Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, left, goes up for a shot against Brooklyn Nets' Day'Ron Sharpe, center, and Trendon Watford during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid got benched and the Philadelphia 76ers got beat at the horn.

A season full of championship hopes has turned into a debacle for the 76ers, the latest blight came against Brooklyn on Saturday night when they lost their seventh straight game, this one on a buzzer-beating tip-in — and with Embiid on the bench.

A two-time NBA scoring champion, the oft-injured Embiid sat out the entire fourth quarter in the 105-103 loss after a rough three quarters. Embiid scored just 14 points in 31 minutes, missed all six 3-point attempts and was a bystander in the fourth when the 76ers rallied from 17 down to take the lead late, until they were finished off by Nic Claxton’s winner at the horn.

Embiid, who signed a 3-year, $193 million contract extension in September, declined to comment.

Claxton scored 16 points and tipped in the winner as time expired, Cam Johnson had 23 points and the Brooklyn Nets edged the 76ers.

Tyrese Maxey buried a 3 with 25 seconds left that tied it at 103 and helped the 76ers rally from a 17-point deficit.

The game seemed set for overtime when Keon Johnson missed a long 3, only for Claxton to be in the right spot to score at the horn and send the Nets storming onto the court in a wild celebration.

Trendon Watford also scored 16 points for the Nets.

Maxey led the 76ers with 31 points.

The 76ers played at full strength with All-Stars Embiid, Paul George and Maxey in the starting lineup. It didn’t seem to matter until the fourth. Quintin Grimes hit a 3 for the Sixers for a 95-94 lead and Maxey snapped another tie with a 3 that made it 100-97.

Even with little to play for except a better spot in the NBA draft lottery, the Nets kept at it and Keon Johnson hit a go-ahead 3 that made it 102-100.

Embiid has been hobbled by injuries all season and was slow to get up late in the third when he lost the ball and hit the court. Embiid said earlier this week that he needed to “fix the problem” in his left knee to return to his dominant All-Star form.

“The way I was playing a year ago is not the way I’m playing right now,” Embiid said Thursday after the 76ers lost to Boston. “I probably need to fix the problem, and then I’ll be back at that level. But it’s hard to have trust when you’re not yourself.”

He has played in just 19 of 56 games for the Sixers, who fell to 20-36 and are grasping at the fading shot of earning a berth in the NBA play-in tournament.

Coach Nick Nurse said he benched Embiid in the fourth simply because the lineup on the court — that included big man Guerschon Yabusele — was playing well in the quarter.

“They had a good feel for the game at that point,” Nurse said. “Just wanted to let them roll with it.”

Embiid played just 39 games last season due to a torn meniscus in his left knee. The 76ers announced in early February of that season that he had undergone surgery. Embiid came back in early April, was part of the 76ers’ playoff run then won a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team last summer.

Embiid acknowledged earlier this month that he didn’t have enough time to fully recover after undergoing surgery last year.

“He’s giving us what he can. He’s not himself, we all know that,” Nurse said. “He’s not certainly the guy we’re used to seeing play at a super-high level. I commend him for giving us what he can.”

UP NEXT

Nets: Visit Washington tonight.

76ers: Host key matchup with Chicago for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

In NBA action on Sunday:

CELTICS 108, KNICKS 105

BOSTON — Jayson Tatum scored 25 points with 10 rebounds and nine assists to lead the Boston Celtics over the New York Knicks. Tatum just missed getting a triple-double for the second straight game after earning one in a victory at Philadelphia on Thursday. Jaylen Brown had 24 points and eight rebounds, and Derrick White finished with 19 points for Boston, which won its fifth straight and improved to 3-0 against the Knicks this season. Karl-Anthony Towns led New York with 24 points and Jalen Brunson had 22.