Observations after Embiid scores 40, Sixers win in 1st game of George’s suspension – NBC Sports Philadelphia
One down, 24 to go.
The Sixers won the first game of Paul George’s 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug program, notching a 124-114 victory Saturday night over the Pelicans at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
By wrapping up a 3-0 homestand, the Sixers improved to 27-21 on the season. New Orleans fell to 13-38.
Joel Embiid scored a season-high 40 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Kelly Oubre Jr. tallied 19 points and 10 rebounds. Tyrese Maxey had 18 points and eight assists.
Saddiq Bey’s 34 points led the Pelicans. Trey Murphy III scored 19.
George was the only Sixer not available vs. New Orleans. Quentin Grimes returned after missing the last two games with a sprained right ankle.
The Sixers will start a five-game West Coast road trip Monday night against the Clippers. Here are observations on their Embiid-led win over New Orleans:
Embiid happy to take on Queen
Dominick Barlow returned to the Sixers’ starting lineup in George’s spot, which was an unsurprising move. The 22-year-old forward has started 31 times this season.
He was the first Sixer to guard Zion Williamson, who was minimally involved in the Pelicans’ offense in the first half. Williamson was scoreless at halftime on 0-for-2 shooting and finished with just 11 points.
Embiid immediately went to work against New Orleans rookie big man Derik Queen. He was eager to score on Queen just about anytime he touched the ball and had seven field goal attempts in the first five minutes.
Queen was also aggressive and productive early on the other end of the floor. The No. 13 overall pick tried to make Embiid work defensively and seemed confident he could compete against him. I posted nine points and six rebounds in his 19 minutes.
It was not at all shocking that Embiid had the far superior night. After drawing a foul on Queen late in the second quarter that the 21-year-old disputed, Embiid smiled and shook his head as he walked to the free throw line.
New-look rotation
The Sixers used a 10-man rotation vs. New Orleans that included Jabari Walker and Trendon Watford. Neither played Thursday in the Sixers’ win over the Kings.
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse placed four bench players next to Maxey late in the first quarter. The Sixers’ offense was heavily reliant on their All-Star guard and several possessions dwindled until the tail end of the shot clock. Maxey hit a tightly guarded three, but the Sixers didn’t have an easy time.
Maxey then sat for an extended stretch with two fouls and the Sixers did well.
Watford often initiated the half-court offense and did a solid job. Jared McCain knocked down two long-range jumpers in the second quarter. Those are the sorts of second-unit players the Sixers will need to step up in George’s absence. They’d also enjoy more 19-point, 10-rebound nights from Oubre.
Adem Bona checked in with 3:46 left in the second quarter and closed out the first half next to Embiid. Bona added no scoring — he badly missed a fast-break layup seconds after swatting Saddiq Bey inside — but the Sixers didn’t struggle at all offensively. They held a 13-point lead going into halftime, which featured a ceremony honoring the 2000-01 Eastern Conference championship team.
Sixers steer clear of last-second drama
The Pelicans hung around and pulled within six points on a Murphy long ball.
The third quarter was packed with sloppy sequences. With Sixers legend Allen Iverson watching on the baseline, Maxey had a frustrating quarter on both close-range and mid-range shots. Karlo Matkovic rejected his lefty layup attempt.
Jose Alvarado’s three opened the scoring in the fourth quarter and Williamson’s driving layup cut the Pelicans’ deficit to 90-88.
The Sixers accumulated fouls rather rapidly at the start of the fourth quarter and were displeased with the officiating. Nurse was whistled for a technical foul with 7:58 left.
McCain (12 points on 4-for-7 shooting) played a key part early in the fourth quarter, sinking two jumpers. VJ Edgecombe picked a timely steal that he turned into a crowd-pleasing slam.
The Sixers still failed to maintain their advantage. They played leaky defense, especially in transition, and the Pelicans’ shooters had many comfortable looks. Embiid’s decision-making was also a mixed bag. He committed his fifth turnover when he threw a head-scratching pass out of the post straight to Alvarado.
Down 109-107, the Sixers made a 7-0 run highlighted by a sweet Embiid fadeaway jumper over Yves Missi.
They avoided any of the last-drama second that’s been so common this season. Maxey and Embiid both made clutch threes and Edgecombe (15 points, five assists) truly iced it by draining a deep jumper with 21.7 seconds left.
