Sixers Bell Ringer: Third-quarter increase pushes Sixers beyond Brooklyn

Sixers Bell Ringer season ranking:

Joel Embiid – 11
Tobias Harris – 5
Milton Shake – 3
Ben Simmons – 2
Tyrese Maxey – 1
Dakota Mathias – 1

Brooklyn’s chances of toppling first-placed Sixers suffered a blow when Kevin Durant (medical protocols) and Kyrie Irving (finger) were dismissed. Still, the game was played for much of the night, until the Sixers opened the door with a 14-0 streak in the third quarter that turned a 79-79 draw into a 93-79 lead, part of a third fourth of 43 points for the Sixers. So Brooklyn coach Steve Nash threw in the towel early, as James Harden did not play anything in the fourth period, and Philadelphia kept the Nets at bay to win 124-108. Now, who’s your Bell Ringer?

Joel Embiid: 33 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 5 turns

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I wouldn’t even call it a particularly notable game by Joel Embiid tonight, which shows how ridiculously high he went up the bar. Joel was content with the shot from outside, finishing 1 of 7 from 3. And yet, he set the tone early, with 15 points in the first quarter, and then set the pace with 14 points in the third when Sixers opened the game. At the end of the night, Embiid became the first Sixer to record eight consecutive 25-point games since Allen Iverson in 2006. It is only right that Joel starts combining the marks placed by AI, while he sets out to become the first MVP of the franchise since The Answer two decades ago.

Tobias Harris: 21 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 2 plays

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There was never a stretch when Tobias was dominating the focal point of the offense, but he consistently attacked, filling the margins with a series of medium-range pull-up hooks, floats and jumpers. Harris was extremely active on the glass, collecting 12 rebounds, the record for the season, and three of his four offensive boards he immediately put back into the bucket. The hopeful All-Star was also strong on the defensive end as part of another fantastic overall performance.

Ben Simmons: 16 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, 6 turns

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Ben was largely responsible for the game’s turn, as the team’s crucial 14-0 series coincided with Simmons finally receiving Harden’s defensive mission. He was excellent at that end of the court, chasing Brooklyn in some robberies, a couple leading directly to the other side of the court. Ben barked right in Tyler Johnson’s face after a dunk, which resulted in a technical foul, but you will make that switch every night if it means that we will get that level of aggression from him. Offensively, Simmons took over as well, driving hard to the edge for a starting or sweet shot. After the team fought in the city center in his absence on Thursday, he also returned to the pace of things by preparing his teammates for the 3 points, getting five more assists of 3 points in the night. Aggressive Ben and a fun, random rivalry with Tyler Johnson; sign me up for more!

Milton Shake: 15 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 0 turnovers

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After a hot start to the season, Shake’s game has declined somewhat in recent weeks. Tonight, Milton delayed his clock a little with a night of 6 of 13 on the floor; the six goals scored were his biggest since his 28-point game against Memphis on January 16. Shake was up to his usual tricks, hitting high bow throws and hitting medium-range jumpers and floats. The stars certainly carried their share of the load tonight, but the Sixers need that level of production from their bench as well to reach their potential.