GRADES: Embiid-less Sixers run Spurs out of building
By Sam Coltrane
The Sixers defended their home court against the San Antonio Spurs in front of a raucous and eager 3,000 person crowd in their first game for at least a couple weeks without Joel Embiid.
Philadelphia started Tony Bradley in place of the injured Embiid. He played admirably and contributed across the board, grabbing eight rebounds and chipping in four assists.
Danny Green kept Philadelphia in the game early against San Antonio as he scored 11 of the team’s first 15 points. After a Derrick White three-pointer pushed San Antonio ahead 15-14, Philadelphia closed out the quarter on a 18-8 run behind a diverse spread of offense.
The second quarter was a back-and-forth even affair that saw San Antonio outscore Philadelphia 30-27. Dejounte Murray came out aggressive early and Ben Simmons followed suit as the quarter went on. Simmons scored nine points doing his work in his familiar painted area. The teams entered the half to the tune of 60-52, Philadelphia.
A 46-point third quarter led the Sixers to a dominant home victory in Joel Embiid’s absence.
Tobias Harris led the way for Philadelphia in the third quarter as he continues to prove his first half of the season is a sign of true development. Harris scored 13 in the quarter and managed the game from a lead role.
The team as whole came out blistering. Collectively, they gashed San Antonio to the tune of 46 points in the quarter on only five missed shots. Entering the fourth quarter, Philadelphia led the game 106-73.
By the fourth, the game was out of hand and resembled as much. Some playing time for the lesser used guys and young players produced a quiet ending coming to a close at 134-99.
<strong>29 mins | 23 pts | 9 reb | 7 ast | 2 stl | 1 blk | 1 TO | 10-18 FG | 1-2 3PT| 2-2 FT | 1 PF | +36 |</strong><p>No Joel Embiid, a front-runner for NBA MVP. Didn’t matter tonight. Harris is a future all-star and is proving it. I had my doubts for far too long, but he played the lead role beautifully tonight and against a team with some strong individual defenders. Complete game played dominantly merits an A+.</p>. PF. 76ers. TOBIAS HARRIS. A+
A. <strong>26 mins | 21 pts | 4 reb | 4 ast | 0 stl | 0 blk | 0 TO | 9-16 FG | 3-6 3PT| 0-0 FT | 3 PF | +29 |</strong><p>Seth Curry was masterful showcasing his ability beyond three-point shooting. Four rebounds and four assists helped, but again his floor spacing and offensive activity drives so much for others that his production for this team always goes beyond the box score.</p>. SG. 76ers. SETH CURRY
A-. <strong>26 mins | 14 pts | 4 reb | 9 ast | 1 stl | 0 blk | 3 TO | 6-9 FG | 0-0 3PT| 2-5 FT | 0 PF | +21 |</strong><p>Simmons played exactly how we ought to expect Simmons to play. He’s a tremendous player and played a good game. Attacked the bucket, played great defense, initiated offense.</p>. PG. 76ers. BEN SIMMONS
A-. <strong>23 mins | 16 pts | 5 reb | 0 ast | 0 stl | 2 blk | 1 TO | 6-9 FG | 4-7 3PT| 0-0 FT | 2 PF | +24 |</strong><p>I don’t typically give Danny Green very high ratings. When he plays a particularly great game, I should take the time to mention it. Green chipped in two blocks to go along with 16 points on only 9 shots. Tremendous efficiency and tenacious effort defensively will get the job done and then some.</p>. SF. 76ers. DANNY GREEN
<strong>17 mins | 10 pts | 3 reb | 1 ast | 3 stl | 1 blk | 0 TO | 4-4 FG | 2-2 3PT| 0-0 FT | 4 PF | +16 |</strong><p>This spot could easily have gone to Furkan Korkmaz who shot perfectly four-for-four from three on his way to 16 points on only seven shots. However, this spot belongs to fan favorite Matisse Thybulle. Three steals and a block are becoming routine for perhaps the best defensive impact playmaker in the game. Four shots generating 10 points including two deep balls earns him an A+.</p>. SF. 76ers. MATISSE THYBULLE. A+
San Antonio will travel to Michigan to take on the Detroit Pistons tomorrow on a back-to-back while Philadelphia will host the New York Knicks as they strive to maintain the number one seed in the Eastern Conference on Tuesday.
Philadelphia will be without Embiid for some time, so look for Harris and Simmons to continue and push the team in his stead.
Next. 3 free agent center options to fill Embiid's spot. dark