After a 115-106 home win over the Brooklyn Nets, the 76ers (9-8) visit the Charlotte Hornets (4-14) for the second half of a back-to-back on Wednesday that tips off a three-game road trip.
The Hornets last played Sunday at Washington, falling 106-102 to the Wizards. Kelly Oubre Jr. put up a team-high 23 points and Gordon Hayward added 20 of his own.
With Joel Embiid, James Harden, and Tyrese Maxey sidelined due to foot injuries on Tuesday, five other Sixers scored in double figures to dispatch the Nets. Tobias Harris (24) and De’Anthony Melton (22) led the way, while Paul Reed (19), Shake Milton (16), and Georges Niang (16) each accounted for more than 15 points.
Sixers reserves, including Reed and Niang, contributed a season-high 47 bench points. Furkan Korkmaz added nine points for the group.
“Paul Reed, his energy on the floor, he’s so young and he just goes out and plays with a ton of heart,” Tobias Harris said. “He finished the game with 19 [points] and 10 [rebounds] and his presence out there on the defensive end and being able to really see the openings in their defense and their pick and roll was huge for us. He rolled so many times for us and got easy layups. Georges in 17 minutes gave us a huge push, especially in the first half, just coming in and being aggressive.”
The Sixers shot 16-for-32 (.500) from 3-point range and won the rebounding battle 49-35, including 20 offensive rebounds.
“They played free, and they had nothing to lose, so those shots are going to feel better when they leave their hands,” Brooklyn’s Kevin Durant said. “You have to give them credit. Tobias [Harris] hit tough shots in the fourth. [Shake] Milton hit tough shots over us in the fourth in the mid-range. It was tough to come back from. You have to give them a ton of credit.”
Kyrie Irving finished with a Nets-high 23 points in defeat. Durant had 20 points, and Ben Simmons tallied 11 points (4-7 fg, 3-6 ft), seven rebounds, 11 assists, three steals, and three blocked shots in his first game back in Philadelphia.
“There was so much talk about the game and what was going to happen instead of the basketball part,” 76ers Head Coach Doc Rivers said. “We had two days and you can tell our guys wanted to win the game. They really wanted to win the game and that was what was on their mind. I thought the fans were phenomenal and they helped for sure. The atmosphere was one of those like a boxing atmosphere. That's what it felt like.”
2021-22 NBA All-Star LaMelo Ball missed the start of the season and returned to the Charlotte lineup on Nov. 12, but only played three games before re-injuring the same ankle. Ball is listed as out with a left ankle sprain.
The Sixers’ road swing later stretches to Orlando for a pair of contests with the Magic – Friday night and Sunday night.
Wednesday’s matchup in Charlotte is a 7 p.m. start.
Tuesday’s Top Performances:
Tobias Harris
De’Anthony Melton
Paul Reed
Shake Milton/Georges Niang
@Sixers Social:
Quote to Note:
Saturday, Georges Niang said it was good to see “Shake being Shake.” Tuesday at shootaround, the 26-year-old Shake Milton explained what that means to him:
"Playing free. Being aggressive. Making plays for my teammates and myself. Helping the team win.”
Follow Along Wednesday:
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