It looks like Joel Embiid’s availability alone cannot take the Philadelphia 76ers back to their glory days. His addition to the team just before the tip-off might have made the fans happy, but what followed would’ve brought them right back to earth. The Sixers blew up a massive 19-point lead and now have tied the Washington Wizards for the worst record in the NBA this season at 2-11. The franchise’s poster boy raised his hand and accepted the fact that everyone needs to do better, including himself.

Jared McCain kept his scoring streak alive, leading the Sixers with 20 points for the fifth game in a row. Paul George chipped in 18 points on 5-of-13 shooting, alongside 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. Meanwhile, Embiid delivered a disappointing performance with 11 points on 5-of-11 shooting, paired with 8 rebounds and 5 assists.

While talking to the media, Embiid said, “We know where we at, and we know we got to do better. We sure will. It is unacceptable and something is gonna be done about it,” before adding, “We’ll be fine.” Embiid also admitted that it’s the best players’ mindset that matters during this time.

“It starts with the best player, always having a mindset of, you know, it’s not alarming, I have that mindset. PG has that mindset, just having our mindset because I feel eases a lot of guys.” That wasn’t all. Embiid also took a shot at the refs, when asked about Miami’s 11 more free throw attempts.

The big man said with a smirk on his face, “I don’t know. I took zero free throws. That must be a first.” While it wasn’t the first, it surely was a rare instance. The last time the 30-year-old had zero free-throw attempts was in 2018. But how does Philly continue to struggle?

What went wrong for Joel Embiid and Co.?

After halftime, the Sixers’ offense hit a wall, shooting just 32.4% from the field. They managed only 33 points in the second half while the Heat put up 53, taking over the game and securing a decisive win.

With a strong start and stars like Joel Embiid and Paul George on the court, this was a game Philadelphia should have claimed. However, the team appeared to lose focus after building a comfortable 19-point lead. Their complacency showed in their reluctance to attack the rim and a less aggressive overall approach.

In the third quarter, the Sixers’ game quickly unraveled. They were outscored by 19 points, which has been a troubling trend. This team struggles to stop runs, sustain momentum, or even stay competitive during these middle stretches of games.

Things went south when Eric Gordon fouled Tyler Herro on a three-pointer late in the shot clock in the 3rd. Then, Jeff Dowtin Jr. turned the ball over, leading to a fast break and an easy Herro layup.

By the fourth quarter, it was clear there was no way back. The game was lost, and honestly, it didn’t seem like there were any positives to take away. It’s becoming a familiar story for the Sixers.

In response to their league-worst record, the Sixers reportedly held a closed-door meeting lasting an hour. While details remain under wraps, it’s safe to assume coaches addressed the issues head-on, likely pushing the team to find a way to shift their momentum.