PHILADELPHIA — In all the hand-wringing and load managing of October, the start of January always loomed large for the Philadelphia 76ers. It might not ultimately matter in April how you played in October. But the hole dug early can have ramifications late. Weighing on a 3-14 start was the specter of the holidays, a six-city trip that would start in Boston, end in Brooklyn and traverse the West Coast. The version of the 76ers that comes home for 2025 withstood those tests beautifully, save for five ill-time bad quarters strung together, the only stains on a 4-2 trip. And the yield is coming home for three home games with three games separating the Sixers from sixth place in the Eastern Conference. Had you told the 76ers that Joel Embiid would only play 13 of the first 34 games — he was scratched Monday with a left foot sprain — and that the only player to appear in each game this season would be Guerschon Yabusele, the Sixers would’ve taken it. “We’re learning a lot, I think, as we go here,” coach Nick Nurse said before entertaining the Suns on Monday night. “Obviously we’re playing a lot better. … There’s still, I think, a long way to go.” The trip was almost an unalloyed positive, starting with a Christmas win in Boston that served as an example of what the team is capable of. That was part of a four-game winning streak, dampened only by nearly four scoreless minutes to end a loss in Sacramento, then one garbage game of no defense against a vintage Steph Curry performance at Golden State. A dispatching of undermanned Brooklyn restored balance, and it parlays into home games against Phoenix, basement-dwelling Washington Wednesday and straggling New Orleans on Friday. The Sixers showed what continuity brings. Embiid averaged 30.4 points per outing, playing five of six games and at 32.2 minutes per night. Paul George remains up and down, though his 30-point outing against Sacramento is an indication he can still take over games. The team is 6-3 in the nine games that George, Embiid and Tyrese Maxey have started together, and Nurse’s main focus is on increasing the quantity of those. Nurse’s positives on the trip gravitate toward the defensive. Much as Caleb Martin’s 7-for-9 performance from 3-point range on Christmas in Boston was a highlight, the connection that he, Paul and Kelly Oubre have forged defensively is significant. “For the most part, the effort and the connection on defense has been pretty good,” Nurse said. “So we’re learning that we can execute some schemes. We’re learning that our three wings, when they’re engaged, are pretty tough defensively. Kelly, Caleb and Paul are some pretty good, tough, willing, athletic defenders that put their stamp on the game.” The Sixers navigated the trip despite losing another body in KJ Martin to stress reaction in his foot. Kyle Lowry’s hip has continued to balk, costing him Monday’s game, and Embiid’s injury management is now and forever game-to-game. “I think everybody can clearly see that the Joel-Paul part still needs some reps and work and time in games and all that stuff,” Nurse said. “But I think that’s showing some progress as well. But it’s hard to make progress unless we get out there and do it.” • • • Nurse reported that Embiid hurt his foot “a couple of games ago” and missed out. He’s managing the workload on his surgically repaired left meniscus and a sinus fracture in his face. “He’s been trying to get back in there, but not good enough to go today,” Nurse said. Lowry (hip) missed his ninth game of the season, though he’s played nine of 10. Andre Drummond (foot) was scratched, his fifth absence in the last seven, though Kelly Oubre (hand sprain) was in the lineup. The 76ers have played only three of their 14 back-to-backs this season. After 13 games in December, they play 17 in January. That backlog shall test the “no back-to-backs” decree made for George and Embiid, though Nurse is optimistic that the hard-and-fast limit will ease. “I think there should be some improvement in that, as far as guys playing and all that kind of stuff,” Nurse said. “I think we probably would like to be hoping guys are playing, whether it’s a back-to-back or not. That’s certainly where I’m at right now.” • • • One other positive of the road trip was … Justin Edwards? Yes, the Imhotep grad by way of Kentucky was the favored call among the two-way contract guys. He’s played in each of the last three games, are appearances No. 3, 4 and 5 in his career. He logged 23 minutes against Brooklyn, with 11 points, including 3-for-6 from 3-point range. “I just think that he has a pretty good sense of how to play the game,” Nurse said. “He does a couple things I really like. One, he really works and tries hard on defense, and he’s got the body and the athleticism to do it, but he also tries very hard. And he has a pretty good feel on the offensive end. I think he knows how to space, he knows where to cut, he runs the floor pretty good.”