Sixers play with an edge that’s being sharpened in the absence of their stars

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The 76ers are competing with an edge that makes up for what they lack in talent.

It may not always translate to victories, especially with their three leading scorers out because of injuries. But there’s definitely a toughness developing that could benefit this team as the season progresses.

“I just think we have more guys that are competitive, and that’s the edge,” said coach Doc Rivers, comparing this season to the previous two. “You don’t need much to make P.J [Tucker] competitive. You don’t need much for Danuel House, you know [De’Anthony Melton]. You don’t need much for Paul Reed, [Montrezl Harrell].

“So you’ve got a lot of guys, they may not be the perfect players, but they’ll compete for you, and that helps us.”

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The offseason additions of Tucker, House, Melton, and Harrell have enabled the Sixers to shed the “soft” label that was applied to them at times. This squad is gritty and grimy and refuses to back down.

That was evident as the Sixers defeated Ben Simmons and the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night in a marquee home game. Playing without Joel Embiid, James Harden, and Tyrese Maxey, the Sixers won a game in which they had no business even being competitive.

Yet this became a game when Matisse Thybulle, despite an ailing left ankle, tried to gut himself through. It was a game Tobias Harris battled through after returning from his own ankle injury suffered early on. And it was a game when Shake Milton, who didn’t get any playing time earlier in the season, stepped up big down the stretch.

For the Sixers, the trick will be translating that grit into a game without as much at stake. The Sixers traveled to Charlotte to face the Hornets on Wednesday night. Then they’ll head to Orlando, Fla., for a two-game series against the Magic on Friday and Sunday before returning home to host the Atlanta Hawks on Monday.

The Sixers take a 9-8 record into their matchup with the Hornets (4-14), who have lost three straight games and 11 of 12. Meanwhile, the Magic are 5-13 and have lost two straight games and four of their last five.

So even though the Sixers are undermanned, these are winnable games if they duplicate the intensity from Tuesday night. After listening to Harris, one gets the impression that won’t be a problem.

» READ MORE: Shorthanded Sixers do the unthinkable to Ben Simmons and the Nets — win, 115-106

“Truth be told, the guys we have out there on the court are amazing players who [all have] a story and a journey of how they fought for this position of where they’re at,” Harris said of the Sixers’ role players. “And I’m always like a barometer ... of basically keeping our energy and our spirit right through the ups and downs of the season.

“And when you get presented this opportunity when new guys are playing minutes, it’s easy to [use an excuse when] you are down [three] starters.”

The Sixers are instead looking at this an opportunity for players who usually log eight to 10 minutes in a game and are playing closer to 32 minutes in the absence of Harden, Maxey, and Embiid.

But it was the toughness shown Tuesday in the 115-106 victory that makes Harris hungry to win games more than anything. It also helps him enjoy the part he plays in leading teammates and building their confidence.

That has been Harris’ mindset since the Sixers learned that a left foot injury would keep Maxey sidelined three to four weeks, which was followed by news that Embiid would miss at least two games with a sprained left foot. That’s coupled with Harden’s right foot strain, which he is likely to return from as early as next week.

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“So the [opponents] in front of you, we have to go at them and win our matchup and get this win,” Harris said.

But as their seventh-place standing in the Eastern Conference indicates, that hasn’t been easy, even with even their top players.

This team still needs time to mesh. Tucker needs to get into a rythmn while House, Tucker, and Reed must be more consistent.

The hope is that toughness will overcome the current roster’s deficiencies and lack of star power. The Sixers did it Tuesday and we’ll soon find out if they can sustain it during this road trip.