3 observations after George leaves with left knee harm, Sixers slide to one more demoralizing loss initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Philadelphia
The Sixers have nonetheless not reached a turning level.
They slid to one more dispiriting loss on Wednesday evening, falling 117-111 to the Grizzlies, and can head dwelling from an 0-3 highway journey at a ghastly 2-12 total this season.
A crew assembly Monday evening in Miami didn’t encourage a win over the shorthanded Grizzlies, whose record of injured gamers injured Ja Morant, Marcus Sensible and Zach Edey. Memphis moved to 9-7.
Paul George got here out of the sport within the third quarter with a left knee hyperextension (extra on that beneath).
Kyle Lowry opened the evening on the sidelines due to a proper hip pressure. Tyrese Maxey returned from a proper hamstring harm. He performed 20 minutes in his first motion since Nov. 6 and had eight factors on 3-for-13 taking pictures.
Joel Embiid posted 35 factors and 11 rebounds. Jaren Jackson Jr. (25 factors) and Desmond Bane (21) have been the Grizzlies’ main scorers.
The Sixers will begin a three-game homestand Friday evening vs. the Nets and proceed with a season that’s quickly descended to a darkish, darkish place.
Listed below are observations on their loss to Memphis:
A lot-improved Embiid
The primary couple of minutes weren’t encouraging for Embiid.
He received stripped of the ball on a drive about 30 seconds into the evening. Shortly after that, Memphis double teamed Embiid and he searched in useless for open teammates earlier than flipping up a really lengthy, air-balled hook shot because the 24 seconds expired. He clapped his fingers in frustration.
Embiid adopted up a particularly uncommon zero-free throw evening Monday by drawing 4 foul pictures within the first quarter. The Sixers made certain to get him common post-up and isolation touches early and he posted 10 first-quarter factors, together with a fadeaway jumper over Jackson. The offense actually wasn’t buzzing all recreation lengthy, however Embiid appeared a lot nearer to regular when it comes to aggressively in search of to attain.
Embiid additionally shot his mid-range jumper much better than he’d completed in his three prior outings this season, which all the time helps.
He managed to play a season-high 35 minutes, together with your complete third quarter. Embiid limped to the bench with 3:29 to go within the fourth after showing to bump his proper knee towards Jackson, however he stayed in for the rest of the sport.
Maxey extremely restricted
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse informed reporters in Memphis pregame that Maxey would have a “fairly brief” minutes restriction. He wasn’t kidding.
Maxey performed the primary 5 minutes and 29 seconds of the primary quarter. That was it for the primary half and he did not snap into type after halftime.
Maxey began the scoring with a banked-in floater after rejecting an Embiid ball display, however he did not make a area objective once more till the fourth quarter. The Sixers started 0 for 8 from three-point vary and Maxey had three of these misses.
Naturally, Jared McCain canned the Sixers’ first long-range shot. The rookie notched a sixth consecutive 20-point recreation Wednesday and likewise tallied a team-high 5 assists.
He performed the total first quarter and served as a lead guard in some bench-heavy lineups. Nurse appeared to be in search of something that may work, utilizing 11 gamers within the first half.
The Sixers had too many defensive breakdowns in each half courtroom and transition, failing to deliver the required focus and a focus to element. Grizzlies sharpshooter Luke Kennard lined up two consecutive wide-open threes early within the second quarter and made them each. He then pump faked, drove baseline and received the Sixers’ protection scrambling, which led to a Jay Huff nook three.
Bane discovered his jumper within the second quarter, hitting a number of well-guarded pictures, and the Sixers confronted a 10-point halftime deficit. George had simply two of their 53 factors on 1-for-6 taking pictures.
George exits, Sixers’ troubles worsen
Lower than a minute into the third quarter, George exited. He hobbled round awkwardly after securing a defensive rebound and went again to the Sixers’ locker room. Guerschon Yabusele subbed in.
George didn’t return and the Sixers later known as his harm a “left knee hyperextension.” The 34-year-old hyperextended the identical knee throughout the identical preseason and was recognized with a bone bruise that precipitated him to take a seat out the Sixers’ first 5 video games of the common season. The Sixers will hope for affirmation that this specific challenge is minor.
Yabusele (17 factors on 6-for-8 taking pictures) did not thoughts an prolonged run within the third quarter in any way. He scored the Sixers’ first six factors of the interval on two long-distance jumpers.
Embiid and Yabusele carried the offense within the third quarter, however the Sixers appeared prone to wrestle as soon as their All-Star huge man sat. Certain sufficient, Memphis dominated with Andre Drummond on the courtroom early within the fourth quarter. Following a Drummond journey inside, Bane hit a step-back three over him that gave the Grizzlies a 105-89 benefit. Memphis’ lead received as giant as 20 factors.
The Sixers belatedly ratcheted up their stage of desperation, reducing their deficit to 115-111 on a driving Embiid bucket, however a miraculous, last-ditch comeback would not have aligned in any respect with the brutal state of the crew. They’re now 0-1 when Embiid, George and Maxey all go well with up and it is unsure once they’ll have a full-strength star trio.
