In “back-to-back” after a convincing victory the day before against the Bucks, the second best team in the league on the record, the Sixers received this time the Wolves, a terribly inconsistent formation since the start of the season but currently in a good dynamic. , with two successes in a row before landing in Pennsylvania.
A priori favorites on paper, since the locals did without Tyrese Maxey, victim against Milwaukee of a small fracture in the left foot and absent until mid-December, James Harden and Tobias Harris, the Wolves rather quietly managed for three quarters -time (97-84 in their favor after 36 minutes)… before coming close to disaster in the last quarter.
Indeed, the teammates of a discreet Karl-Anthony Towns in this meeting (12 points at 5/14), after having scored more than 30 points in each of the first three quarters, lost their footing in attack in the last act , with only 15 points scored at 22% on shots, and in particular a terrible passage of 5 minutes without the slightest point scored. At the same time, the 76ers scored 25 points, including a 12-0 that ignited the Wells Fargo Center, to return to a single small Wolves unit!
Finally, Anthony Edwards, his team’s best player in this more turbulent evening than expected for the Wolves (25 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists), saved the day with his decisive defensive withdrawal on De’Anthony Melton, left alone in counter-attack with the ball of the possible win in the hands.
Despite the (short) victory (112-109), the Wolves were very, very scared, and prove once again that they are still far from being collectively on the same wavelength…
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– An unbalanced duel of pivots, but victory for the dominated. Like the day before, when Joel Embiid faced Giannis Antetokounmpo, this 76ers – Wolves offered an enticing “matchup”, this time a duel of pivots between the Cameroonian and Karl-Anthony Towns. A game within a game that quickly lost interest as it was the 76ers pivot who dominated him: 32 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals (but Bale lost 6), against 12 points and 8 rebounds for the Wolves player. And yet, it was “KAT”, largely thanks to the efforts of D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards, who left Philly with the victory…
TOPS & FLOPS
✅ Anthony Edwards. While Karl-Anthony Towns was discreet, it was indeed the back of the Wolves who guided his team to victory, with a complete game (25 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, one block and one interception) and a decisive defensive action, in the final moments of the match.
✅ Shake Milton. Holder “by default”, since Tyrese Maxey joined James Harden in the infirmary, the 26-year-old fullback took the opportunity to sign one of the best games of his career on the offensive level, with 27 points at 10/15 on shots , but also 10 rebounds and 2 assists. A respectable outside shooter (3/5), he also showed good finishes near the circle, and an ability to cause faults (4/4 on free throws).
⛔️ The inaccuracies of the 76ers in attack. Unsurprisingly, without their two running backs and offensive initiators, the 76ers struggled to set up smooth offensive phases. The stat ‘which represents this observation well, and which hurts: 22 loss of ball for… 21 assists. Since his pivot position, Joel Embiid has been the best passer for his team, with six units. Proof that the attack very quickly seized up, as soon as the leather left the hands of the pivot.
THE FOLLOWING
– 76ers (8-8) : reception of the Nets, on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday (01:30)
– Wolves (8-8) : reception of the Heat, on the night of Monday to Tuesday (02:00)
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