PLAYER GRADES: Philadelphia 76ers 103, Memphis Grizzlies 95
The NBA Southeast Division-leading Memphis Grizzlies came to town and they faced a Philadelphia 76ers squad down to 10 fully rostered players due to injuries, and whatever is up with Markelle Fultz.
After snacking on a couple of cupcakes the week before in the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards, the Philadelphia 76ers faced a big upgrade in opposition with the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizz came in with a 13-8 record and coming off a dramatic win over Brooklyn. They were looking to sweep the season series as they had beaten a very-shorthanded Sixers squad in overtime on Nov. 9, right before Jimmy Butler joined the team.
Memphis wins on its defense and they certainly made the Sixers work for their points. However, the 76ers showed they are pretty good on the defensive side themselves, at least lately.
The Sixers topped the Grizzlies, 103-95, for their fourth win a row and eighth of their last nine. It is the third game in a row they have kept the opposition under 100 points, the first time they have done that since February 2018.
Before the game, it was announced starting power forward Wilson Chandler was out after getting kneed in the thigh in Friday’s Wizards game. He is expected to only miss this game. That put Mike Muscala in the starting lineup, with starting point guard Ben Simmons spelling him, and no real Plan C if it did not work.
The Sixers, who only a little while ago were being lit up by the likes of E’Twuan Moore and Spencer Dinwiddie, put in a great defensive performance, limiting the Grizzlies to shooting 41.8 percent from the field.
Memphis managed to hang in until the final minute. It only trailed by two points with nine minutes to go and were within four points with 39 seconds left, but the Sixers seemed to be done with blowing leads and did not allow them to get closer.
The Sixers only shot 48 percent from the field and Joel Embiid did not have a great shooting night, but they had enough stops to pull out the victory.
<strong>38 mins | 15 pts | 14 reb | 3 ast | 1 stl | 1 blk | 4 TO | 4-13 FG | 0-2 3PT| 7-8 FT | 3 PF | +13| </strong><p>Embiid has always had problems offensively against <a rel=. C. Philadelphia 76ers. JOEL EMBIID. B+
SG. Philadelphia 76ers. J.J. REDICK. B+. <strong>30 mins | 24 pts | 3 reb | 0 ast | 0 stl | 0 blk | 1 TO | 9-17 FG | 3-6 3PT| 3-3 FT | 5 PF | +9 |</strong><p>Redick had a nightmare first period, missing all five of his shots. However, he did not miss much after that, pouring in 24 points in the final three quarters. With Embiid having an off night offensively and Jimmy Butler not getting on track until the fourth period, those points were needed.</p><p>Redick started the game guarding noted-Sixers killer <a rel=
A. <strong>37 mins | 19 pts | 12 reb | 6 ast | 2 stl | 0 blk | 3 TO | 8-10 FG | 0-0 3PT| 3-8 FT | 4 PF | +5 |</strong><p>Brett Brown before the game said with Wilson Chandler out, Simmons would be playing a lot at the power forward position. Simmons gets credit for embracing the move and was a terror inside, taking advantage of mismatches and missing just two shots all game (and one was a <em>very</em> poor foul line jumper he was forced to shoot with time running out).</p><p>Simmons played with a lot of energy on both ends and came up with a key steal in the final two minutes with Memphis only a couple of buckets behind.</p><p>Would have received an A+ but he had a poor night on the foul line, had some careless turnovers and a missed rebound near the end that could have proved costly.</p>. PG-PF. Philadelphia 76ers. BEN SIMMONS
B. <strong>33 mins | 21 pts | 3 reb | 2 ast | 0 stl | 1 blk | 3 TO | 7-17 FG | 0-4 3PT| 7-8 FT | 3 PF | +7 |</strong><p>It was Mr. Clutch striking again! Butler was not having a particularly good night — until it was crunch time. He scored 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and, although not as dramatic as his last-second heroics against Charlotte and Brooklyn, he once again had the dagger shot, his jumper with 46.9 seconds to go giving the Sixers a 97-89 lead.</p><p>Butler may not be the Sixers’ top scorer every night but his points seem to always be in key moments, when the team seemingly needs it the most.</p><p>As usual, his defense was stellar and the team followed his lead. Memphis is not an offensive juggernaut but limiting them to 41.8 percent from the field is still an accomplishment.</p>. F. Philadelphia 76ers. JIMMY BUTLER
C-F. Philadelphia 76ers. MIKE MUSCALA. B-. <strong>28 mins | 8 pts | 7 reb | 5 ast | 0 stl | 0 blk | 0 TO | 2-4 FG | 2-3 3PT | 2-2 FT | 0 PF | -5 |</strong><p>While his stats may not be eye-popping, Muscala played a key role for the Sixers. Without Wilson Chandler available, Muscala started in his place and was literally the team’s only true power forward healthy enough to play. The paper-thin Sixers frontcourt needed badly for him to put together a decent game, which he did.</p><p>Muscala hit a couple three-pointers to keep the tough Memphis defense honest and had a great game passing. His five assists were only one less than Ben SImmons. He also held his own against rookie sensation <a rel=
With the win, the Sixers at 17-8 are second in the Eastern Conference. The Sixers get to face No. 1 as their next game is Wednesday at Toronto against Kawhi Leonard and a Raptors team who have the best record in the NBA.
Next. Philadelphia 76ers surging early in Jimmy Butler era. dark
In their first matchup, it did not go well, at all, for the Sixers.