The Philadelphia 76ers took to the hardwood for the first time this preseason in a matchup against former Sixer Jonah Bolden and the New Zealand Breakers. Despite the absence of Joel Embiid and Paul George, at least on the court, there was plenty of excitement for Sixers fans.
Tyrese Maxey paced the team in scoring through the first quarter, putting up 15 points in just 12 minutes of work. The expectation was never for Maxey to play a significant role in a preseason exhibition game, but even still, he showed what he needed to and more for Nick Nurse and company.
Some of the 76ers’ latest acquisitions, like Eric Gordon and Caleb Martin, didn’t make a notable impression on the stat sheet, but their imprint on the game could be seen in Gordon’s willingness to shoot well beyond the arc and Martin’s defensive tenacity.
The return of Andre Drummond was cause for celebration in Philadelphia as he followed up on his recent claims as a rebounder with an impressive performance on the boards. Just as it was in his last stint with the 76ers, there is no longer a lack of confidence in the team’s backup center position. He even connected on a corner three.
Notably, the first two “backup bigs,” if you will, were KJ Martin and Olympic standout Gerschon Yabusele. Ahead of the matchup, 76ersx’ head coach Nick Nurse mentioned both Martin and Yabusele when discussing potential options behind Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond for minutes at the five. Both players made their mark, particularly Yabusele, who went a perfect six-for-six from the field, knocked down a three, and played the role of the instigator in tonight’s matchup.
As for the rookies, Jared McCain and Adem Bona, the pair also stood out tonight, succeeding in what they always do well. For McCain, a rough start to the game was quickly overshadowed by an impressive offensive game, particularly as a shooter, connecting on four of nine shots from deep. Bona meanwhile, made his debut a bit later in the game, handling the bulk of the center minutes in the second half. Defending as well as ever while being a force on the boards, Bona’s first taste of the preseason was easily a success.
This isn’t to forget the impact of Ricky Council IV or Reggie Jackson, who both had impressive games, particularly offensively, for Philadelphia. Council finished with 13 points and a rim-shaker of a dunk, while Jackson had 15 as he looked as smooth as silk, helping to lead the Sixers to a 139-84 victory over the breakers.
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