Coming off a heartbreaking last-second loss against the Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers began a three-game road trip with their first stop in Brooklyn against the Nets.
The Sixers and Nets are on two separate spectrums of the Eastern Conference, with Philadelphia being a last-second missed shot away from having a perfect record, while the Nets are winless on the season.
The first quarter was a high-paced affair, with defense clearly optional. Kelly Oubre paced the scoring, dropping a career-high 22 points in the first quarter. Oubre would finish with a game-high 29 points, further cementing his strong start to the season.
Tyrese Maxey wasn't far behind with 26 points, six rebounds, and seven assists, while rookie VJ Edgecombe thrilled throughout the game with his typical high-flying area of buckets. A 12-point second quarter highlighted his game, including a rim-rocking jam as the perfect exclamation point.
Quentin Grimes' contributions cannot be overstated with 22 points, seven rebounds, and a career-high 13 assists. The fourth-year guard continues to be a massive contributor for Philadelphia, and a strong early candidate for the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award.
When Grimes was first traded to the Sixers, many saw him as a modest support 3&D wing, but he has since thrived in Philadelphia, revealing just how well-rounded his game truly is. Grimes has showcased an ability to operate as a secondary facilitator of the offense.
The Sixers would not be 5-1 without Grimes, far from it even. Even as the team eventually welcomes back Jared McCain and Paul George, Grimes will continue to play just as vital a role.
Finally, this game marked the debuts of rookies Johni Broome and Hunter Salis, along with veteran Kyle Lowry. All three scored their first points of the season—for Broome and Sallis, it was their first basket made in their NBA careers.
Philadelphia continues their three-game road trip, next heading to Chicago, then Cleveland for a road doubleheader on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tip-off in Chicago is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
