THE Philadelphia 76ers once had championship aspirations.
After a series of injuries, including to reigning Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid, the Sixers have since entered the race for a play-in berth.
The Sixers blew a 15-point lead and fell 115-109 to the depleted Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday for their second straight loss.
The shorthanded Sixers also played without Tyrese Maxey (concussion), Kyle Lowry (rest), De’Anthony Melton (back) and Robert Covington (knee).
Philadelphia will look to avoid a third straight loss when it hosts the New Orleans Pelicans Friday. Lowry is the only one likely to return to face the Pelicans.
Kelly Oubre Jr. led the Sixers with 25 points while Paul Reed added 17 points and 11 rebounds and Cam Payne added 16 points. Buddy Hield also had 15.
“We really needed to guard the ball better and get one or two defensive rebounds,” Sixers coach Nick Nurse said. “We probably would have been in better shape.”
The Sixers particularly struggled in the fourth quarter, when they were outscored 34-16.
Without All-Stars like Embiid and Maxey as well as key role players, others must step up. Tobias Harris only scored eight points and Reed fouled out.
All the Sixers can do is try to persevere.
“It’s obviously a tough time for Philadelphia and it’s tough as a player,” Oubre Jr. said. “I can’t even use my phone because after the game you feel so embarrassed and you feel like you’ve let the city down, let your team down, and stuff like that. It’s something that we kind of have to confront and overcome.”.
The Pelicans are a team on the rise heading into the playoffs. They will come into Philadelphia with a two-game winning streak.
After a 129-102 victory over the Indiana Pacers, the Pelicans defeated the Toronto Raptors 139-98 on Tuesday.
Trey Murphy III tied his career high with 10 3-pointers en route to a 34-point performance. The franchise record is 11 set by CJ McCollum.
“Trey has been fantastic,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “When he shoots the ball like that, we’re a tough team to beat. He knows that. It’s good to see him start to make some shots. It sets the stage for the rest of our group when he makes shots like he does. does it tonight. Herb Jones, same thing.
Jones added 17 points and Zion Williamson added 16 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.
The Pelicans made 24 3-pointers, shot 50.5 percent from the field and improved to 19-13 on the road this season. They made 24 of 49 shots from beyond the 3-point arc.
Due to the large margin in the Pelicans’ victory, they were able to rest their starters for much of the second half.
“Every game we want to give ourselves a chance to win it,” Green said. “It’s special when you can go on the road and win games. It lets you know you have the opportunity to be a really good team.”
The Pelicans led by 43 and also received 10 points and 10 rebounds from Jonas Valanciunas. Brandon Ingram scored 12 points while McCollum and Naji Marshall contributed 11 each.
–Field level media
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