Sixers Bell Ringer: Fourth race leads Sixers to sixth consecutive victory

Note: There is no traditional recap post for this game.

Sixers Bell Ringer season ranking:

Joel Embiid – 17
Ben Simmons – 7
Tobias Harris – 7
Milton Shake – 4
Matisse Thybulle – 2
Tyrese Maxey – 1
Dakota Mathias – 1

After a slow start, in which neither team was able to buy a bucket, the Knicks advanced towards the end of the second quarter and maintained the single digit lead for most of the second half. The Sixers finally stood out, however, going for a 12-2 push in the middle of the fourth period, crowned by a Seth Curry 3 with five minutes remaining to regain the lead in 90-89. Then, with the game tied at 92, Tobias Harris scored in consecutive possessions to place the Sixers firmly in the driver’s seat and close what ended as a 99-96 victory for Philadelphia. With a streak of six straight wins, the Doc Rivers club will be back tomorrow night against Milwaukee. First, however, we have to select our Bell Ringer.

Tobias Harris: 30 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 0 turnovers

Jesse D. Garrabrant / NBAE photo via Getty Images

Tobias looked excited to face Julius Randle and the Knicks on Tuesday night. Randle had secured one of the last All-Star seats outside the Eastern Conference, which Harris clearly, though rightfully, belonged to. At the start of the game, Tobi was the rare Sixer who managed to hit a shot from outside, knocking down his first four treys at night. He also played in Randle’s solid defense in the second half, helping to secure the Knicks All-Star with 2 in 10 shots after the break. What people will remember most about Tobias’ night, however, was his move to Brad Lidge 2008 and getting closer and closer. Harris scored eight points in the last five minutes of the game, including those consecutive buckets to put the Sixers ahead forever. I didn’t see Tobias as excited on a basketball court as he was when he shouted “I’m an All-Star” after raising the Sixers by four.

Ben Simmons: 16 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 turns

Photo by Drew Hallowell / Getty Images

Ben’s offensive exit (8 of 14 on the field for 16 points) seems solid, if not spectacular, but I thought he was attacking the basket with the same aggression that we saw and could easily have caused a handful of fouls in plays where the whistles of the referees remained silent. He and Seth had a good two-person game at work, where Curry would receive the dribble-handoff and instantly leave Ben’s screen, resulting in three or four buckets for Seth. Defensively, it was a rough night for Simmons, but he was flying around the court, breaking some Knicks counterattacks and playing strong perimeter defense. Ben is now 13-0 for life against the Knicks.

Seth Curry: 20 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 return

Jesse D. Garrabrant / NBAE photo via Getty Images

After a quiet first half, Seth came back to life in the third quarter, hitting three 3s and scoring 14 points in the period to help prevent the Knicks from winning much more. Curry was exhibiting diversity in his offensive game, turning into a high-speed shot, high-arc floaters on the track and a running banker. His biggest shot came in the fourth, however, the 28-foot bomb that gave the Sixers their first advantage since the start of the second half. Some of the best snipers in the world were battling the MTN DEW Zone last week in the 3-point competition, and Seth is here to take that shot down at a critical point in a highly competitive game.

Dwight Howard: 11 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1 return

Photo by Drew Hallowell / Getty Images

Howard’s recent move remains an absolute pleasure to watch. He is a constant stone of energy, attaching planks and placing his hitting points around the edge. Dwight even took down a 19-foot jumper in the first quarter, when no one else managed to land a shot. But Howard left his mark on that victory in the fourth period, when he blocked Julius Randle through the hardwood to the Flyers’ ice rink. “This is for my boy, Tobi!” I imagined Dwight thinking.