum. Edgecombe drew a foul on a turnaround jumper and later finished a left-handed layup. Maxey got some jumpers to fall and converted an and-1 drive.
Halftime and second-half opening
The second quarter closed with a Sixers three and Oubre getting a shot off in time to give Philadelphia an eight-point lead at the break. The writer's account of the game continues into the second half, noting that Philadelphia maintained offensive momentum to open the third, but the play-by-play cuts off mid-sentence and is unclear in the provided context.
Postgame image and details
After the game, New Orleans guard Jeremiah Fears gave Philadelphia guard Kelly Oubre Jr. a hug at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. The image file name provided in the material is NO. pelicans76ers. 022226. 0082. jpg, and the staff photo credit lists Enan Chediak.
The 76ers vs pelicans result leaves Philadelphia searching for answers as losses mount; further details about the remainder of the second half are unclear in the provided context.
