What is the story about?
Even if Joel Embiid does return for their next game, it’s time to raise some alarm bells.
The Sixers lost their fourth game in a row, embarrassingly falling 126-111 to the New Orleans Pelicans Saturday night.
Tyrese Maxey again ended up with game-high 27 despite a crooked shooting night, going 9-of-23 from the floor along with seven assists.VJ Edgecombe put up 14 points and five rebounds on 5-of-14 shooting off a strong first half.
Kelly Oubre Jr. had a solid scoring night in his home state, finishing
with 25 points shooting 7-of-15 from the floor while Zion Williamson led New Orleans with 21.
Embiid (shin soreness) missed his fourth straight game while the Pelicans were down Trey Murphy III and Yves Missi.
Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.
First Quarter
- Somehow this was an even clunkier start than the game prior, with it taking nearly three minutes to record the game’s first field goal. The Sixers were only able to parlay ugly shot attempts into free throws, starting the game on an 8-0 run. Not that it was smooth sailing from the liner either, with Dominick Barlow bricking two in a row there after sinking his first two attempts.
- Edgecombe had a mini burst of aggression, hoisting up two threes in a row, but it was Oubre who was getting up the most shots for the Sixers early. He knocked down a three and was able to get to his push shot on a drive. Quentin Grimes got things going a bit when he knocked down two of his first three three-point attempts.
- Sticking with bench contributions, Adem Bona gave the Sixers good energy upon checking into the game, blocking one shot and altering a couple more. He wasn’t able to complete his shift though after picking up two fouls. Grimes padded out his quarter nicely at the line. Maxey appeared to finally get his first field goal with a three at the buzzer, but he didn’t get it off in time and the Sixers had to settle for a five-point lead after one.
Second Quarter
- The Sixers opened the quarter with their cleanest stretch of the game so far offensively, even if they weren’t able to sustain it. Edgecombe was feeling comfortable with his turnaround jumper, hitting another one to start the second. Cam Payne drilled a three for his first points back as a Sixer (again) but missed his next two attempts.
- New Orleans found a groove offensively as well, with Williamson going to work in the post at will. Just as the Sixers appeared to weather that storm, the game was halted by referee nonsense. After Andre Drummond got T’d up for a hard foul on Derik Queen, the Sixers got called for a delay of game as it took a long time for play to resume. Even the official scorers were confused, according to the Sixers’ broadcast.
- Once that dust settled the Sixers were able to find their footing with an Oubre three halting the Pelicans’ momentum. Edgecombe continued to have success putting the ball on the floor, drawing a foul on one of those turnaround jumpers and finishing a pretty layup with his left hand a few possessions later. Maxey finally got some jumpers to fall and had a nifty and-1 drive himself. This quarter ended with a Sixers three as well, though Oubre got it off in time, giving the Sixers an eight-point lead at the break.
Third Quarter
- In a rare change of pace, the Sixers were able to keep that momentum to open the second half, at least on the offensive end of the floor. Oubre continued to get to that push shot with ease, Maxey got another basket running that give-and-go, and Barlow made his presence felt in transition. With Williamson and Queen still having success on the interior though the Sixers weren’t able to extend their lead any further.
- After that strong start, the third quarter woes reared their ugly head as the Pelicans ripped off a 10-0 run. Maxey was able to halt that with a contested three in transition, and a quick timeout from New Orleans stopped the momentum of both teams.
- For all his struggles, the Sixers offense really stalled out as Maxey went to the bench and they fell cold from three. Bona got a putback and Jabari Walker hit a three, but the Sixers went without a field goal for the final 2:45 of the quarter. Edgecombe was able to rush up and get to the line right before the quarter ended, but his pair of free throws only pulled the Sixers within six after the Pelicans’ run.
Fourth Quarter
- Despite Maxey’s return to the floor, the Sixers’ offense continued to look woefully inept. Once this team gets cold they just look like they’ve run out of ideas, making everything look really uninspired. Meanwhile New Orleans’ offense wasn’t lighting the world on fire, but they were competent enough to keep extending their lead.
- As the Pelicans continued to drain three after three the Sixers offense continued to look like a chicken with its head cut off, falling into a 20-point deficit. Maxey started to play with the required urgency to start a comeback, but he still was ice cold.
- A steal leading to an Oubre three showed the briefest signs of a fake comeback, but the Sixers didn’t even have that in them. All it did was ensure that Maxey and Edgecombe would once again eclipse 35 minutes. Shots weren’t falling, but this was an embarrassing no-show effort from the Sixers in the second half.
