Bell Ringer Standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 2.5
Joel Embiid – 1
LeBron James – 1
Anfernee Simons – 1
Jaylen Brown – 0.5
The Philadelphia 76ers looked sleepy, but they woke up just in time to come from behind and snag a 109-104 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday evening.
This was the second game of a back-to-back after the Sixers defeated the Knicks last night at home, so no Joel Embiid or LeBron James for this one for Philly. Jaylen Brown returned for this contest, but looked a little out of sorts
at times. The Hornets were without Kon Knueppel, Coby White and Grant Williams
The Sixers (minus Tyrese Maxey) were shaky to start this one and looked a bit sluggish, allowing some hot shooting from Charlotte to take over. Philly tightened things up a bit in the second to retake the lead going into the break, but they really started to look like a tired team in the second half. The Sixers looked completely asleep in the third, couldn’t get a single thing going and lost their narrow lead. Fortunately, though, the Hornets were also a weary-looking team on the second leg of a back-to-back, so they couldn’t take full advantage. They led going into the fourth, but not by much.
It was never an insurmountable lead for Charlotte, but it was a resilient one. The sluggish Sixers couldn’t seem to come up with the necessary string of buckets or put up enough defensive stops to ever gain any ground on the Hornets… until the last two minutes. Suddenly, the Sixers ripped off a 15-3 run to end the game, finally taking the lead late and holding on for the dramatic victory — capped off by another clutch three-pointer from VJ Edgecombe. Who else?!
The Sixers continue their winning ways and move to 6-1 on the season. They’ll get Sunday off before hosting the Chicago Bulls on Monday night.
Let’s get to the Bell Ringer.
Tyrese Maxey: 38 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals
Tyrese Maxey started out this one by pretty much being able to do whatever he wanted on the offensive end, putting up nine points on 4-for-4 field goal shooting before the game was even four minutes in. He was in his bag to put on a three-level scoring clinic in the first half on Saturday night, nailing his soft finishes at the rim, the midrange jumpers and nailing a few from outside the arc. Maxey led the Sixers with 19 points on 8-for-13 field goal, 3-for-5 three-point shooting at the break.
After having a quiet third (along with the rest of his team, mostly), Maxey went back to work in the fourth. He scored 15 points on 4-for-6 field goal shooting in the final frame as the Sixers finally broke through to erase the Hornets’ narrow but resilient lead and take on the win for themselves.
Maxey finished this one with a commanding 38 points (13-for-23 field goal, 4-for-9 three-point shooting) with four rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Anfernee Simons: 19 points (five triples), 2 assists, 3 steals
On Saturday night, Anfernee Simons picked up where he left off the last two games: absolutely nailing some threes. Simons sank another three triples in the first half against the Hornets on Saturday night in addition to knocking down a few free throws for 11 first-half points, the only Sixer other than Maxey to make it to double-digit scoring by the break.
His biggest moment came late in the forth, with Simons hitting his fifth triple of the night, coming up with a steal on the Hornets’ next possession, then nailing an excellent finish at the rim in transition to pull the Sixers within a point of the Hornets with just a few minutes to play — all part of the run that would ultimately win the game for Philadelphia.
Simons ended up with 19 points including five three-pointers. He also had two assists and three steals.
Jabari Walker: 12 points, 6 rebounds
Probably more of an honorable mention here, but Jabari Walker had a very solid night coming off the bench for Philadelphia. From hitting his layups, to getting involved on the offensive boards for put-backs, to pulling up confidently from long range when he had good opportunities, Walker was doing a little of everything against the Hornets. Especially important when the Sixers are without LeBron and Embiid, Walker took every opportunity to drive the baseline and/or muscle his way into the paint for a rebound or a bucket.
Walker finished the night with 12 points on 5-for-8 field goal shooting with six rebounds (two offensive).
Dean Wade: 4 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals, 1 block
On Friday night, Dean Wade might’ve put together one of the best games ever for a guy who didn’t take a single shot. On Saturday, he took a couple, but the story was his passing, defense and ability to find loose balls.
Most of Wade’s points are going to come from the three-point line this season, but funny enough, both his field goals in this one came at the rim — on two pretty moves. Wade played the ultimate connector on offense, setting good screens and finding open teammates all night long. Defensively, he continued to show the versatility that makes him so valuable.
It felt like every time the Sixers needed it, he found away to come away with the ball and steal an extra possession, including on this huge Simons’ three.
So, another weird stat line, but Wade was sensational for the Sixers.
VJ Edgecombe: 10 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
This actually wasn’t the best game from VJ Edgecombe. Quite the contrary, actually. He was decent on the boards and on defense, but it wasn’t an offensively productive game from Edgecombe. He didn’t shoot all that well, notching just 10 points on 4-for-13 field goal shooting.
But he was 2-for-4 from three, and one of those couldn’t have come at a more important moment.
Again. The kid is clutch. With the Sixers finally taking the lead out from under the Hornets very late in this one, Philly held just a narrow advantage as time was winding down… until VJ Edgecombe hit a nasty step-back and sank a monster three over the defense of Grayson Allen, extending the Sixers’ lead to four points and helping seal the victory for Philadelphia.
Clutch. And I personally think that alone earns you a Bell Ringer nomination.
