Philadelphia’s 8-1 start: strong defense, close finishes
The 76ers beat Detroit 112-106 on November 4, according to the NBA, extending their winning streak to five games.
The Philadelphia 76ers moved to 8-1 after beating the Detroit Pistons 112-106 on November 4, the NBA reported. It was Philadelphia’s fifth consecutive win and its response to its only loss through nine games.
In an NBA analysis published November 5, the league described the start as successful but not dominant, pointing to close finishes and strong early defensive results.
A record built on tight finishes
Seven of Philadelphia’s eight wins had been within five points in the final five minutes, according to the NBA. The league also reported that the 76ers’ average point differential was plus-5.8 per game, ninth in the NBA at that point, despite their 8-1 record.
The NBA noted that the sample covered only nine games. Its analysis said that projecting the point differential across the remaining schedule would imply a 60-22 finish, but presented that as a projection rather than an outcome.
Early defensive numbers stand out
Through the first nine games, Philadelphia had allowed 105.1 points per 100 possessions, the NBA’s second-best defensive rating in the figures cited by the league. Its offense was rated 20th, at 110.5 points per 100 possessions.
The NBA cautioned that opponents’ shooting could improve. It reported that Philadelphia ranked fifth in opponent effective field-goal percentage, while tracking data placed the 76ers 24th in defensive shot quality. The league also said Joel Embiid’s on-court minutes had coincided with a lower points-allowed rate, while noting the small sample.
A promising start, not a season verdict
The NBA’s account framed the 8-1 record as an encouraging opening rather than proof of a championship-level team. It pointed to the limited number of games and the possibility that late-game results and opponent shooting numbers could change over the course of the season.
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Philadelphia’s win in Detroit extended its early streak and lifted its record to 8-1, but the NBA’s analysis emphasized that nine games offered only an initial snapshot.
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Official source · 05/11/2026 15:04
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