The Philadelphia 76ers extended their winning start to 4-0 on Tuesday night, overcoming a 19-point deficit to defeat the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena. The victory continued a strong opening stretch and coincided with the season debut of Trendon Watford, who had been sidelined by a hamstring setback suffered during one of the team’s first preseason practices.
Watford had been one of four players unavailable to start the season, along with Jared McCain, Dominick Barlow, and Paul George. George has not appeared yet while recovering from a procedure on his left knee performed over the summer. Internal belief now points to a return in early November, with the expectation that he could make his season debut sometime within the next week or so.
In their upcoming home matchup, Philadelphia has been listed as a slight favorite at approximately two points, with totals posted in the mid-230s. The 76ers have hit the over in all four games this season. Recent futures pricing across sportsbooks has placed Philadelphia between +2500 and +3500 to win the NBA championship. With Paul George expected to return soon and Jared McCain back to light practice after dealing with a knee issue and a torn UCL in his thumb from September, betting interest has leaned toward the Sixers. Analysts have continued to point out that every game has gone over so far, lining up with the team’s quick pace and strong offense.
Tyrese Maxey has led Philadelphia’s early run, logging more than 40 minutes in each of the four games and averaging 37.5 points and 8.3 assists. His late jumper over Khris Middleton in Washington on October 28, 2025, helped secure the win. Rookie VJ Edgecombe has complemented Maxey’s production by averaging 22.3 points per game.
George’s return will require lineup decisions. In his first season with Philadelphia, he averaged 16.2 points on 43 percent shooting across 41 games while managing injuries. With Maxey and Edgecombe producing in starting roles and Quentin Grimes and Kelly Oubre Jr. available on the wing, head coach Nick Nurse will determine rotation structure once George is cleared.
Attention has also focused on expectations surrounding George. He is owed more than $160 million over the next three years, and last season included stretches of difficulty. Some national commentary has pointed to the possibility of rapid scrutiny if his performance does not stabilize quickly, particularly with the team opening the season undefeated without him.
