Lehigh College producer CJ McCollum loved one of the best three-point taking pictures night time of his profession on Friday in New Orleans.
The 31-year-old McCollum set the Sixers on fireplace all night from lengthy vary in a 127-116 Pelicans win at Smoothie King Middle, hitting a career-best 11 triple and ending the season with 42 factors. Zion Williamson didn’t try three factors, however added 36 factors on 13-for-19 taking pictures as New Orleans improved to 23-12 with its fifth straight win.
The Sixers, who fell to 20-14, had 37 factors and eight rebounds from Joel Embiid. James Harden scored 20 factors, 10 assists and 7 turnovers.
Therese Maxi made his comeback after lacking 18 video games with a fractured left foot. He performed 19 minutes and scored 9 factors on 4-for-10 taking pictures.
New Orleans was down Brandon Ingram (bruised left toe) and Larry Nance Jr. (neck spasms).
The Sixers will journey to Oklahoma Metropolis and play the Thunder on New Yr’s Eve. Listed here are notes on their loss on Friday:
Maxi again approx
Regardless of the return of Maxi, De’Anthony Melton retained his beginning spot.
Sixers head coach Doc Rivers mentioned final week that the workforce did not plan to “throw[Maxi]proper in.” We’ll quickly get a greater concept of what lineups Rivers now needs Maxi to function in, however it might be too early to attract main conclusions.
Maxi’s opening spherical was what you’ll anticipate from a participant who will not be used to getting back from accidents. He revered Embiid at first, then missed three throws on consecutive possessions. Rookie Dyson Daniels took benefit of Maxie being too late to play after Willie Hernangomez’s display, as he superior to the massive man for a layup.
Maxi was additionally one of many victims of the “Nice Alvarado Theft”. As he dribbled the ball throughout the ground, Maxi appeared oblivious to Jose Alvarado’s patented offside assault till it was too late.
Whereas he hit a tough jumper on Williamson, Maxey lacked his ordinary reduction and confidence offensively. Clearly, that is no motive to panic, however everybody would have most popular a smoother transition to work once more. Rivers’ choice to play Maxey with Embiid from the bottom and Shake Milton the lone keeper subsequent to him early within the second quarter did not make issues simple.
With Embiid sitting out, Williamson started to attain inside on virtually each New Orleans possession. The Sixers’ zone protection was ineffective as a result of Williamson stored discovering layers to drive and Montrezl Harrell did not hassle him on the edge. The district tends to work with the Sixers this season as a change-of-pace possibility, however the concept of Harrell because the backline insurance coverage did not assist Friday in opposition to Williamson. The Pelicans outscored the Sixers by 15 factors in Maxey’s first project.
Maxi had a couple of encouraging performs after halftime, together with a fast drive and reverse cross, however we think about he’ll be dissatisfied along with his night time general. In fact, there isn’t a doubt that the 22-year-old can also be grateful to be taking part in basketball once more.
Evening scoring “common” Embiid
Embiid’s greatness briefly appeared to overshadow every thing else.
He scored 10 factors in lower than 5 minutes, gave the Sixers a 16-6 lead with a fast break, and shot 6-for-7 from the sector within the first quarter.
These sorts of first-period stat strains are actually pretty routine for Embiid, who has many choices in opposition to something resembling single protection. When groups plan to help defenders in his dribbling, his midrange play typically makes that concept appear nugatory.
Draw bugs is a really dependable instrument for Embiid as properly. He is tried fewer than seven free throws in only one sport this yr. Hernangómez stepped in when Jonas Valancionas was known as for his fourth foul early within the third quarter, and felt that an embed dunk or layup on each possession was virtually inevitable over the following jiffy.
A Sixers comeback appeared unlikely by the center of the fourth quarter, however Embiid completed the sport poorly. He missed his final three pictures, dedicated two late runs, and could not cease Williamson on two switches. Sixers asks a A lot From him and in opposition to groups nearly as good because the Pelicans, dips in Embiid’s degree could be expensive.
Principally, Friday was a typical Embiid stat night time in December. His 37-point efficiency did not change his scoring common for the month in any respect.
The turnovers of the primary half do large harm
Turnovers had been a horrible drawback for the Sixers within the first half.
Harden was irritated by the amount of Jaxson Hayes on the keys and by Alvarado’s depth. Simply over 18 minutes later, the Pelicans had 23 factors on the Sixers’ 11 turnovers and a 20-4 benefit in fast-break factors. McCollum hit three straight tackles in simply 42 seconds, abruptly extending New Orleans’ result in 56-40. By that time, the Sixers had been working again a lot that the half-court scheme did not actually appear to matter.
The Sixers clearly cannot afford to be cussed about retaining Embiid in cowl drop in opposition to McCollum. They threw a couple of blitzes at him within the second half and combined up their seems, however he punished the errors. When Milton could not get across the display of Hernangomez’s ball and Embiid wasn’t excessive sufficient, McCollum made the Sixers push with a four-point play.
In isolation, Tucker has had some constructive moments in Williamson. He pulled again from Williamson, and used intelligent upper-body bumps that weren’t overwhelmed by his unbelievable power. Regardless of this, Williamson made a number of difficult maneuvers, accumulating a game-high 16 free throw makes an attempt along with his laborious edge assaults. Tucker was assessed a technical foul early within the fourth quarter when he thought he stripped the ball cleanly and the umpires determined in any other case.
The Sixers in the reduction of on turnovers within the second half and performed higher transitional protection, however Alvarado grabbed an Embiid fumble within the fourth quarter and went inexcusably coast-to-coast on a free throw. He’s a participant who will gleefully uncover issues with focus and energy. Lower than a minute later, McCollum managed his tenth purpose. His jumper with 2:30 to go broke the New Orleans franchise file.
Friday was one other minor defensive displaying for the Sixers—his 56 p.c taking pictures from the ground and 41.2 p.c from three-point vary is unacceptable general—but it surely’s nonetheless a sport they may have gained with out McCollum’s brilliance. Whereas he shot 11-for-16 from exterior the arc, his teammates went simply 4-for-15.