76ers Vs Pelicans: Pelicans Upset 126-111 as Maxey Issues Stark Reality Check
The Philadelphia 76ers fell 126-111 to the New Orleans Pelicans in an upset loss that has stretched the club to four consecutive defeats. The 76ers vs pelicans matchup left Philadelphia at 30-26 and raised fresh questions about their ability to control momentum down the stretch of games.
Tyrese Maxey’s message after loss to Pelicans
Tyrese Maxey, halfway through his sixth NBA season with the 76ers, delivered a blunt assessment after the game in comments to NBC Sports Philadelphia. He said the group must take responsibility for swinging itself out of holes: "It's gonna take a lot.... As you dig yourselves a hole, only US can climb ourselves out of it.... we in this thing together, through the highs, through the lows, through the peaks, through the valleys. "
Maxey added that Philadelphia played a strong first half and began the third quarter well, but a string of long-range shots from New Orleans produced a momentum swing he judged decisive: "They hit some shots. And you know, it's difficult to come back from that momentum swing. We tried to swing it back, but it's too late. " That momentum shift — Pelicans knockdown threes late in the first half and early in the second half — directly contributed to the final margin.
Pelicans 126, 76ers 111: scoreline and stat lines
The box score underscored the defeat. Four 76ers finished in double figures: Maxey led the club with 27 points, seven assists, five steals and three rebounds on 9-of-23 shooting (2-of-11 from three, 7-of-8 at the line). Kelly Oubre Jr. added 25 points and five rebounds, VJ Edgecombe chipped in 14 points and five rebounds, and Quentin Grimes supplied 11 points and three assists. The loss came at a 15-point deficit that the team could not erase after New Orleans' scoring runs.
Standings impact: Philadelphia at 30-26, sixth in Eastern Conference
The defeat left Philadelphia with a 30-26 record and sitting in the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference. They remain ahead of the Miami Heat and the Orlando Magic but trail the Toronto Raptors and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The slide to a fourth straight loss has tangible playoff-position implications for a club described as a stable contender yet susceptible to upsets.
76ers Vs Pelicans — momentum and what it means
What makes this notable is the contrast between Philadelphia's promising half-game stretches and an inability to sustain control when opponents seize momentum. Maxey pointed to the team’s own need to manage the swings: early success was undone when New Orleans converted long-range opportunities, creating a deficit the 76ers could not overcome.
Next: road game at Minnesota Timberwolves on Feb. 22 at 7 p. m. ET
Philadelphia heads back on the road for its next scheduled game at the Minnesota Timberwolves on Feb. 22 at 7 p. m. ET. The team will look to halt the four-game losing streak and respond to the issues Maxey outlined, particularly the need to prevent the momentum swings that have cost them consecutive contests.
The loss to New Orleans — an upset by scoreline and context — is already prompting internal scrutiny. Maxey’s comments framed the problem as one the roster itself must fix: only the team can climb out of the holes it creates, he said, reiterating a collective responsibility that will be tested in the coming matchup.
