Nick Nurse finally answers fans’ biggest prayers as the 76ers hit a skid

Back home, after a tough West Coast road trip that saw them continue their slump, the Philadelphia 76ers finally pulled off a breakthrough overtime win against the Hornets, improving their record to 2-7 and ending a five-game losing streak.

After a hard-fought first half with few results, the 76ers gained a double-digit lead in the third frame. However, Charlotte didn’t let up and even sent the game into overtime, where she also had several chances to take the lead and the game.

Instead, Philadelphia managed to make all the necessary stops during the game to secure its first home win of the season. And the biggest reason for their victory is that Nick Nurse is finally answering the fans’ biggest prayers.

With Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid out of the fray and Paul George struggling against a Hornets defense that outran him, Jared McCain and Guerschon Yabusele combined for 47 points from the bank to lead the team to victory.

McCain played by far the best game of his career so far. The rookie guard scored 27 big points on 10 of 18 field shots while also sinking three of his eight three-point attempts. If you increase his stats by a few cents, he is clearly the best player on the handicapped 76ers.

It was clear from the start that McCain was too good to sit on the bench, as many fans confirmed. Luckily, the trainers didn’t keep him on a short leash this time and were rewarded in the end.

Meanwhile, Yabusele continued to prove why fans were right when they demanded the team give him a bigger role and more time on the pitch. While Andre Drummond struggled again, the Frenchman scored 20 points and eight rebounds and converted eight of his 13 shots, including two of his four attempts from downtown.

Yabusele has been easily the best signing in the NBA so far this season, and his impact simply cannot be denied. Despite playing as an undersized center, his physicality enabled him to excel defensively and his scoring repertoire was on full display as the team’s constant pick-and-pop player and occasional one-on-one post-up operator.

With Joel Embiid set to make his season debut in the next game, the Philadelphia 76ers will have to adjust accordingly. Hopefully, Nick Nurse and the entire coaching staff will continue to inject more energy into Jared McCain and Guerschon Yabusele as the team returns to health.