76ers HC Nick Nurse Praises Players' Poise in Tight Win Over Hornets

Nurse highlights team's composure and execution down the stretch in a 'super intense' game.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 4:44am

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Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse commended his players for their poise and decision-making in the team's close win over the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night. Nurse noted the 76ers' strong execution on both ends of the floor in the tense fourth quarter, singling out a key late-game play and the team's ability to adjust their defensive coverage to shut down the Hornets' offense.

Why it matters

The 76ers' victory over the Hornets keeps them in the mix for a top-six playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, a crucial goal after missing the postseason last year. Nurse's praise of his team's composure under pressure suggests the 76ers are developing the mental toughness needed to succeed in close, high-stakes games down the stretch.

The details

The 76ers defeated the Hornets 112-109 in a tight contest that came down to the final minutes. Four Philadelphia players scored in double figures, led by Joel Embiid's 29 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks. Tyrese Maxey added 26 points and 8 assists, while Paul George had 26 points and 13 rebounds. The 76ers executed well in the fourth quarter, running a 'great out of bounds play' for a key three-pointer and tightening up their defense after a LaMelo Ball three-pointer to hold on for the win.

  • The 76ers' victory over the Hornets took place on Saturday, March 29, 2026.

The players

Nick Nurse

The head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, now in his third/fourth season with the team.

Joel Embiid

The 76ers' star center, who had 29 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks in the win.

Tyrese Maxey

The 76ers' starting point guard, who scored 26 points and dished out 8 assists.

Paul George

The 76ers' veteran forward, who contributed 26 points and 13 rebounds.

LaMelo Ball

The Hornets' star point guard, who hit a key three-pointer in the fourth quarter.

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What they’re saying

“It was super intense. For the most part, when it was really, really tense there in the fourth, I thought we made some very poised decisions. We ran a great out of bounds play to kind of, that was a huge three. We hit great execution. I thought we made a couple mistakes on defense, but they weren't that bad. I think they hit a 3. LaMelo [Ball] hit a bomb on one of them. That wasn't really a mistake; he just hit a bomb, you know? And then we shored that up the rest of the game, and went to another coverage, and they executed it. They executed the defense at the end of game, plays late too. So I thought we showed great composure, and in a in a pretty tense situation.”

— Nick Nurse, Head Coach, Philadelphia 76ers

What’s next

The 76ers will look to build on this win when they take on the Miami Heat on the road on March 30.

The takeaway

Nick Nurse's praise of his team's poise and execution in a tight win over the Hornets suggests the 76ers are developing the mental toughness needed to succeed in high-pressure situations and secure a playoff spot after missing the postseason last year.