Game Recap: Brooklyn Nets Vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia 76ers defeat visiting Brooklyn Nets, but lose Covington and Grant to heart stopping injuries.

The Philadelphia 76ers were desperate for a victory. But the cost of the win against the visiting Brooklyn Nets may have come at a far too expensive price.  Early in the third quarter, with the Sixers holding the lead, Jerami Grant made a play on the ball against Nets guard Donald Sloan.  The height of Grants move literally flipped him over Sloan, and in the process launched his feet skyward into the face of Robert Covington.   Grant’s head collided with the hardwood floor, while the kick to the head jarred Covington.

The game’s heartstopping injuries punctuated the earlier news that rookie and leading scorer Jahlil Okafor would be undergoing arthroscopic surgery to correct a meniscus tear, and would be sidelined for the remainder of the season. He’ll join teammate Joel Embiid, who has spent two years recovering from foot surgery. The team would lose a fifth player later in the second half when Richaun Holmes left the game with a strained Achilles heel.  The Philadelphia 76ers, who had battled through injuries at the opening of the season, finds itself battling once more at the end.

Any injuries to the head and neck are always treated seriously.   Covington’s injury was serious enough to require his neck to be immobilized with a brace and for trainers to carry him off the court on a stretcher.

Jerami Grant, while he did not exit the game on a stretcher, did leave the game with a possible concussion and did not return.

Covington ended the night with 12 points on 4 out of 6 shooting from three point distance, while adding 4 rebounds on 17 minutes of play. Grant ended the evening with just under 17 minutes of play, and added seven points three assists, two rebounds and two blocks on the evening.  Holmes had an off night, playing just under 12 minutes of play but scoring just two points and one steal.

So who was left? Well, the team had to lean heavily on Mr. Consistency, Carl Landry. With the game on the line, Landry was given more than the magic 20 minutes of playing time, and responded with a team leading 16 points on 7 of 9 shooting from the floor. He also crashed the boards hard, getting eight rebounds for the out-manned Sixers. Joining Landry and Covington in double digit scoring were Nerlens Noel with 13 points, Hollis Thompson with 11 points, and a trio of T.J. McConnell, Nik Stauskas, and Ish Smith with ten points respectively. Noel led the team in rebounds with 11 to complete another double double for the sophomore center, while Smith and Thompson each chipped in seven rebounds apiece.

The victory snapped the Sixers 13 game losing streak, and was the teams first victory since defeating these very same Brooklyn Nets on February 6.

Player of the Game

The game ball has to go to Carl Landry. Patient and ever ready, his production tonight was integral in fending off the Nets again and again. He responded with buckets each time the Nets attempted to rally to help Philly preserve its lead. Landry’s dunk with 2:15 left, which followed a tough rebound on the other end, gave Philly a 92-84 lead and helped seal the win.

Unheralded but certainly noteworthy was the third appearance of forward Elton Brand. He delivered six minutes for the Sixers late in the game, and while not scoring did manage to pull down two rebounds, one steal and one block.

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The game was certainly a huge team victory, despite the outbreak of injuries.   The team held the visiting Nets to 89 points, the lowest score allowed by the Sixers since holding the Orlando Magic to 87 points in a victory on January 20.

Next: The Sixers New Year Resolution Bottoms Up

Looking Ahead

The Philadelphia 76ers are remaining home to host the playoff hopeful Detroit Pistons Saturday night March 12 before going on the road to face the Brooklyn Nets Tuesday Night on March 15.  At this publication, the team is likely to face the Detroit Pistons without Okafor, Covington, Grant, or Holmes.