It appeared that time had finally run out on the Sixers’ exciting, unexpected undefeated start to the season. Not only did they look gassed playing on the second night of a back-to-back, they also had to deal
with a Washington Wizards team that could not miss. Led by Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George, the Wizards were flirting with a 60% field goal percentage for most of the night.
To pile on, the Sixers looked like they could only get any offense out of Joel Embiid, who led the team with 25 points at the time, but had just hit his minutes restriction and was done for the night with seven minutes to go in the game and the Sixers trailing by nine.
With Embiid done for the night, the Sixers would need something they’ve gotten through their first three wins but was looking increasingly unlikely: one of their other regulars to shake off a rough first three quarters and lock in down the stretch.
Tyrese Maxey once again came up with big baskets down the stretch, as did Quentin Grimes, but the biggest impact came from second-year center Adem Bona, as the Sixers pulled off a 139-134 win in overtime.
“I think he really, for whatever reason tonight, he saved it all to the end,” said head coach Nick Nurse. “I don’t know how many he had in a row down the stretch there, it seems like more than five — like five in a row, something like that — but he protected the rim on every drive late.”
Bona entered the fourth quarter with zero blocks on the night, and was credited with four down the stretch as the Sixers crawled their way back into the game, each block with increasingly more importance. His fourth block of the period was denying CJ McCollum at the basket to keep the game tied with 23 seconds remaining.
Not only had Bona not recorded a block until the guts of the game, but for most of the night he was scoreless as well. He had dropped a couple easy passes that would have been lobs or dump offs earlier in the game, but he got on the board when it mattered. He swooped in to put back and dunk a missed Maxey shot, giving the Sixers their first lead of the fourth quarter.
“It’s great that some unexpected guys make plays, like Bona only has two points but they were the two that gave us the lead,” Nurse said.
The Sixers bench mugged Bona at midcourt after the ensuing Wizards timeout.
For as much as Bona enjoyed the recognition from his teammates, he knew the job wasn’t quite done yet.
“It’s an amazing feeling, but at that point the game wasn’t over, so I was like ‘let’s go, let’s go, we got one more, we got one more to play,‘” Bona said.
He backed that up as well, blocking McCollum one more time at the rim in OT, picking up his fifth block of the night and helping the Sixers pick up their fourth win of the season. Once the win was secured, Bona did find himself able to enjoy the moment.
“It was an exciting feeling,” he said, “and also, to bring the energy to the whole gym and see the whole team jump off the bench, it’s just amazing.”
With his springiness and speed, few on this Sixers’ roster can inject energy into a game like Bona. He is certainly aware of that, and recognized that this was certainly a game for it.
“That’s what the team needed me to do,” he said. “I feel like that’s my place in bringing this back to the team.”
His teammates are very aware and grateful for that extra spark he’s able to provide. Bona’s fellow 2024 draft classmate Jared McCain made his way over to hear Bona’s postgame scrum as the majority of his teammates were making their way to the bus back to Philly.
Speaking together at their lockers, Trendon Watford labeled him as “big time Bona,” while Maxey cut in with “Bona-fide.”
It’s important to note that Maxey wants credit for that pun, “I did come up with that.”
Bona earned perhaps the best type of praise from Embiid, some mixed in with a playful bit of sarcasm.
“I told him he’s the best defensive player in the league,” Embiid said before catching himself a bit, “well, second best behind Wemby. But he was great, obviously protecting the rim. They made a lot of tough shots, but everyone just came in and did their job.”
The Sixers aren’t expecting to be crowned for starting the season 4-0. They know better than anyone else there is still a long way to go this season. The start to this season, in every facet, could not be more different from last year, and the Sixers are reaping the benefits from that.
