Sixers Seek Respite During All-Star Break After Tough Stretch

Tyrese Maxey and other key players look to recharge as Philadelphia heads into the midseason pause

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The Philadelphia 76ers are heading into the 2026 NBA All-Star break on a sour note, having suffered two blowout losses to the Portland Trail Blazers and New York Knicks. With players like Tyrese Maxey logging heavy minutes and rookie VJ Edgecombe nearing the dreaded "rookie wall", the week-long break couldn't come at a better time for the Sixers to rest and recharge before the final stretch of the season.

Why it matters

The Sixers' recent struggles have highlighted depth issues that have been exacerbated by suspensions, injuries, and trade deadline moves. The All-Star break provides a much-needed opportunity for the team's key players to recover physically and mentally ahead of a potential playoff push.

The details

In the two losses before the break, the Sixers were blown out by 17 points against the Trail Blazers and suffered a 49-point defeat at home against the Knicks. Tyrese Maxey, who leads the league in minutes played, has been vocal about the team's fatigue, while rookie VJ Edgecombe is also showing signs of hitting the "rookie wall" after playing a full NBA season's worth of games. Additionally, Joel Embiid missed the last two games with knee soreness, and the break will allow him to rest and recover.

  • The Sixers lost by 17 to the Portland Trail Blazers on February 11, 2026.
  • The Sixers lost by 49 points to the New York Knicks at home on February 12, 2026.
  • The 2026 NBA All-Star break begins on February 14, 2026.

The players

Tyrese Maxey

The Sixers' starting point guard, who leads the league in minutes played per game and has been vocal about the team's fatigue.

VJ Edgecombe

The Sixers' rookie guard, who is nearing the "rookie wall" after playing a full NBA season's worth of games.

Joel Embiid

The Sixers' star center, who missed the last two games before the All-Star break due to knee soreness.

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What they’re saying

“I think the break will be good for this team. Guys got to reset, guys are tired, you know? And the guys have played a lot of minutes. We fought a lot in these 54 games.”

— Tyrese Maxey (libertyballers.com)

“He's never played these type of minutes in his life, like even playing a 40-minute basketball game in college is way different than this. We've played 54 games, I don't know how many he's actually played but he's played in at least played 50 of them. That's a whole season, and we're asking him to do a lot.”

— Tyrese Maxey (libertyballers.com)

“I wouldn't say [it's] super noticeable, but I think there's probably some there. I think you're gonna see that in a rookie, almost all the time.”

— Nick Nurse, Head Coach (libertyballers.com)

What’s next

The Sixers will return to action on February 22, 2026, when they host the Miami Heat.

The takeaway

The All-Star break comes at a crucial time for the Sixers, who need the opportunity to rest their key players and recharge before the final stretch of the season. With depth issues and fatigue concerns, the week off could be just what the team needs to make a strong playoff push.