3 observations after Sixers get smoked by Celtics in 1st game after break

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3 observations after Sixers get smoked by Celtics in 1st game after break originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers’ first game after the All-Star break sure did not set the desired tone.

They fell to a sixth consecutive defeat Thursday night at Wells Fargo Center, dropping a 124-104 game to the Celtics.

Paul George led the 20-35 Sixers with 17 points. Tyrese Maxey posted 16 points and seven assists.

The 40-16 Celtics’ top scorer was Payton Pritchard, who tallied 28 points. Jayson Tatum recorded a 15-point, 11-rebound, 10-assist triple-double. Jaylen Brown scored 20 points.

The Sixers had four players out in Justin Edwards (left ankle sprain), Kyle Lowry (right hip injury management), Eric Gordon (right wrist sprain) and Jared McCain (left lateral meniscus surgery).

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said pregame that Gordon has seen two specialists and the team is still unsure of the best path forward with his wrist injury. Nurse said it’s possible the veteran shooting guard could be out long term.

Lonnie Walker IV has not yet officially signed with the Sixers, though Nurse expected he’d be available for the team’s game Saturday night vs. the Nets. There’s a Walker IV name plate (with the No. 16) next to Ricky Council IV in the Sixers’ locker room.

Here are observations on the Sixers’ blowout loss Thursday:

Sixers’ defense starts very slowly

George passed his two-point output from last Wednesday night in Brooklyn on the Sixers’ first possession. He drained a long-range jumper off of a simple Joel Embiid kick-out feed from the post. Embiid handled another double team well on the Sixers’ next trip, spotting Kelly Oubre Jr.’s cut and assisting his dunk.

Boston then made a 9-0 run. The Celtics started 4 for 4 from the floor and went up 11-5 after a Derrick White three-pointer and a pair of Brown free throws.

The Sixers’ defense did not have a banner opening quarter. They allowed quite a few wide-open threes in the first period and Boston knocked down almost all of them. The Celtics shot 8 for 12 beyond the arc in the first and built a double-digit lead late in the quarter. The Sixers had…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/3-observations-sixers-smoked-celtics-211724251.html

Author : NBC Sports Philadelphia

Publish date : 2025-02-20 21:17:00

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