ROLLERCOASTER ENDS ON A HIGH! SIXERS BEAT NETS 112-104

(Photo Credit: Charlie Bowles)

The Philadelphia 76ers (34-21) opened up their post Allstar break against the Kyrie-less Brooklyn Nets (25-28) at the Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers themselves would be without Ben Simmons (Back Stiffness) but were riding a 3 game winning streak into the game. Much to the chagrin of the fans, Raul Neto would get the start in his place. This one was a roller coaster, to say the least.

FIRST QUARTER
Well, the first 5:50 of the quarter started off great with Joel Embiid scoring 11 points with 4 rebounds and 1 block and the Sixers up 20-4. Embiid subbed out and an absolute onslaught ensued sparked by DeAndre Jordan. The Nets went on a 12-4 run with Embiid out and closed the quarter only down six. Sixers 26 – Nets 20

SECOND QUARTER
The Sixers opened up the quarter with Embiid & Horford on the floor together. As everyone but Brett Brown guessed it didn’t work at all. Al Horford was -26 in 8 minutes and the Sixers were outscored 16-0 to start the quarter. The Nets in the midst of 44-8 run were pounding the paint with absolutely no defense from the Sixers. Spencer Dinwiddie (22 PTS) and Carl Levert (25 PTS) were lighting them up! The score was 50-30 with 2:53 and the Boos were raining down in fury until Alec Burks knocked down a three from the corner (2:53 left). The Sixers made a 12-2 run to end the quarter cutting the lead to ten. Nets 52 – Sixers 42

3RD QUARTER
Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris (22 PTS & 12 REB) made some shots to keep the game within striking distance. At that 5:44 mark in the third, Brett Brown elected to move Neto to the bench and roll with Shake Milton & Alec Burks as his backcourt. Alec Burks went off from there with 7 points in the quarter and an eventual 19 total points off the bench. The Sixers had battled back to take the 1 point lead. Sixers 78 – Nets 77

4TH QUARTER
The roller coaster ride would continue for much of the fourth as well with plenty back and forth scoring and defensive stops. The Sixers seemed to have no answer for DeAndre Jordan (14 points) and his ally oop dunk shots. The Nets went up 6 with 2 minutes to go and looked like they were going to pull away. The Sixers never quit and jumped on the back of Joel Embiid. Joel dripped in sweat from his eventual 41 minute night drained some clutch free throws (18-19 from the line) late to tie as well as sending the game into overtime with a block on Wilson Chandler as time expired. Sixers 103 – Nets 103

Embiid was asked about free throws at the podium and he took a moment to praise teammate Ben Simmons, who he says has shown tremendous work ethic by being so good at the free throw line recently
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) February 21, 2020

OVERTIME
It seemed like the Sixers were out of gas but it was actually the Nets. The Sixers defense locked in holding the Nets to just 1 point in overtime. Alec Burks & Shake Milton with some big shots and The Process closed it out from the line. FINAL – Sixers 112 – Nets 104