With 4:22 remaining within the fourth quarter of Paul George’s Philadelphia 76ers debut towards the Phoenix Suns on Monday, Tyrese Maxey missed a pull-up 3-pointer that will have given his workforce a 116-106 lead. It was a worthwhile shot contemplating he’d already made six of them within the recreation, and with a lot time left on the clock, he seemingly figured he’d get a number of extra possibilities so as to add to his already gaudy complete of 31 factors on the evening.

That turned out to be the ultimate area purpose Maxey would try towards Phoenix, with just one extra level coming on the foul line down the stretch. Philadelphia’s seven-point lead within the last minutes evaporated partially due to a failure to seek out stability between George and Maxey. 

George initiated offense on 5 of Philadelphia’s last six half-court possessions, and whereas miscues from teammates deserve many of the blame, the 76ers didn’t stroll away with a single level on any of them. That features their last offensive possession of the sport wherein George tried an extended, step-back 2-pointer that will have tied the sport relatively than getting behind the road for a potential profitable try. He missed, and Phoenix escaped with the win.

It was an uneven debut general for George, who shot 4-of-14 from the sphere and scored 15 factors for Philadelphia. He additionally managed 5 rebounds and 4 assists within the 32-minute effort, and whereas he did constantly handle to attract assist protection throughout these closing possessions, a 76ers workforce nonetheless lacking one other All-Star in Joel Embiid wanted a bit extra from their new max-salary free agent at the same time as he recovers from the bone bruise that stored him out of his first 5 video games.

With time, the 76ers will determine the way to handle their offensive weapons down the stretch of shut video games. Monday has an opportunity to function a teachable second. However at 1-5, the 76ers are beginning to dig a significant gap for themselves within the standings. The thought of catching 8-0 Cleveland or 7-1 Boston is beginning to appear unrealistic, and potential self-discipline for Embiid after an incident Saturday wherein he shoved a reporter might complicate issues additional.

Issues will not get simpler for the 76ers on the schedule, both. They shut out this street journey with a two-game swing by Los Angeles towards the Lakers and Clippers, and after a quick reprieve towards the Hornets at house afterward, they’ve a back-to-back towards the Cavaliers and Knicks.

If the 76ers are going to outlive this early stretch with out Embiid, their course of (as loaded as that phrase is in Philadelphia) must get higher.