Adam Aaronson

Sunday stats: How the Sixers improved to 2-0, from Joel Embiid's unusual cadence to Andre Drummond's heroics Breaking down the key figures behind the Sixers' dramatic comeback victory in their home opener on Saturday night.

New: This week’s Sunday stats is all about last night’s Sixers win.

• Joel Embiid’s unusual minutes cadence, explained by Nick Nurse and Embiid himself

• Quentin Grimes rewarded by the basketball gods

• Andre Drummond with a massive moment to play the hero www.phillyvoice.com/sixers-vs-ho...

I'll be adding postgame quotes to instant observations stories this year for folks reading late at night or (more likely) the following morning.

This story is updated with quotes about Joel Embiid's three-point volume, Andre Drummond's heroics, Quentin Grimes' role and more:

I am glad to be back covering basketball. Sunday stats tomorrow will break down tonight’s win.

Asked Joel Embiid a few questions about the way his 20 minutes are being allotted. He said he prefers tonight’s model — more minutes earlier — than four short stints like in Boston, but that he doesn’t want to have a restriction at all. Will post full audio or video later.

Nick Nurse on his 300th win as an NBA head coach:

“I had no idea.”

Instant observations: Joel Embiid finds force as Sixers escape with win over Hornets in home opener It could have been much easier for the Sixers to nab their second win of the season, but 2-0 is 2-0. Joel Embiid and co. were able to top the Charlotte Hornets in their home opener, nabbing another th...

A ton of observations from a wild one:

•Joel Embiid finds force and it pays off

•Shaky frontcourt depth shows early, then Andre Drummond swings the game (!)

•Quentin Grimes’ stellar night

•Justin Edwards gets back in & makes a difference

•more!

www.phillyvoice.com/sixers-vs-ho...

The Sixers are 2-0 after winning what should be remembered as The Andre Drummond Game (despite a spectacular effort from Quentin Grimes). Story on the way.

Tre Mann misses a three, but this game is not over. Andre Drummond grabbed his 11th rebound and is fouled. Two huge shots coming.

Tyrese Maxey ties the game with a mid-range jumper, then Quentin Grimes gives the Sixers the lead from three. Timeout Hornets. 13.9 seconds left. This place is going nuts for the first time in what feels like an eternity. Basketball gods rewarding Grimes for the way he's playing.

Joel Embiid is watching the game in the corner with a hoodie on and his knee wrapped. Clearly done for the night.

Andre Drummond's put-back dunk gives the Sixers the lead. Holy cow.

VJ Edgecombe drives and scores, and the Sixers have cut the lead to one. Timeout Hornets with 2:34 left. If the Sixers complete this comeback, they will not have done so without Andre Drummond. He's played the last 13 minutes (minus the last 1.9 seconds of Q3). He has 4-9-3-2.

These have turned into enormous Andre Drummond minutes. He's part of the reason the Sixers are still in this game.

Andre Drummond is incredibly pumped after rebounding Tyrese Maxey's missed free throw and scoring an and-one. He missed a free throw and VJ Edgecombe rebounded it, chaos ensued and the Sixers didn't end up scoring. But Drummond really needed that jolt.

Make it three triples from Justin Edwards, whose minutes have been a godsend.

Justin Edwards hits another three, Andre Drummond takes the ball away from Kon Knueppel and Kelly Oubre Jr. dunks in transition. Charlotte's lead has been cut from 10 points to five in 53 seconds. Timeout Hornets.

After three: Hornets 96, Sixers 86.

A really rough quarter for the Sixers, whose offense was middling while Charlotte decimated their defense. 38-25 was the differential in that frame, and now the Sixers are in a hole heading into the fourth quarter.

Justin Edwards knocks down a three. The Sixers needed it badly, and so did he.

Huge stint here for Grimes, Edgecombe, Oubre Jr., Edwards and Drummond, closing the second quarter down by nine points. Drummond just tried and missed a corner three.

Andre Drummond is checking in out of this timeout. Looks like Embiid's minutes limit will lead to short bursts for him every now and then.

Here comes Justin Edwards, not part of tonight's regular rotation but now in the mix due to the Dominick Barlow injury.

Joel Embiid checks out at the 7:02 mark of the third quarter with 20 minutes under his belt. Does he have another stint left? If so, will it come at the beginning of the fourth quarter or will he wait for crunch time?

Joel Embiid halts a Charlotte run with a falling and-one. He has 20 points on 7-11 shooting.

Jabari Walker starts the second half in place of Barlow.

Think the most important thing from that half was the force Joel Embiid played with. In Boston it looked like he was trying to let the game come to him and then watched it fly by. He isn’t letting that happen right now.

Halftime: Hornets 58, Sixers 61

LaMelo Ball played well and Charlotte is sticking around. Several standout Sixers:

Embiid: 15 minutes, 16 points (5-8 FG, 3-5 3P, 3-4 FT), 4 assists

Edgecombe: 9-4-2-2

Maxey: 14 points (5-8 FG, 4-7 3P), 6 assists

Grimes: 17-3-3, 6-7 FG, 4-5 3P

Just an awesome Quentin Grimes half. 17-3-3 on 6-7 shooting (4-5 from three). He's filled any and every role the Sixers have asked through six quarters.

Pretty impressed by LaMelo Ball's effort on defense here. He's had quite a few deflections. Charles Lee looks amped about it.

Joel Embiid goes vertical and stonewalls Miles Bridges on a drive. That's a nice sign.

Joel Embiid is closing out the first half. Either his minutes restriction is a bit less similar than Nick Nurse let on, or the Sixers are using up the vast majority of his minutes in the first half. Would assume it's the former.