This long-awaited game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers had many subplots. With two MVP contenders facing off, Joel Embiid would eventually lead his team to victory.
As the Philadelphia 76ers held the best record at home in the NBA, the Lakers held the best record away from home. Could the Sixers deliver LA their first defeat outside the Staples Center?
The start of the game saw Ben Simmons assert himself, driving to the edge and converting drives into points. The Sixers’ MVP candidate – Joel Embiid – was also aggressive, decisively attacking his defenders. In the first quarter alone, Embiid was fouled against all the great men of the Lakers. Danny Green added more offensive, knocking down a pair of corner 3-pointers.
Defensively, Philly struggled to stop Lebron James early, while he benefited from Marc Gasol’s quick passes in backdoor cuts. Fortunately, for the Sixers, Anthony Davis went to the bench with knee pain and took advantage of his absence. At the end of the first quarter, the Sixers had a 10 point lead.
Cold matches by Seth Curry and Tobias Harris did not help the Sixers gain a more comfortable advantage. Shake Milton, who left the bench after Matisse Thybulle, hit some hard kicks, adding a much needed score outside Embiid. In addition, Furkan Korkmaz his some key shots to maintain a slight margin. A difficult corner jump and a three, from a double team Embiid hockey assist, allowed Philly to keep the lead.
Matisse Thybulle and Dwight Howard made minimal contributions, while Simmons and Embiid rested on the bench. Howard’s free-throw airball generated some laughs from his teammates, but his continuing dirty shooting fights contributed to the 76ers’ stagnant play in attack.
LeBron James sometimes exhibited his versatility and brute strength. Hitting perimeter pitches, scoring in the paint on difficult and contested pitches and making dishes to open teammates reminded the national audience why he is still considered a top player in the league.
For the Lakers, apart from Davis and James, the attack broke out. Schroder, Kuzma and Morris were not factors, while Alex Caruso gave the bench a little spark. Even so, LA stayed close and halved just four points below.
After the break, Simmons, Harris and Green went out shooting. A Simmons fastbreak tray and a few 3 points prompted Frank Vogel to time out, dropping 12 points at the start of the third quarter. Ideally, Seth Curry would inject an attack boost after the break, but his shooting problems continued. As soon as the Sixers cooled down, the Lakers went on an 8-0 run after Schroder tried to score.
A terrifying moment saw Embiid attempting a dunk and he fell awkwardly onto his back. LeBron James was called in for a flagrant 1 foul, and Embiid took both foul kicks. Ironically, in a subsequent move, Embiid was called in for a flagrant foul, sending Anthony Davis to the line.
The advantage increased to nine after a wave of offensive by Harris, Milton and Embiid. As a result, Vogel used a timeout to resolve his team.
Sixers rookie Tyrese Maxey checked in in the first minutes in the third and scored quickly in one of his patented runners on the track. With an Embiid struggling, Tobias Harris took a long leap towards the end of the quarter.
At the start of the fourth period, the Sixers maintained a seven-point lead. Maxey increased the advantage with a difficult basket against Kyle Kuzma. Shake Milton also entered the game to provide the much needed attack. His runner on the track gave the Sixers an 11 point lead. A 3-point clutch from Korkmaz in the transition extended Philly’s lead.
When Embiid came into play, he was present with a nice assist to Ben Simmons for a tray. After a movement and strong contact, he made a difficult kick, defended by Anthony Davis. In the middle of the quarter, LA failed to capitalize on the Sixers in the foul penalty. They missed four consecutive kicks from the line.
The lead for Philly increased to 14 after a Harris jump, but Dennis Schroder would penetrate for layups, hoping to keep the Lakers in the game. James rested for a short time. Los Angeles would not leave without a fight.
In less than five minutes, Ben Simmons secured another double triple. Harris made a difficult jump over Davis, and the Sixers tried to fight one last Lakers resistance. An acrobatic layup by Embiid attracted a foul against Anthony Davis, increasing the lead to 12.
Then it happened. A tremendous race for the Lakers would stun Sixer fans and paralyze the Sixers at the same time. The big shots of Caruso, Schroder and Caldwell-Pope brought LA back, with just one point less than 19 seconds from the end. The Lakers took the lead with an off-ball screen for Anthony Davis, who made an undisputed basket on the edge. With the game at stake, the Sixers had final possession.
With the ball in, Seth Curry received the pass, and the ball ended up in the hands of Tobias Harris. A move towards the basket and an upward jump made the whole of Philadelphia and Los Angeles catch their breath. The kick came out of Tobias Harris ‘fingertips and, in an instant, the Lakers’ 13-0 run was avoided when the ball passed through the net. A last second sigh failed before the bell rang. A nail rodent ended in a joyful triumph for the 76ers.
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Joel Embiid returned to the roster after losing Monday’s game against the Detroit Pistons. His dominance in the first half gave fans the expected results. His frequent trips to the free throw line slowed the game and helped Philly secure the lead. Defensively, he had two large blocks and shots changed in the painting. His rotations were a problem, but Embiid did enough to lead his team to a big victory against Lebron and the Lakers.