3 observations after Sixers blow late lead but survive to beat Wizards

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3 observations after Sixers blow late lead but survive to beat Wizards originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The shorthanded Sixers didn’t exactly coast to the finish line Wednesday night.

Still, after squandering a fourth-quarter lead, they managed to earn a 109-103 victory over the Wizards at Wells Fargo Center.

Tyrese Maxey led the 15-20 Sixers with 29 points.

Guerschon Yabusele was excellent in a 21-point, eight-rebound performance.

Washington fell to 6-29 on the season. Wizards guard Jared Butler had a career-high 26 points and seven assists. Corey Kispert added 23 points.

Both teams had extensive injury lists. The Sixers were without six players: Joel Embiid (left foot sprain), Paul George (left groin tightness), Andre Drummond (left toe sprain), Kyle Lowry (right hip soreness), KJ Martin (left foot stress reaction) and Jared McCain (left lateral meniscus surgery).

The Sixers will face the Pelicans on Friday in Philadelphia. Here are observations on their tense win over Washington.

Gordon the starter

Before Wednesday, Eric Gordon’s only start this season came on opening night. His return to the starting five went well.

Gordon drained two three-pointers from the left wing in the first quarter and scored eight points on 3-for-3 shooting. He also notched a crisp drive-and-kick assist on the first of Yabusele’s five threes.

It’s been an unequivocally subpar season for Gordon thus far — 37.3 percent from the floor and 29 percent from three-point range going into Wednesday’s game — but he gave the Sixers an effective spot start vs. the Wizards.

Yabusele got another start against a true big man in Jonas Valančiūnas and the Sixers had unsurprising rebounding troubles early. Every one of Washington’s first 10 points was of the second-chance variety.

The Sixers’ effort against Valančiūnas was certainly not the main problem. Kelly Oubre Jr. recorded a big-time block in the first quarter on Valančiūnas, who had vicious intentions as he plowed down the lane and tried to rise for a slam.

Sixers build lead despite Maxey’s 1st-half woes

Using a lineup of Oubre and four bench players late in the first…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/3-observations-sixers-blow-lead-024346743.html

Author : NBC Sports Philadelphia

Publish date : 2025-01-09 02:43:00

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