After Thursday’s thrilling, last-second win over the Orlando Magic, the Sixers played streak-busters Saturday night, as they snapped the surging Miami Heat’s 13-game winning streak, 117-109.
The win was courtesy of seven Philly players scoring in double figures, including Nerlens Noel, Robert Covington, and Dario Saric, who each finished with 19. The great overall performance of the team was quite huge, since it displayed an improved team chemistry and maturity.
More than that, though, it also helped cool off some controversy that brewed outside the court. It was confirmed before the game that their main man in the middle, Joel Embiid, who has missed nine straight games, and 12 of the last 13, has a torn meniscus in his knee, and yet, he was seen on a rap concert dancing, looking healthy and all.
The rookie big man has been the clear MVP of the team, and is able to put up 20.8 points 7.8 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks in just 25.4 minutes of action.
Embiid or no Embiid, the Sixers should continue getting offense from Covington (15.6 PPG, 7.5 RPG in his last 11), Saric (14.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG in his last 10), and Ersan Ilyasova (15.3 PPG, 5.9 RPG this season). Expect starting point guard and Philly native TJ McConnell to be right there directing their attack. He’s averaging 8.1 assists since January 1 and has six 10-plus assist games in his last 13 games.
The Sixers are only 1-5 in their last six games on the road (2-4 ATS), but they are 1-1 against the Hornets this season, and were the more recent winner.
The bleeding continued for the reeling Hornets Saturday night, who lost to the visiting Clippers, 107-102. It was their ninth loss in 10 games (0-9-1 ATS), a key reason why they have plummeted to the ninth spot in the East standings.
Things aren’t looking good in this upcoming matchup as well. They weren’t able to handle the Sixers’ defense during their previous meeting, and were defeated, 102-93, as they shot a season-low 32.9 percent from the field and had their second-most turnovers in a game this season, with 19.
Kemba Walker (22.3 PPG) also had one of his worst shooting nights on the year during the contest (7-for-23, 30.4 percent), while running partner Nicolas Batum (15.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 6.2 APG), who can routeinly fill up the rebounds and assists category, only had five boards and two assists. Charlotte’s most effective player that night was Cody Zeller – 16 points, 10 rebounds, three steals – and he won’t be available this Monday (quadricep).
The Hornets are minus seven in points (103 PPG to 110.8 PPG) against their opponents in their last 10 games, and they are also only shooting 42.4 percent in that span.
