All good things must come to an end, and it is thus during a trip to the floor of the Wizards, who had won only two of their last thirteen games, that the 76ers see their winning streak consecutive stop at eight (116-111).
It was in “money-time” that the outcome of this game was decided, when Deni Avdija realized, with about twenty seconds remaining, a decisive interception on Joel Embiidonce again “MVPesque” with 48 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 blocks, while the 76ers were only three points behind, and a ball to equalize available.
If we had to wait for the very last possessions to know the winner of this match, the fact remains that for all their work, the victory is well deserved for the locals, who led a maximum of 16 points in the third quarter, and overall played an imperfect but successful game on both sides of the field, like a Kristaps Porzingis in the oven and at the mill (24 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 blocks), facing the 76ers a little out of inspiration when the leather left the hands of the Cameroonian pivot, or those of James Harden (26 points and 13 assists).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– New card from Joel Embiid, but end of series for the 76ers. Still a credible candidate for MVP this season, the pivot of the 76ers trivializes the grandiose, and indeed offered a new score of immense quality, to DC In barely 35 minutes, he thus scored 48 points, 17/31 on shots ( only one outside shot scored) and 13/14 in free throws, adding 9 rebounds, 3 blocks and 3 steals for a good “all-around” copy. If the Wizards collectively defended quite well against the rest of the workforce, they had no solution for Joel Embiid, who made a carnage in the paint. All that was missing was a ninth success in a row to make the evening of the “Process” perfect.
– Award-winning shooting made the difference. Indeed, with equal ball losses and successful free throw attempts (respectively 15 and 27/21 on both sides), it was the shots scored behind the arc that embodied the X factor of this match in attack . In this exercise, the Wizards were the most skillful, or should we rather say the least clumsy, with a weakling 11/33, against an even more starving 6/31 for the 76ers. The latter could in fact count almost only on points near the circle and on the free throw line of his duo Harden – Embiid (42 points in the painter and 23 free throws scored in total), but did not failed to bring alternation to their attack.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Kristaps Porzingis. The Latvian pivot was invaluable throughout the match, on both sides of the pitch. As well by the variety of its offensive phases (three winning shots and seven free throws scored), as by its activity in the painting on the rebound (10 catches), and more broadly in defense (2 interceptions and 3 blocks). We saw him in particular very tonic on his supports to try somehow to contain Joel Embiid, or at least to direct him towards the aids. Like this final decisive “closeout”, when “KP” goes out very quickly wide on the Cameroonian pivot, close to drawing behind the arc when the 76ers were -3 at thirty seconds from the end of the match, forcing him then to attack the circle, and therefore to reach a blocked racket, where Deni Avdija managed to steal the leather from him. When the Latvian unicorn plays like this, with such a large volume of play in all compartments, the Wizards’ potential is automatically higher.
✅ The Wizards Bench. Who crushed that of the 76ers in the offensive contribution, with 43 points scored, against only 16 for the opposing team. This is the big difference in this match, and it is unfortunately a recurring theme for the Philadelphia squad for several weeks, which no longer benefits from the contribution off the bench of De’Anthony Melton since this one starts in place of Tyrese Maxey, and who then struggles to stay the course in attack, when the substitutes join the bench.
✅ James Harden. The Philly point guard continues to gain serious momentum since his return from injury, and ends the year very strongly. After a card at Madison Square Garden, “The Beard” thus continued its momentum in the capital, with a double-double at 26 points and 13 assists, accompanied by 7 rebounds. As always, he filled up on the free-throw line, where he signed a 10/10. On the other hand, he lost 5 balls.
⛔️ P.J. Tucker. For the ninth time this season, the 76ers strong winger did not score a single point. Not dramatic in the absolute, when you know that he is surrounded by particularly formidable offensive forces. The problem is that the veteran has brought nothing, or almost, in other areas: only 3 rebounds in all and for all. In other words: PJ Tucker is not very useful in this kind of scenario, and it is also no coincidence that he only played 19 minutes during this meeting.
THE FOLLOWING
Washington (14-21): “back-to-back” at home, against the Suns (01:00)
Philadelphia (20-13): trip to New Orleans, Friday night to Saturday (2:30 a.m.)
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