This is a victory that will do good to the troupe of Monty Williams. After three defeats in a row, and even six losses in seven games, the Suns, under the eyes of their injured star Kevin Durant, found their way to winning by largely beating a big team from the conference opposite, the Sixers (125-105).
Like the game the day before on the floor of the Kings, Devin Booker (29 points) was particularly well supported by the men on the Phoenix bench, but also by the surprise Bismack Biyombo, still aligned in the five in the absence of Deandre Ayton, author of the best game of his season.
Opposite the Sixers, who were also playing their second back-to-back game and were playing again without James Harden, this is their third defeat in four outings. Second place in the East seems to be slipping away for them…
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The holders of the Sixers dominated by the substitutes opposite. At the start of the fourth quarter (89-83), there were 18 score changes for either team and 14 draws. This tendency was erased suddenly because of the substitutes opposite. Terrence Ross and TJ Warren skilful on the periphery, Cam Payne comfortable with his “floater”, Josh Okogie finally skilful at 3-pointers. The supporting roles unrolled their basketball while showing seriousness in defense. Only Tyrese Maxey, easily overtaking Payne in dribbling, found the crosshairs in front. Despite the return of Joel Embiid on the floor and a new time-out from Doc Rivers, Philly continued to sink by conceding a 20-6 in six minutes… (109-89). The return of the Booker – Biyombo tandem did not stop the Suns machine since the first will serve twice in the circle as its pivot.
– Joel Embiid suffered. Before the meeting, local television recalled that the pivot was the favorite in the race for the MVP. Last night, he signed a game – all the same 28 points and 10 rebounds – a little below his usual production. The fault is taken at two constants when he started to dribble on the sides, and less in the axis. More comfortable at the end of the game against Jock Landale, the 76ers pivot was also hampered by a sequence by Bismack Biyombo, from whom he certainly did not expect such activity in attack either.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Bismack Biyombo. His left-hand circle finish at the very start of the game heralded a great evening for him. It did not fail since the Congolese, visibly motivated by his duel against Joel Embiid, offered his second double-double of the season. In addition to sucking the failures of his teammates (8 offensive rebounds), he distributed the slaps in defense with 5 blocks.
✅ Tyrese Maxey. Second best mark of his season for the point guard / back who behaved like the n ° 1 option in the absence of James Harden and with a Joel Embiid taken at two. The 22-year-old was as impressive in penetration as he was behind the 3-point line, where he came close to his career high (9).
✅ The Suns bench. As against the Kings, the danger came from several players and five players finished with at least +11 to the score when they were in play. All three involved in the decisive “run” of the last quarter, Terrence Ross , TJ Warren and Cam Payne contributed 45 points in total.
⛔ The Sixers bench. In contrast to the previous point, Jalen McDaniels, Georges Niang or especially Shake Milton all shone with their clumsiness. The 76ers’ backups contributed just 17 points in all, only one more point than TJ Warren in front…
THE FOLLOWING
Suns (39-35) : trip to Utah on Monday.
Sixers (49-25) : trip to Denver on Monday.
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