The Sixers were without Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris, Danny Green, and Seth Curry against the Sacramento Kings but the team still managed a win. The coach of the Sixers was forced to start his tenth different lineup in the eighteenth game of the season, according to Keith Pompey.
Sacramento was also in the midst of experiencing challenges of their own; Luke Walton was relieved of coaching duties on November 21st. As a result, former Rivers assistant Alvin Gentry was coaching in his first game of the season for the Kings in an interim role.
In the initial minutes of the game, lefty speedster De’Aaron Fox found success scoring from the paint, drawing fouls, and converting from the perimeter. In response, Shake Milton was able to sink a quick six points en route to a 9-1 run, which resulted in a slim Sixer lead. However, sharpshooter Buddy Hield took over the quarter, as he made all four of his three-point attempts. Hield scored an impressive 14 points in six minutes of playing time, which gave the Kings a 33-28 lead to end the quarter.
During the early stages of the second stanza, the shorthanded Sixers went on an 11-0 run to reclaim a narrow lead. With nine available Sixers in rotation, it was essential that the team receive contributions from everyone. With that in mind, reserve shooter Isaiah Joe took advantage of his second-quarter playing time.
At the half of the back-and-forth clash, the road Sixers took a 55-52 lead behind 12 points, 2 assists, and 2 steals from Tyrese Maxey, Isaiah Joe‘s 11 points (3-6 FG, 3-3 FT, 2-5 3P), and 10 points from Shake Milton (4-5 FG, 2-3 3P). Also, Andre Drummond accumulated a variety of stats in his 16 early minutes–4 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks. Alvin Gentry’s squad was led by Buddy Hield‘s 16 points (5-8 FG, 4-6 3P, 2-2 FT) and De’Aaron Fox with 14 points (4/7 FG, 1-1 3P, 5-6 FT). After being outscored 33-28 in the first quarter, the Sixers outscored the Kings 27-19 in the second frame.
The game’s teeter-totter trend continued in the tertiary stage. Matisse Thybulle provided Rivers and the Sixers with a rampant defensive presence–burglarizing Sacramento of five possessions in his first 19 minutes of action.
According to Lauren Rosen, in the third quarter, Thybulle reached his season-high in scoring with 13 points (5-7 FG, 1-3 3P, 2-2 FT). His two-way production kept the Sixers relatively afloat as Sacramento took an 82-77 lead into the fourth quarter. The Kings outscored their Philly foes 30-22 in the period.
In the final frame, the second-string Sixers pulled within five points early, which forced a timeout from Alvin Gentry. The timeout was unsuccessful in stopping the Sixers’ momentum, as the visitors took a thin lead soon thereafter due to a four-point spurt from Milton.
Meanwhile, Drummond impacted the game on both ends, particularly influencing the game’s outcome on the glass. The big man amassed 23 rebounds on the night, which aided in a 17-4 run to end the game. The visiting Sixers were able to outscore the Kings 25-12 in the fourth to win 102-94.
Contributions came from a variety of Sixers in the gritty win, most notably Tyrese Maxey with 24 points (8-22 FG, 8-8 FT, 0-4 3P), 4 assists, and 2 steals in 35 minutes. Milton added 16 points (6-12 FG, 2-2 FT, 2-5 3P) in 36 minutes of playing time. Additionally, Furkan Korkmaz scored 11 points (4-10 FG, 1-4 FT, 2-4 3P) and tied a career-high with 6 assists. For the Kings, Fox tallied 23 points (7-15 FG, 8-10 FT, 1-4 3P) in 36 minutes, while Hield poured in 21 points (7-15 FG, 2-2 FT, 5-11 3P) in 31 minutes. Former Sixer Richaun Holmes played well, accumulating 18 points (8-10 FG) and 8 rebounds in 27 minutes.
Both teams shot 42% from the field and sub-30% from three. The teams combined for 56 free throw attempts. Sacramento’s record fell to 6-12, while Philly improved to 10-8. The Sixers’ next game is Wednesday, November 24th at 10:00 pm EST in Golden State. For more Philly sports coverage, visit PhillySportsNetwork.com!
