The Philadelphia 76ers have been without two of their stars for the majority of their games thus far and have had to rely heavily on their supporting cast. Thanks to a pair of unlikely heroes, they managed to secure just their second win of the season in an overtime thriller with the Charlotte Hornets.

Guerschon Yabusele was entering his second stint in the NBA and was seen as a potential X-factor for the Sixers. Through the first three weeks of the season, he has proven to be a key member of the supporting cast. His value was on full display against the Hornets, scoring 20 points and eight rebounds off the bench.

The other highlight for the Sixers in this game was rookie Jared McCain. He came alive en route to scoring a career-high 27 points. Without the production of this duo, Philly could have started the year with a 1-8 record.

Despite having an impressive outing himself, Yabusele made sure to give McCain his flowers for his efforts. During his post-match interview, he had only positive things to say about the young guard.

“He’s an incredible kid,” Yabusele said. “He had no fear… He’s a really great kid, we’re happy to have him.”

With this victory, the Sixers ended their five-game losing streak. They still have a ways to go before they’re back on track, but trips like this are a step in the right direction.

The Sixers return to action on their home floor on Tuesday in what is expected to be an exciting game. Not only will they face the New York Knicks in an NBA Cup game, but it could also be Joel Embiid’s season debut.