VEGAS GRADES: Oklahoma City Thunder 84, Philadelphia 76ers 81
The Philadelphia 76ers mounted an impressive comeback, but came up short.
Once listed among the Summer League favorites, the Philadelphia 76ers now sit at 1-2 through three games in Vegas. Monday afternoon was a long, partially exciting game in the Cox Pavilion, which featured painstakingly bad basketball and the comeback that ensured.
Facing the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Sixers were down 52-26 at halftime. It was an ugly first half — Shake Milton got hurt, Norvel Pelle was a mess and the offense stalled in typical Sixers fashion. It was a strong reminder of how important dribbling is.
The Sixers’ Summer rotation features the same limitations that have plagued Philadelphia in the past and that threaten to plague Philadelphia again this season. When not a single player can consistently break down the defense in a halfcourt setting, the offense is liable for extended lulls.
In the second half, sans Milton and Pelle, the Sixers rebooted. With Tobias Harris in attendance, Terry Harris finally made a couple plays. Matisse Thybulle continued his impressive run on defense, P.J. Dozier became a bit more palatable and Zhaire Smith was flat-out brilliant.
The Sixers ended up sending the game to overtime, tied at 81. It ended in bitter defeat, and OKC outscored Philadelphia 3-0 in the two-minute overtime period, securing the Summer Sixers’ second loss.
Philadelphia 76ers. ZHAIRE SMITH. A. Zhaire continued a highly encouraging Summer League, leading the Sixers’ comeback with 18 points and several momentum-swinging plays. He looks more polished on offense — hitting a pull-up three, showing tighter handles and finishing through contact inside. All that, and his defense was highlight-making.. Wing
Wing. Philadelphia 76ers. MATISSE THYBULLE. B. It was another strong defensive performance for Thybulle. His off-ball excellence translated to three blocks and two steals, while his offense continues to show promise. He confidently shot six 3s — hitting two of them — and tied the game late on a nice drive to the basket. His handles need work, though, and he coughed up four turnovers due to a loose dribble.
D+. Well. Jones got the starting nod for the injured Marial Shayok. He hustled and was extremely vocal, often finding ways to insert himself into possessions. It just ended poorly. He was 0-for-11 from the field, scored just five points and was a -19 — the second-lowest mark on the team, trailing only Shake Milton. He did manage to grab 16 rebounds, for what it’s worth.. Forward. Philadelphia 76ers. JALEN JONES
D+. Playing 30 minutes due to Milton’s ankle injury, Dozier was shoved into a massive role. He shot 3-for-16, committed three turnovers and settled for multiple bad shots. He fouled five times, was unimpressive on defense and disappointed across the board. For one of the bigger prospect names not on the Sixers’ roster, Dozier’s Vegas run has been a letdown.. Guard. Philadelphia 76ers. P.J. DOZIER
ZACH HANKINS. B. With Pelle playing just six minutes, Zach Hankins was afforded extra playing time off the bench. He took advantage of it, finishing on rolls to the basket and impacting shots at the rim on defense. He played just 14 minutes, but scored nine points and tallied three blocks, all while posting a +8 during the Sixers’ second-half comeback.. Big. Philadelphia 76ers
Even in defeat, there were some promising moments in the comeback. Vegas doesn’t actually matter, so the limited creation skills aren’t a huge deal. It’s more important to get Milton and Dozier developmental reps at the primary ball handler.
Next. Can the Sixers become Eastern Conference kings?. dark
The Sixers’ next game is Wednesday, July 10 at 3 PM E.T., when they’ll face Bruce Brown Jr. and the Detroit Pistons.