After three defeats, of the bad feelings, that Doc Rivers left a public message for James Harden and rumors came out that the coach was beginning to lose his locker room. After a few ugly days, the feeling has grown that the Sixers are not going to get it against the ogres from the East (the other ogres of the East) despite the all in by Harden. And after the news that the franchise will have to sue Ben Simmons for 20 million dollars. After all that, he led the Hornets’ effervescent attack in the morning session in Philadelphia. dodisaster or redemption? Redemption.
The Sixers overwhelmed (144-114) some Hornets taken off the track in the second half: 86 points from the locals, their highest in a second half in 51 years. The third quarter was an offensive recital (I finished 103-80) plethoric: 45-27 with a 17/22 in shots and a 7/10 in triples of an enlightened team, that in such a level of success distances the debates on the production of the bench, the rotations of Rivers or Harden’s temperament as a leader. Season-highs in points (144) and assists (38), and 21 3-pointers to match the franchise total recordalso with 49% (21/43) and 61% total in shots.
Sewing and singing as soon as the Sixers stopped losing balls and thus giving away points to some Hornets who lived in the first half of their points in quick transition and of the concessions of some Sixers alternating lime and sand until, after resting, everything was lime. And it is a 47-30 that definitively distances the play in. The Sixers are fourth at half a game of the third and one of the second of the East. The Hornets (40-38) are now 10th, and skate hours before the eighth-ninth matchup (Hawks-Nets).
Joel Embiid dominated until he was able to rest in the final stretch: 29 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists. TObias Harris, at a good time (and it is important) finished with 23 + 5 + 4 and a 5/9 in triples that opens many spaces for others. Maxey scored 19 points, Thybulle 12 and James Harden was the least efficient (12 points, 4/10 shooting) but had 13 assists.
On the Hornets, Gordon Hayward returned after 22 games absent, but there was very little other positive news. Miles Bridges scored 20 points but fell far short of him Terry Rozier and LaMelo Ball.
Darius Garland dominates the Knicks
at the Madison, the Cavaliers took a breather (101-119) at the expense of some Knicks for whom the end of a disappointing season, already with nothing to play for, it’s getting very long. Without Julius Randle, who will surely not play the last games of the New Yorkers (who are 34-44, twelfth in the East), at least Obi Toppin (20+4+4) showed off. But not RJ Barrett: 4/18 shooting, 12 points.
The Knicks did not put up too much resistance against some Cavs who continue to overcome their plague biblical casualties and added a very important win: at 43-35, they reaffirm themselves in seventh place (they would play the play in with court factor)take two and a half games to the eighth and maintain a minimal option to reach the sixth and escape the playoffs.
The best thing was that Moses Brown knew how to play Jarrett Allen (16+13 with 7/10 shooting). But, above all, that Darius Garland and Caris LeVert showed chemistry and good communication on the track. The second ended at 19+6+6 and the point guard put another exclamation mark on what has been an extraordinary season: 24 points, 13 assists for the new heart of the Cavaliers.