RECAP: Brooklyn Nets 116, Philadelphia 76ers 108
In a much more competitive contest than expected, the Brooklyn Nets were able to topple the Philadelphia 76ers. It was gritty performance by the home team that featured strong performances by D’Angelo Russell and Spencer Dinwiddie.
To say this was an embarrassing loss for the Philadelphia 76ers would be an understatement. In the middle of the fourth quarter the Nets went on an 11-0 run to build a 10-point lead with under seven minutes to go in the game. Brooklyn never looked back and closed out the Sixers.
Coming into the game, the Sixers were 1-2 on their four game road trip. They needed to win tonight’s game in order to seal a successful stretch of games. With tonight’s loss, Philadelphia continues to play down to lesser competition.
The Sixers now have losses to Sacramento, Phoenix, LA Lakers, Memphis and Brooklyn. These are showings that a playoff hopeful team cannot afford to put forward, especially with a tough back-to-back coming up against Miami and Indiana.
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The Sixers looked in control early on in the game taking an early 20-11 lead. The Nets, however; started to catch fire behind a spectacular effort from the three-point line. They shot almost 50 percent from outside arc on the game. Heading into the game, Brooklyn was one of the worst three-point shooting team in the league.
D’Angelo Russell and Spencer Dinwiddie carried the Nets’ offense. Both had a few heat checks whenever they entered the game. D’Angelo ended up with 22 points on 8-15 shooting. Dinwiddie finished with 27 points. Their point guard counterpart on the Sixers, Ben Simmons, did all he could to keep the Sixers in it. Ben worked efficiently all game, missing only five shots and shooting 68 percent from the field.
Joel Embiid did his best late in the game to bring home a victory. He powered the Philly to a 11-4 run to cut the Nets lead to four. It was all for nothing as a lack of execution and defense for the Sixers down the stretch sealed it for Brooklyn.
The Sixers have now lost three in a row after going 7-2 in the rest of January. They finish the month seven wins and five losses. If the Sixers are to make the playoffs, they really need to stop playing down to the competition.
PG. Philadelphia 76ers. BEN SIMMONS. A-. <span style=
B+. <span style=. F. Philadelphia 76ers. DARIO SARIC
Philadelphia 76ers. JOEL EMBIID. A-. <span style=. C
C-. <span style=. F. Philadelphia 76ers. ROBERT COVINGTON
SG. Philadelphia 76ers. J.J. REDICK. B+. <span style=
Defensive letdown
The Nets are a bad offensive team. Heading into tonight’s game, according to NBA Stats, they were tied for 23rd in the league with a 102.5 offensive rating. The Sixers still ranked fourth in the league in defensive rating. This should have been a slam dunk for the Sixers defensively.
Philly did not play smart defense all night. They lost 50-50 balls all night and lost the rebounding battle 39-33. Robert Covington was especially disappointing. He was the only Sixers starter who was a negative plus/minus.
The Sixers bench let them down tonight on that side of the ball as well. TLC has come crashing down to earth and TJ McConnell was ineffective on the ball against Spencer Dinwiddie and D’Angelo Russell.
The Sixers have 3 more match-ups against the Nets the rest of the year. This better be the only loss, otherwise, it will be a be an utterly disappointing showing for the Sixers against a far inferior team.
Quick Notes:
- Jarrett Allen did by far the best job defending Embiid among the Nets big men. Allen had a couple sweet post moves against Joel as well. He has the look of a player who could have a long career in the NBA. I cannot say I would complain as his afro is a glorious sight to see.
- Speaking of Nets centers, Jahlil Okafor had a quiet first half against his former team. He committed three quick fouls and couldn’t stay in the game. But in the second half, he fared much better, forcing a stops against Ben and JoJo while scoring eight points in the half.
- E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles chants could be heard all night. Glad to see Philadelphia fans travel well and get hyped before the big game on Sunday even though the 76ers put in a disappointing game.
Next: 76ers Target Tyreke Evans in Trade