3 observations after Sixers erase 17-point deficit and then lose to Nets at the buzzer

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3 observations after Sixers erase 17-point deficit and then lose to Nets at the buzzer originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers’ second-half comeback was for naught Saturday night.

They suffered a seventh consecutive loss and the Nets grabbed a 105-103 win at Wells Fargo Center when Nic Claxton swooped in to convert a buzzer-beating put-back layup.

The 20-36 Sixers’ top scorer was Tyrese Maxey with 31 points. Cam Johnson’s 23 led the Nets.

The Sixers remained without Justin Edwards (left ankle sprain), Eric Gordon (right wrist sprain), Kyle Lowry (right hip injury management) and Jared McCain (left lateral meniscus surgery). Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said pregame he’s “hopeful” Edwards will be able to play Monday night vs. the Bulls.

Brooklyn’s sidelined players included D’Angelo Russell and Cam Thomas.

Here are observations on the Sixers’ latest loss:

Defense does not bounce right back

The Sixers executed a nice game-opening play, scoring the night’s first two points with a Maxey layup off of a between-the-legs Joel Embiid feed at the top of the key. Maxey posted eight points on 3-for-3 shooting in a little over two minutes and drained a pair of pull-up jumpers.

Defensively, the Sixers were far too leaky. The Nets started 8 for 10 from the floor and the Sixers let them slip free for a variety of easy layups — off drives, off cuts, in transition.

Following their poor showing in Thursday night’s blowout defeat to the Celtics, the Sixers certainly did not snap back to a higher defensive level. Ziaire Williams’ wide-open corner three-pointer put the Nets up 20-15 before the midway point of the first quarter. Next time down, Kelly Oubre Jr. fouled Johnson on a long-range attempt.

The Sixers’ defensive woes had nothing to do with the Nets capitalizing on turnovers and profiting in the open floor. Even with only one first-quarter giveaway, the Sixers fell behind by double digits during Embiid’s initial stint. Brooklyn reached 40 points when Trendon Watford hit a floater just before the first-period buzzer.

Embiid still many miles from his A-game

Lonnie Walker IV checked in…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/3-observations-sixers-erase-17-220311441.html

Author : NBC Sports Philadelphia

Publish date : 2025-02-22 22:03:00

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