Joel Embiid dominated offensively, but the Sixers barely held on against a Pelicans team, missing both Zion Williams and Brandon Ingram.
The Sixers managed to hold the lead at the sound of the last buzzer, but once again, the team nearly dropped a game against lower competition after maintaining a large lead. After leading by 16 points after the half, the Sixers were demolished in the third quarter.
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Joel Embiid started the quarter hot, hitting four consecutive shots for 10 points in two and a half minutes. What happened after that would nearly change the entire dynamic of the game. The Sixers shot 3/16 from the field after that point and finished the quarter, having turned the ball over five times.
The fourth quarter was nearly as bad, with turnovers occurring left and right. The Sixers managed to even incur an eight-second violation. In the end, a win is a win, but this type of play can’t continue.
Sloppiness, laziness, and a lack of intensity led to their once impressive lead dwindling away, and it’s far from the first time this has happened. This is the fourth game in a row that the Sixers have let lesser teams get back into games (and almost win them).
The Sixers have one of the easiest schedules remaining in the league and have for a while, and while they shouldn’t press and risk injury/overexertion, at the same time, they cannot completely coast through the rest of the season. At least, not until they clinch the top seed in the East.
The Philadelphia 76ers will be back at it tomorrow against Jerami Grant and the Detroit Pistons. This game will decide the season series as the two have split their two matchups so far.
Tip-off starts at 7:00 PM EST, and you can watch the game on NBC Sports Philadelphia or NBA League Pass. You can also listen live at 97.5 The Fanatic FM.
