Sloppy Sixers exposed by Harden absence as Pelicans cop reality check; LeBron injured: NBA Wrap
The Philadelphia 76ers have collapsed to a different dismal loss as their season begins to unravel, falling 104-95 to the Atlanta Hawks.
The Sixers shot simply 38.6 per cent from the ground and 6-of-30 from past the arc (20 per cent). They had been dominated on the boards and seemed sluggish and unmotivated as they fell to a seventh loss from 12 video games.
The Hawks led by as many 20 factors within the third earlier than the 76ers obtained to inside seven on the loss of life, however Trae Young’s 26 factors and Clint Capela’s 18 factors and 20 rebounds helped Atlanta maintain on to maneuver their report to 8-4 for the season.
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“We had no energy,” under-fire Philly coach Doc Rivers mentioned, together with his facet severely missing level guard expertise with James Harden injured for a month. The 76ers had 17 turnovers for his or her 15 assists.
“The lack of point guard play I thought was really clear tonight,” mentioned Rivers. “We’re going to have to make an adjustment there.”
Joel Embiid bagged a second consecutive double-double, with 26 factors and 13 rebounds, however gave away the ball seven instances. But Tyrese Maxey made simply 5 of 17 pictures – having made 4 of 18 final outing.
The Hawks had been compelled to return all 5 starters onto the ground for the ultimate minute of the fourth quarter because the 76ers bench obtained them again in touching distance of a comeback win, however Atlanta held on.
“We had a big lead and we got too relaxed and let them back in the game,” mentioned Trae Young. “We’ve got to do a better job of closing out games.”
“We’ve been in a lot of close ones that should have been wins,” Maxey mentioned. “We’ve got to break through and start winning these games.”
All 5 Hawks starters hit double-digits in factors, whereas Onyeka Okongwu starred off the bench with 10 factors and 11 rebounds.
PELS STUNNED BY DAME-LESS PORTLAND
The Portland Trail Blazers continued to shine on the street regardless of the absence of star guard Damian Lillard, downing the Pelicans 106-95 in New Orleans.
Jerami Grant scored 27 factors and grabbed eight rebounds for the Blazers as Lillard, already sidelined 4 video games this season with a calf harm, once more sat out an evening after Portland’s victory at Charlotte.
“I knew I had to step up and do a lot more than I usually do,” mentioned Grant, who additionally had 4 assists and 4 steals. “So I came out there and did what I could.”
Portland held the Pelicans to 41.8% taking pictures. Zion Williamson scored 29 factors whereas former Trail Blazer CJ McCollum was simply six-of-17 from the ground for 13 factors.
WIZARDS TOP MAVS
In Washington, Kyle Kuzma scored 36 factors to tempo the shorthanded Wizards in a 113-105 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
With Bradley Beal sidelined by Covid protocols and Kristaps Porzingis nursing a groin pressure, Kuzma helped the Wizards erase an early deficit and draw back for a convincing win.
Spencer Dinwiddie, the previous Wizard who landed in Dallas within the commerce that despatched Porzingis to Washington, led the Mavs with 33 factors as Luka Doncic related on simply eight of 21 pictures on the way in which to 22 factors.
Dallas led 80-78 late within the third quarter, however Kuzma and Rui Hachimura, who scored 23 factors, caught fireplace because the Wizards went on a 21-6 scoring run to take management.
The Wizards reserves outscored the Mavs bench 50-25 and Dallas dropped their second straight recreation.
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HEAT SURVIVE WILD OVERTIME
The Miami Heat squandered a 15-point third-quarter lead however held on to beat Charlotte 117-112 in extra time on Thursday, handing the Hornets a seventh straight NBA defeat.
Jimmy Butler fuelled the Heat with 35 factors, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Bam Adebayo added 18 factors with 14 rebounds, however the Heat practically let the sport get away — as they’d in latest losses to the Indiana Pacers and Portland Trail Blazers.
Despite the absence of injured Tyler Herro, the Heat constructed their result in 15 factors within the second quarter and once more within the third.
They had been up by 12 heading into the fourth, however the Hornets, who travelled to Miami in a single day after a Wednesday dwelling recreation, tied issues up with a 12-0 scoring run.
They took the lead on a three-point play by Mason Plumlee with 6:50 remaining and led by as many as 4 earlier than they went to extra time tied at 104-104.
Charlotte trailed by one with 14.8 seconds left in extra time when Kelly Oubre was known as for travelling after receiving an inbounds go.
Miami’s Gabe Vincent made two free-throws to push the benefit and Terry Rozier missed a three-pointer because the Hornets got here up quick.
Oubre led the Hornets with 29 factors and Rozier added 22.
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LEBRON SET TO MISS GAMES … however ‘GOOD NEWS’
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is predicted to overlook enjoying time with a strained left adductor muscle, however coach Darvin Ham is simply grateful the groin harm shouldn’t be worse.
“It’s not torn, that’s the biggest thing, that he didn’t tear anything,” Ham instructed reporters Thursday at Lakers apply.
James had hobbled out of the fourth quarter of the group’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday evening with the harm and underwent medical imaging assessments Thursday.
“So it was good news,” Ham mentioned. “You know, I’m sure it’s painful. Doubtful, day-to-day, whatever — I’m just happy there wasn’t anything torn.” James missed 17 video games with a left groin pressure in his first season with the Lakers in 2018, and later mentioned he’d suffered a partial tear.
On Wednesday he mentioned his newest harm felt much less extreme.
“Just when I landed, I felt a little spasm or strain in my groin,” he mentioned. James is uncertain to play in opposition to the Sacramento Kings on Friday. They play the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, then have 4 days off earlier than they host the Detroit Pistons.
– AFP
FULL SCORES
Wizards 113-105 Mavericks
Hawks 104-95 76ers
Heat 117-112 Hornets
Pelicans 95-106 Trail Blazers
