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.
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.
The Sixers’ next game is Wednesday, July 10 at 3 PM E.T., when they’ll face Bruce Brown Jr. and the Detroit Pistons.