76ers vs. Nets score, result: Embiid leads Philly to victory in Ben Simmons' return

Benyam Kidane

76ers vs. Nets score, result: Embiid leads Philly to victory in Ben Simmons' return  image

It was a playoff atmosphere in Philadelphia as the 76ers held on to beat the Brooklyn Nets 137-133 at Wells Fargo Center. 

With the victory, the 76ers extend their win streak to six-straight games behind big nights from Joel Embiid, James Harden, and Tyrese Maxey. 

Maxey scored a team-high 27 points off the bench in 30 minutes, while Embiid added 26 points and 10 rebounds and Harden 23 points and seven assists. 

It was the first time Ben Simmons faced off against the 76ers in Philly with both Harden and Embiid in the lineup and in what was a tense affair, the Aussie finished with 12 points, five rebounds, and five assists, doing most of his work in the third quarter, before being benched down the stretch. 

Kyrie Irving led Brooklyn with 30 points and 10 assists, while Nic Claxton finished with a 25-point, 11-rebound double-double. Seth Curry led all scorers with 32 points off the bench.

If you missed any of the action, The Sporting News has you covered with live updates, highlights and more from the game.

76ers vs. Nets score

  1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Final
76ers 41 34 32 30 137
Nets 41 24 34 35 133

76ers vs. Nets updates, highlights from Ben Simmons' return to Philadelphia

FINAL: 76ers 137, Nets 133

10:18 p.m. — The 76ers hold on to win their sixth game in a row!

10:06 p.m. — James Harden responds immediately with back-to-back 3-pointers as the 76ers quickly regain control of the contest. 

10:05 p.m. — Seth Curry is single-handedly clawing the Nets back. He hits another triple to make it a season-high 32 points to tie it up at 120-120.

9:58 p.m. — Joe Harris picks up his sixth foul and he's done for the night. He exits the game with eight points in 20 minutes. 

9:50 p.m. — Brooklyn's zone defense is making life tough for the 76ers as they continue to get stops and cut into the lead. 76ers lead 116-110 with 7:50 remaining. 

9:45 p.m. — Philly has struggled to create offense with Embiid on the bench as the Nets cut the lead to single digits. 

9:42 p.m. — Now Simmons and Georges Niang get into it, with the 76ers forward assessed a technical. That's the sixth technical foul of the game.

9:40 p.m. — Kevin Durant wishes he was out there.

End of third quarter: 76ers 109, Nets 98

The Nets rallied in the third behind 10 points from Ben Simmons. It's the first time this season he's scored 10 points in a single quarter, adding five rebounds, and four assists.

9:30 p.m. — Simmons stays in attack mode. He's been a different player after half-time. he goes to the line to complete the 3-point play to close the quarter. 

9:19 p.m. — Nic Claxton's aggressiveness in the paint has been huge for the Nets. He's got 20 points and nine rebounds. 

He now holds the franchise record for most consecutive games (12) with 3+ blocks.

9:14 p.m. — Simmons has the last six points for the Nets, burying two free throws and then following it up with another bucket inside. Can he get going and spark the Nets in the second half?

9:13 p.m. — Ben Simmons is on the board, connecting on the jump hook. 76ers lead 80-71.

9:11 p.m. — Allen Iverson is in the house

Halftime: 76ers 75, Nets 65

The 76ers take a double-digit lead into the break, with three players in double figures. Maxey has 16, while Embiid and Melton have 13 apiece. 

8:40 p.m. — Embiid is in a good mood in Philly.

8:39 p.m. — Embiid checks back into the game to a loud ovation. Simmons joins him with another loud chorus of boos from the home fans. 

8:37 p.m. — Things are getting chippy again as Kyrie Irving and Montrezl Harrell get into it, with the 76ers big man being assessed a technical.

8:33 p.m. — Maxey is lighting it up! He drains the stepback triple for his third 3 of the period. He heads back to the bench with 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting in just 10 minutes. 76ers lead 61-52.

8:32 p.m. — The 76ers are out and running in Q2.

8:30 p.m. — The 76ers' second unit lineup is giving the Nets problems early in the second, with Tyrese Maxy and Montrezl Harrell getting busy.

End of first quarter: 76ers 41, Nets 41

We're all square after an entertaining first quarter. This is the first game this season where both teams have scored 40 points in the first quarter. 

Melton leads the 76ers with 11 points, while Kyrie Irving and Seth Curry have 10 points apiece for the Nets. 

Ben Simmons is scoreless after 12 minutes and is yet to attempt a field goal, recording two assists and one rebound.

8:13 p.m. — Claxton and Embiid having a heated conversation, with the officials assessing a double technical. 

8:12 p.m. — NIC CLAXTON!!!! The Nets big man sends Embiid's shot packing.

8:11 p.m. — The Nets take their first lead of the game behind an 8-0 run. Nets lead 32-30.

8:05 p.m. — Kyrie Irving takes a hard fall, slipping on the floor as he drove to the basket. Afer stating down for a moment, he's back on his feet. 

8:00 p.m. — De'Anthony Melton keeping the 76ers in front with another triple! He's 3-for-3 in Q1.

7:50 p.m. — All four field goals from the 76ers have come from beyond the arc, while connecting on a perfect 7-of-7 at the free throw line. 76ers lead 19-10.

7:48 p.m. — The Philly crowd reigning down the boos on Ben Simmons after he fouls Joel Embiid. 

7:45 p.m. — Kyrie Irving getting it going early. 

7:40 p.m. — And we're underway in Philly. De'Anthony Melton buries the 3-pointer for the first bucket of the game. 

Pregame

7:08 p.m. — Sixers starters: James Harden, De'Anthony Melton, Tobias Harris, P.J. Tucker, and Joel Embiid. 

7:04 p.m. — Nets starters: Ben Simmons, Kyrie Irving, Joe Harris, Royce O'Neale, and Nic Claxton.

7:00 p.m. — Ben Simmons in the building.

6:45 p.m. — Check in with Tyrese Maxey on the 76ers looking to extend their five-game win streak.

What channel is 76ers vs. Nets on?

  • Date: Wednesday, Jan. 25
  • TV channel: ESPN
  • Live streaming: Sling TV

76ers vs. Nets will air on ESPN. Viewers can also stream the game on Sling TV.

Fans in the U.S. can watch the biggest games of the 2022-23 NBA season on Sling TV, which is now offering HALF OFF your first month! Stream Sling Orange for $20 in your first month to catch all regular season games on TNT, ESPN & ABC. For games on NBA TV, subscribe to Sling Orange & Sports Extra for $27.50 in your first month. Local regional blackout restrictions apply.

SIGN UP FOR SLING: English | Spanish

    76ers vs. Nets start time

    • Date: Wednesday, Jan. 25
    • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET | 4:30 p.m. PT

    76ers vs. Nets will tip off around 7:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Jan. 25. The game will be played at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

    76ers schedule 2022-23

    Here are Philadelphia's next five games of the 2022-23 regular season:

    Date Opponent Time (ET) TV channel
    Jan. 25 vs. Nets 7:30 p.m. ESPN
    Jan. 28 vs. Nuggets 3 p.m. ABC
    Jan. 30 vs. Magic 7 p.m.
    Feb. 1 vs. Magic 7 p.m.
    Feb. 3 at Spurs 8 p.m.

    Nets schedule 2022-23

    Here are Brooklyn's next five games of the 2022-23 regular season:

    Date Opponent Time (ET) TV channel
    Jan. 25 at 76ers 7:30 p.m. ESPN
    Jan. 26 vs. Pistons 7:30 p.m.
    Jan. 28 vs. Knicks 5:30 p.m. ABC
    Jan. 30 vs. Lakers 7:30 p.m. NBA TV
    Feb. 1 at Celtics 7:30 p.m. ESPN

    Benyam Kidane

    Benyam Kidane Photo

    Benyam Kidane is a senior NBA editor and has been covering the league for The Sporting News since 2016. In his spare time you can find him watching Allen Iverson highlights on repeat.