The Philadelphia 76ers and Washington Wizards squared off in a highly anticipated NBA matchup on January 7, 2026, at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. With both teams at pivotal points in their respective seasons, the stage was set for a contest brimming with intrigue, injury drama, and the relentless pursuit of momentum in the Eastern Conference.
Tip-off arrived at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, with fans tuning in on NBC Sports Philadelphia and Monumental Sports Network, while out-of-market viewers had streaming options via NBA League Pass, Fubo, and Peacock. The excitement was palpable, as this game marked the second meeting of the season between these Eastern Conference foes. Their first clash, back on October 28, 2025, had been a barnburner—Philadelphia eked out a 139-134 overtime win after trailing by double digits late in the fourth quarter.
Entering the night, the Wizards sported a 10-25 record, sitting 14th in the East. Yet, don’t let that record fool you—Washington had been playing its best basketball in weeks, winning five of its last seven and seven of its last 12. Their most recent outing was a 120-112 victory over the Orlando Magic, a game where CJ McCollum poured in 27 points and Alex Sarr contributed 23. The Wizards built a lead as large as 26 before staving off an Orlando rally, a testament to their newfound confidence and offensive execution.
But the Wizards’ optimism was tempered by a brutal injury report. CJ McCollum (quadriceps), Khris Middleton (knee), Kyshawn George (hip), Cam Whitmore (shoulder), Will Riley, Sharife Cooper, and Jamir Watkins were all ruled out for the Philadelphia clash. That’s a lot of firepower missing for a team already ranked 24th in the league in scoring (113.6 points per game) and 29th in points allowed (124.0 per game). Still, this young squad had been scrappy, covering the spread in nine of their last 13 games and playing above .500 basketball over the past month.
Rookie Alex Sarr continued to be a revelation, averaging 17.5 points and 7.8 rebounds while leading the NBA with 2.4 blocks per game. Tre Johnson, Bilal Coulibaly, and Bub Carrington also flashed their potential, giving Wizards fans hope for the future—even as the present remained a grind.
On the other side, the Philadelphia 76ers entered the contest with a 19-15 record, good for fifth place in the East. They were licking their wounds after a stunning 125-124 overtime loss to a shorthanded Denver Nuggets squad on January 5—a game that snapped a three-game winning streak and exposed some late-game defensive lapses. Still, the Sixers’ core continued to trend upward, especially on offense.
Joel Embiid, the reigning MVP, had played four straight games for the first time all season leading into the Wizards matchup. He was listed as questionable with a knee issue, as were Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford, both of whom hadn’t seen the floor since November. Tyrese Maxey, meanwhile, was a workhorse, leading the NBA in minutes played and averaging a scorching 31.0 points, 7.0 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game while shooting 40.5% from beyond the arc. VJ Edgecombe, the third overall pick, had quickly become the glue guy in the starting lineup, averaging 16.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists, and making a strong defensive impact. Quentin Grimes, Jared McCain, Dominick Barlow, and Andre Drummond provided valuable depth.
In their last outing, Embiid notched 32 points and 10 rebounds, Maxey added 28 points, six rebounds, and six assists, and Edgecombe finished just shy of a triple-double with 17 points, nine assists, and eight boards. Edgecombe’s emergence was especially notable—he’d scored at least 17 in four straight games and 22 or more in seven of his last nine. According to ESPN, "Edgecombe looks like a veritable part of a three-man scoring engine alongside Maxey and Embiid, who is rounding back into peak form."
Despite their offensive firepower, the Sixers’ defense remained a work in progress, ranking 15th in points allowed (116.4 per game) and 14th in defensive rating. Philadelphia ranked 16th in offensive rating, 26th in field-goal percentage, but they were 13th in three-point shooting and sixth in opponent three-point percentage—a testament to their perimeter defense. The betting world took note: the spread shifted from 13.5 to 14.5 points in favor of the Sixers as tip-off approached, with the total set at 235.5 points. The Wizards were heavy underdogs (+470 to +600 on the moneyline, depending on the book), while the Sixers were as short as -650 to -901 favorites.
With McCollum and Middleton sidelined, much of Washington’s offensive burden fell to Sarr and the young supporting cast. In their first meeting, Sarr had torched the Sixers for 31 points and 11 rebounds, and the Wizards had led by as many as 19 before Philadelphia mounted a furious comeback. Could the Wizards’ athleticism and high pace (ninth in the NBA) keep it close again?
Philadelphia, meanwhile, was eager to rebound from their Denver disappointment. The previous loss was a wake-up call, as the Sixers failed to match the energy of a Nuggets team missing its entire starting lineup. As Sean Barnard wrote, "This was further evidence that this Sixers team can both beat or lose to anyone on any given night." Philadelphia’s inconsistency, especially against high-motor teams like Washington, kept the door open for drama.
The Wizards’ recent run included wins over the Magic, Raptors, Grizzlies (twice), Bucks, Nets, and Pacers. They’d shown they could hang with playoff-caliber squads, even with a depleted roster. But slowing Embiid, keeping up with Maxey’s relentless attack, and containing the surging Edgecombe was a tall order, especially on the second night of a back-to-back.
As the game tipped off, all eyes were on whether the Wizards’ youthful exuberance could overcome their injury woes and whether the Sixers would reassert their status as Eastern Conference contenders. The action remained ongoing at press time, with Philadelphia holding the edge on paper but Washington refusing to go quietly. With Embiid’s health a constant subplot, Maxey’s star turn, and Edgecombe’s breakout, the Sixers’ faithful had plenty of reasons for optimism—but also a few for concern.
Tonight’s clash was more than just a midseason matchup—it was a litmus test for two teams at very different crossroads. For Philadelphia, it was about proving consistency and shaking off the ghosts of recent collapses. For Washington, it was a chance to build on a promising stretch and show that, even short-handed, they could make life difficult for one of the East’s best.
With the final result still up in the air as of this writing, one thing was clear: both the Sixers and Wizards brought passion, grit, and plenty of storylines to the Xfinity Mobile Arena floor. Fans will no doubt be watching closely to see who rises to the occasion as the Eastern Conference playoff race heats up.
