PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia 76ers started their competitors towards the lowly Washington Wizards, shorthanded. They had been lacking Joel Embiid, Paul George, Andre Drummond and others. That being mentioned, the Wizards entered with the worst document within the league and misplaced seven gamers.
The Sixers virtually noticed one slip via their fingers Wednesday as they noticed a 14-point lead flip right into a 2-point deficit with 1:18 to play. Philadelphia needed to battle and recuperate to return away with a 109-103 victory and enhance to 15-20 on the season.
Tyrese Maxey had 29 factors and 6 assists to paved the way, Guerschon Yabusele had 21 factors and eight rebounds, Kelly Oubre Jr. had 15 factors and 4 rebounds and Eric Gordon had 15 factors. The Sixers additionally acquired eight factors and 5 rebounds from Caleb Martin.
Listed here are the three fundamental takeaways from the win towards the Wizards:
Maxey’s nice second half
Maxey had a depressing first half Wednesday as he shot simply 3 of 13 from the ground and 1 of 10 from deep to attain eight factors. The Sixers nonetheless held a 59-48 lead at halftime due to the play of Yabusele and Oubre, however Philadelphia wanted Maxey to get going to get the job carried out and pull out a win. He answered the decision within the second half, scoring 21 factors on 8-of-14 capturing and 2-of-4 from deep. He took significantly better photographs and was capable of make an impression for Philadelphia.
Maxey defined his massive effort afterwards:
I feel I simply appeared actually, actually, actually good within the first half. I had lots of rim outs, what I imply? However I imply, it is good. I feel the most important factor I simply mentioned, like Yabu and Bona, is, , for Yabu, he does a extremely good job of choosing. I maintain saying “You filter, you are going to get 3 seconds”. So, I am going to be certain that to display your man all the best way. He will not wish to depart the ball and the man is guarding me, he will maintain chasing me so I’ll discover you just a few occasions. So alter the display. He set the display, it occurred, I have been right here just a few occasions, and he hit a pair 3s, and we took it from there.
Yabusele’s impression
The Sixers turned to Yabusele to offer Philadelphia a giant increase. He performed middle just a little greater than anticipated with accidents to Embiid and Drummond, however he was capable of make a huge impact for the Sixers each night time. He had an enormous late block on fellow Wizards Bilal Coulibaly to seal the win for the Sixers. Philadelphia led 105-103 and Yabusele blocked Coulibaly on the basket with 14.3 seconds remaining and helped the Sixers seal the sport. It helps that he is aware of Coulibaly’s tendencies.
“I felt good,” Yabusele mentioned. “I do know Bilal personally. Once I noticed him dribbling, I knew he was making an attempt to go me and attempt to make the layup, and I simply had feeling, ? I used to be making an attempt to bump him just a little to make him lose his stability Then, , I managed to recuperate the blockage.
Oubre Jr. and Caleb Martin defensively
The Sixers can lean on Oubre and Martin to be threats on the defensive finish of the courtroom. When these two are in tandem and in sync on the defensive finish, the Sixers shall be powerful to cease. They each have elite defensive instincts and had massive defensive moments towards the Wizards. There have been just a few moments on this sport the place Oubre and Martin teamed as much as shut down Washington’s perimeter scorers with the sport on the road.
“They’re actually good,” Maxey mentioned of the duo. “They’re actually disruptive. Particularly once they have, like a Joel behind them. They are often up there. They will strain much more. I feel that makes me extra comfy to go after and strain too. So tonight, “
This text was initially printed on Sixers Wire: 3 largest takeaways for short-handed Sixers in win over lowly Wizards