Pistons Face a Fresh 76ers Group Built Around LeBron and Maxey

By NBA Stat Desk How we produce articles

Philadelphia's new-look starting five meets a talented but road-weary Detroit team.

DET @ PHI Oct 25, 2026 at 11:30 PM UTC

Philadelphia enters Sunday at 1-0 after a 106-100 win at New York, and the formula was defense. The 76ers held the reigning champion Knicks to 37.2% shooting, and that effort gives them a clear identity before the Pistons arrive. Detroit has real talent, but it will have to solve a unit that is still new and already looks connected.

The focus is on LeBron James, who played 34 minutes in the opener, including stretches at backup center, and finished with 14 points and 7 assists. His role matters because it shows how flexible Philadelphia's lineup can be. The new starting group of Maxey, Edgecombe, Brown, James and Embiid delivered, with Maxey scoring 28, Brown adding 19 in his debut, and Embiid posting 13 points and 11 rebounds, plus a late 3-pointer. Detroit will have to defend Maxey's scoring while also accounting for James's playmaking and Embiid's interior presence.

The Pistons are no pushover. They finished first in the East, Cade Cunningham was All-NBA First Team, and Detroit added Collins in a sign-and-trade. That gives them enough shot creation and size to stay in this game. The schedule is a concern, though. This is Detroit's third game in six days after meetings with Boston and a trip to Miami, so energy late in the game could be an issue, especially against a Philadelphia lineup with several scoring options.

The off-court noise around James and Trump could be a distraction, but the 76ers showed in New York that they can lock in once the game starts. I expect Detroit to keep it competitive behind Cunningham, but Philadelphia's depth of creators and fresher legs should decide it late.

Prediction: 76ers 108, Pistons 102.

All game reports