GRADES: Philadelphia 76ers 108, Los Angeles Lakers 91
By Ashley Foltz
The Philadelphia 76ers defeat the Los Angeles Lakers despite the absence of Joel Embiid and Josh Richardson.
Due to the injury of two of the Philadelphia 76ers starters, Sixers fans had little hope about their team pulling out a big win at home. Early on, we saw how well the unexpected combination of Ben Simmons and Shake Milton worked out. It looked as if they’d been starting together the whole season.
Matisse Thybulle has been playing extremely well lately but was missing the shooting element of his game. He must have flipped some switch because he hit two threes in the first half. Along with that, he hustled for three steals in just the first quarter.
It’s a shock that LeBron James still has a voice after this game with how much he argued with the refs after every single call…especially against Milton. Towards the end of the first half, we saw the Lakers begin to panic. They were playing down to the Sixers’ level, while the Sixers were just working their butts off in any way they could.
The Sixers exemplified the need for a shooter after a wacky offensive sequence. They showed a lot of great offensive rebounding and hustle but had many opportunities to knock down shots but couldn’t execute. Mike Scott was one that couldn’t notch in a bucket but he has been struggling as of late.
A+. <strong>41 mins | 28 pts | 10 reb | 8 ast | 4 stl | 0 blk | 5 TO | 12-15 FG | 0-0 3PT| 4-6 FT | 3 PF | +15 | </strong><p>Simmons had one of his best games this season tonight. He worked his butt off at both ends of the court. You wouldn’t have even guessed that he played over 40 minutes because he didn’t show any signs of fatigue. Simmons is really picking up any slack from the absence of Embiid and Richardson.</p>. PG. Philadelphia 76ers. BEN SIMMONS
B. <strong>25 mins | 7 pts | 9 reb | 3 ast | 1 stl | 0 blk | 1 TO | 3-5 FG | 1-3 3PT| 0-2 FT | 2 PF | +12 | </strong><p>With his first start of the year and most minutes he’s gotten all season, Milton played his role well. He made some great plays with Simmons and really hustled off-ball. It was great to see him get some more time and show some growth.</p>. SG. Philadelphia 76ers. SHAKE MILTON
A+. <strong>38 mins | 29 pts | 8 reb | 1 ast | 0 stl | 1 blk | 3 TO | 6-7 FG | 3-8 3PT| 6-7 FT | 3 PF | +6 | </strong><p>Tobi silently had a spectacular game…well at first at least. Later on, he made himself more present as he made some hefty dunks and got the Wells Fargo Center up on their feet (and clapping there hands).</p>. SF. Philadelphia 76ers. TOBIAS HARRIS
<strong>25 mins | 16 pts | 6 reb | 1 ast | 1 stl | 0 blk | 2 TO | 6-9 FG | 2-5 3PT| 2-2 FT | 1 PF | +11 | </strong><p>Horford was just playing his part for most of the game. He knocked in a few shots, got some boards, and moved the ball well. In the last five minutes or so he silenced all the “trade Al” talkers. Hitting a few jumpers and even a triple, he solidified the Sixers win.</p>. C. Philadelphia 76ers. AL HORFORD. A
SG. Philadelphia 76ers. MATISSE THYBULLE. B. <strong>36 mins | 6 pts | 1 reb | 1 ast | 5 stl | 1 blk | 2 TO | 2-6 FG | 2-6 3PT| 0-0 FT | 0 PF | +13 | </strong><p>It wasn’t a super spectacular game for the rookie, but it was really great to see him take, and make, the shots he took. Not only did he knock down some impressive shots, but he had five steals that sparked a lot of momentum on the Sixers’ end.</p>
Tobias Harris quietly had 21 points halfway through the third quarter, until he went in for a thunderous slam past Kyle Kuzma for 23 points. Not too long after this did the Sixers make us a little worried. The safety-net of a 20-point lead was cut down to just 12. Raul Neto came up huge with a three and Anthony Davis whiffed a three of his own to give the Sixers a little wiggle room.
LeBron James did some LeBron James things as he worked to pull his team back into the game. In doing this, he passed Kobe Bryant to become the third all-time leading scorer with 33,644 points.
My fear comes in the form of the Sixers during the fourth quarter. They give us hope the whole game, but eventually fall apart during the final minutes of the game. Al Horford came up huge within the concluding moments. Horford hit a clutch mid-range jumper, followed by a crucial three to put the Sixers up to a comfortable ten-point lead. This led to the Lakers conceding and taking out their starters.
Next. Simmons snubbed as All-Star starter. dark
The Sixers did the impossible without two of their starters.