What happened: The Philadelphia 76ers have won nine of their first 11 games to open the 2026-27 regular season. The early stretch featured multiple matchups against the defending champion New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Detroit Pistons.
Why it matters: The 9-2 start places Philadelphia atop the Eastern Conference standings after navigating a difficult early slate against conference rivals. Building an early cushion against postseason contenders strengthens the team's position for home-court advantage as the conference race unfolds.
By the numbers: Philadelphia leads the Eastern Conference at 9-2 through 11 games. Among its early opponents, Detroit ranks third at 7-3, New York is fifth at 5-4, and Cleveland sits seventh at 5-6.
What to watch: Philadelphia looks to sustain its conference-leading pace as the November regular-season schedule continues.