In “back-to-back” after winning against the Hawks the day before, the 76ers continued, still at home, with a match that no one imagined to be a real test during the offseason, but which is nevertheless close to it. a month after the launch of this 2022/23 season: the Jazz, surprising leader of the Western conference.
And indeed, the troupe from Salt Lake City offered a formidable resistance for 48 minutes, but finally surrendered in the last moments (105-98), faced with the exceptional performance of Joel Embiid: 59 points (19/28 ), 11 rebounds, 8 assists and 7 blocks! The Cameroonian pivot carried his team from the in-between to the final buzzer, and signed the best individual performance of the season, so far.
More broadly, collectively, it was in two stages that the 76ers made the difference: in the third quarter, during which they raised their defensive level (21 points to 29% on shots for the Jazz) after a first half half fig half grape (14 points behind in the second quarter), then in the “money-time”, with once again good defensive sequences, followed by several decisive baskets of their heroic pivot.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– “Back-to-back” at 101 points for Joel Embiid. In the space of 24 hours, Joel Embiid scored 101 points, for two valuable victories for the 76ers. After his 42 points against the Hawks, he compiled 59 points, his new career high, 11 rebounds, 8 assists and 7 blocks against the Jazz. Author of 24 points in the first half to keep afloat the imprecise 76ers, he then went to seek victory on his own in the last quarter, by registering… 26 points of the 27 points of the 76ers, more than the Jazz (20)! This second performance will certainly go down in history, both for those who experienced it live, and for numbers buffs: he effectively became the first player in history to compile more than 50 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 blocks. Immense.
– Despite the defeat, the sovereign Jazz in the battle for rebound. Defeat necessarily relativizes this point, but it still deserves to be raised, because it was not won in advance. Indeed, despite a fairly thin interior sector, especially against Joel Embiid, the Jazz easily won the battle for the rebound: 68 to 47. As always with this team since the start of the season, the effort was collective: five players finish with five or more strikes, including 10 units each for Jarred Vanderbilt and Lauri Markkanen.
TOPS & FLOPS
✅ Tyrese Maxey. His performance seems almost anecdotal as that of Joel Embiid was monumental, but Tyrese Maxey actually signs a very good part, in support of the Cameroonian. With a +/- of +15, he compiled 18 points despite a lot of waste in his shot selection (8/24), 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals. Sober in comparison to his teammate, but effective, especially in a victory.
✅ Jazz squad depth. Even if the defeat was cruel as the collective effort was remarkable, this match was the perfect symbol of the Jazz season and its success so far: there is no defined hierarchy, especially in attack, everyone contributes fully, every night. So, it’s not really a surprise to note that the top scorer is a bench player, Malik Beasley, with 18 points. The second best scorer too, by the way: Collin Sexton with 15 points (tied with Lauri Markkanen). Less scorer but just as valuable, Jarred Vanderbilt is approaching the double-double, with 9 points and 10 rebounds, and boundless energy. Even the youngest were the biggest help: Walker Kessler with 9 rebounds and 3 blocks in 12 minutes, Talen Horton-Tucker with 7 points and 5 assists in 15 minutes. This Jazz is a delight to watch!
⛔️ The supporting cast of the 76ers. Victory is obviously the most important thing to remember and Joel Embiid’s performance is XXL, but that shouldn’t distract from a persistent problem in Philadelphia since the start of the season: the lack of offensive variety outside of Embiid. – Maxey (and Harden when he returns). The first two cities are the only two to have exceeded 10 points scored. Even more glaring: the pivot of the 76ers shot… 24 of the 26 free throws of the team, and more generally had to register nearly 60% of the points to win, in the snatch… In short, the second knives of the 76ers must do better, because Joel Embiid will not score 59 points every night. We think in particular, among the holders, of PJ Tucker (no shots attempted) and Matisse Thybulle (two shots attempted), or even among the substitutes George Niang and De’Anthony Melton, who in total attempted 10 shots, for 11 points .
THE FOLLOWING
– 76ers (7-7) : five days of break before the reception of the Bucks, on the night of Friday to Saturday (01:30 am)
– Jazz (10-5) : reception of the Knicks, on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday (03:00)
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