Game ID: 22300327
Detroit Pistons @ Philadelphia 76ers
Friday, December 15, 2023 at 7:00 PM ET
Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
PHI 26 35 33 30 124DET 22 17 23 30 92
DET @ PHI ScoutingDET @ PHI Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
PHI availability going into 12/06 · 4 days' restOUT Embiid missed 2 since 11/29, returns tonight: 38 min (110% of 35)
OUT Oubre Jr. missed 11 since 11/12, returns tonight: 19 min (63% of 31)
OUT House Jr. missed 4 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Springer missed 4 since 11/25, out tonight
NEW Covington 16 to 24 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 12/08 · 1 day's restOUT House Jr. missed 5 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Springer missed 5 since 11/25, out tonight
BACK Embiid back 12/06 after 2, 38 min since (110% of 35)
BACK Oubre Jr. back 12/06 after 11, 19 min since (63% of 31)
NEW Beverley 20 to 25 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restOUT House Jr. missed 6 since 11/25, returns tonight: 9 min (61% of 15)
OUT Martin missed 2 since 12/06, returns tonight: 6 min (47% of 12)
OUT Springer missed 6 since 11/25, returns tonight: 9 min (78% of 12)
BACK Embiid back 12/06 after 2, 37 min since (107% of 35)
BACK Oubre Jr. back 12/06 after 11, 21 min since (70% of 31)
PHI availability going into 12/13 · 1 day's restBACK Embiid back 12/06 after 2, 34 min since (100% of 35)
BACK Oubre Jr. back 12/06 after 11, 20 min since (65% of 31)
BACK House Jr. back 12/11 after 6, 9 min since (61% of 15)
BACK Martin back 12/11 after 2, 6 min since (47% of 12)
BACK Springer back 12/11 after 6, 9 min since (78% of 12)
PHI availability going into 12/15 · 1 day's restBACK Embiid back 12/06 after 2, 34 min since (97% of 35)
BACK Oubre Jr. back 12/06 after 11, 21 min since (68% of 31)
BACK House Jr. back 12/11 after 6, 8 min since (54% of 15)
BACK Martin back 12/11 after 2, 5 min since (40% of 12)
BACK Springer back 12/11 after 6, 8 min since (68% of 12)
PHI availability going into 12/16 · back-to-backBACK Embiid back 12/06 after 2, 33 min since (95% of 35)
BACK Oubre Jr. back 12/06 after 11, 20 min since (65% of 31)
BACK House Jr. back 12/11 after 6, 9 min since (62% of 15)
BACK Martin back 12/11 after 2, 5 min since (44% of 12)
BACK Springer back 12/11 after 6, 9 min since (79% of 12)
PHI availability going into 12/18 · 1 day's restBACK House Jr. back 12/11 after 6, 9 min since (59% of 15)
BACK Martin back 12/11 after 2, 5 min since (42% of 12)
BACK Springer back 12/11 after 6, 10 min since (85% of 12)
PHI availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's restBACK House Jr. back 12/11 after 6, 8 min since (56% of 15)
BACK Martin back 12/11 after 2, 5 min since (42% of 12)
BACK Springer back 12/11 after 6, 10 min since (85% of 12)
PHI availability going into 12/22 · 1 day's rest
full strength
DET availability going into 12/06 · 3 days' restOUT Wiseman missed 2 since 11/30, returns tonight: 8 min (46% of 17)
OUT Rhoden missed 10 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Harris missed 13 since 11/06, out tonight
BACK Duren back 11/24 after 5, 29 min since (98% of 29)
BACK Knox II back 11/29 after 3, 7 min since (40% of 18)
DET availability going into 12/08 · 1 day's restOUT Knox II missed 2 since 12/02, returns tonight: 6 min (30% of 18)
OUT Rhoden missed 11 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Umude missed 2 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Harris missed 14 since 11/06, returns tonight: 4 min (34% of 11)
BACK Wiseman back 12/06 after 2, 8 min since (46% of 17)
DET availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restOUT Rhoden missed 12 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Umude missed 3 since 12/02, out tonight
BACK Knox II back 11/29 after 3, 7 min since (37% of 18)
BACK Wiseman back 12/06 after 2, 12 min since (68% of 17)
BACK Harris back 12/08 after 14, 4 min since (34% of 11)
DET availability going into 12/13 · 1 day's restOUT Duren missed 2 since 12/08, out tonight
OUT Rhoden missed 13 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Umude missed 4 since 12/02, out tonight
BACK Knox II back 12/08 after 2, 3 min since (19% of 18)
BACK Wiseman back 12/06 after 2, 12 min since (70% of 17)
BACK Harris back 12/08 after 14, 4 min since (34% of 11)
DET availability going into 12/15 · 1 day's restOUT Duren missed 3 since 12/08, out tonight
OUT Bagley III missed 2 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Rhoden missed 14 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Umude missed 5 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Harris missed 2 since 12/11, returns tonight: 11 min (106% of 11)
BACK Knox II back 12/08 after 2, 6 min since (30% of 18)
BACK Wiseman back 12/06 after 2, 13 min since (76% of 17)
NEW Hayes 24 to 29 min over the last 5
DET availability going into 12/16 · back-to-backOUT Duren missed 4 since 12/08, out tonight
OUT Bagley III missed 3 since 12/11, returns tonight: 22 min (120% of 18)
OUT Rhoden missed 15 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Umude missed 6 since 12/02, out tonight
BACK Knox II back 12/08 after 2, 6 min since (30% of 18)
BACK Wiseman back 12/06 after 2, 16 min since (93% of 17)
BACK Harris back 12/08 after 14, 7 min since (70% of 11)
DET availability going into 12/18 · 1 day's restOUT Duren missed 5 since 12/08, out tonight
OUT Rhoden missed 16 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Umude missed 7 since 12/02, out tonight
BACK Bagley III back 12/16 after 3, 22 min since (120% of 18)
BACK Knox II back 12/08 after 2, 6 min since (36% of 18)
BACK Harris back 12/08 after 14, 7 min since (68% of 11)
DET availability going into 12/21 · 2 days' restOUT Stewart missed 2 since 12/16, returns tonight: 32 min (105% of 31)
OUT Duren missed 6 since 12/08, out tonight
OUT Rhoden missed 17 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Umude missed 8 since 12/02, out tonight
BACK Bagley III back 12/16 after 3, 22 min since (121% of 18)
BACK Harris back 12/15 after 2, 10 min since (95% of 11)
DET availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Duren missed 7 since 12/08, out tonight
OUT Hayes missed 2 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Knox II missed 2 since 12/18, returns tonight: 24 min (133% of 18)
OUT Rhoden missed 18 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Umude missed 9 since 12/02, out tonight
BACK Stewart back 12/21 after 2, 32 min since (105% of 31)
BACK Bagley III back 12/16 after 3, 25 min since (136% of 18)
BACK Harris back 12/15 after 2, 10 min since (95% of 11)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 130 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 31 free throws a game; Embiid at 41 and Maxey at 22 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. Detroit comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 122, shooting 47 percent and 29 from three, 23 free throws a game; Cunningham at 21 and Bogdanović at 21 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Duren (3 straight), Bagley III (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Philadelphia has been plus-4 a night and Detroit minus-7 and the arc, Philadelphia at 39 percent from three to Detroit's 29. Call it Philadelphia 125, Detroit 109, Philadelphia by 16.
12/06 @ WAS 131-126 — PHI notes
PHI won 131-126. PHI shot 51% (47 of 92) to WAS's 57%, 8 of 27 from three, and went to the line 34 times to WAS's 8 — 29 points from the stripe to their 8. The glass went 43-32 for them. Embiid led with 50 (19 of 29, 11 of 13 at the line); Maxey added 26, Melton 19. The hinge was Q3, 39-33: PHI came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 4. PHI trailed 60-62 at the half and won the second half 71-64. Maxey was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
12/08 vs ATL 125-114 — PHI notes
PHI won 125-114. PHI shot 48% (42 of 87) to ATL's 39%, 11 of 30 from three, and went to the line 37 times to ATL's 21 — 30 points from the stripe to their 19. Embiid led with 38 (12 of 24, 1 of 3 from three, 13 of 15 at the line); Maxey added 30, Melton 15. The hinge was Q1, 35-23: from level to 12 ahead. PHI trailed 62-68 at the half and won the second half 63-46. Melton was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
12/11 vs WAS 146-101 — PHI notes
PHI won 146-101. PHI shot 55% (52 of 95) to WAS's 42%, 20 of 46 from three, and got to the line 25 times to WAS's 31. PHI turned it over 13 times to WAS's 22. Embiid led with 34 (14 of 20, 2 of 5 from three); Maxey added 24, Morris Sr. 12. The hinge was Q1, 43-27: from level to 16 ahead, and the lead reached 48. Embiid was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
12/13 @ DET 129-111 — PHI notes
PHI won 129-111. PHI shot 52% (45 of 87) to DET's 44%, 11 of 30 from three. The glass went 53-35 for them. Embiid led with 41 (14 of 24, 1 of 3 from three, 12 of 12 at the line); Harris added 21, Oubre Jr. 17. The hinge was Q1, 39-26: from level to 13 ahead, and the lead reached 30. Embiid was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
12/15 vs DET 124-92 — PHI notes
PHI won 124-92. PHI shot 42% (41 of 98) to DET's 43%, 14 of 37 from three, and went to the line 31 times to DET's 23 — 28 points from the stripe to their 18. PHI turned it over 11 times to DET's 21. The glass went 54-42 for them. Embiid led with 35 (9 of 19, 2 of 3 from three, 15 of 16 at the line); Maxey added 19, Morris Sr. 15. The hinge was Q2, 35-17: a lead of 4 became 22, and the lead reached 41. Maxey was the night's best plus/minus at +37.
12/16 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 17 free throws a game; Rozier at 28 and Bridges at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Ball (8 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Philadelphia comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 131 a night and allowing 109, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 32 free throws a game; Embiid at 40 and Maxey at 22 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Philadelphia wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Philadelphia has been plus-7 a night and Charlotte minus-13 and the line, where Philadelphia takes 32 free throws a game to Charlotte's 17. Call it Philadelphia 121, Charlotte 112.
12/18 vs CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 132 a night and allowing 100, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 29 free throws a game; Embiid at 38 and Maxey at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest. Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 40 from three, 26 free throws a game; White at 26 and DeRozan at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without LaVine (8 straight). One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the defense, Philadelphia allowing 100 a night to Chicago's 119. Call it Philadelphia 123, Chicago 109, Philadelphia by 14.
12/20 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 128 a night and allowing 99, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 25 free throws a game; Embiid at 38 and Maxey at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 108, shooting 50 percent and 43 from three, 21 free throws a game; Towns at 24 and Edwards at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the defense, Philadelphia allowing 99 a night to Minnesota's 108. Call it Philadelphia 117, Minnesota 109.
12/22 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 101, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 27 free throws a game; Embiid at 42 and Maxey at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest. Toronto comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 120, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Barnes at 24 and Siakam at 23 a game. Without Dick (2 straight), Freeman-Liberty (25 straight), Young (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the defense, Philadelphia allowing 101 a night to Toronto's 120 and the glass, where Philadelphia has been plus-7 a night and Toronto minus-2. Call it Philadelphia 121, Toronto 110, Philadelphia by 11.
12/06 vs MEM 102-116 — DET notes
DET lost 102-116. DET shot 45% (41 of 91) to MEM's 52%, 11 of 35 from three. Bogdanović led with 22 (8 of 15, 4 of 8 from three); Duren added 17, Cunningham 16. Q2 was theirs, 27-21, turning a 2-point deficit into a 4-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 95-75 against them. Livers's -17 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/08 @ ORL 91-123 — DET notes
DET lost 91-123. DET shot 42% (34 of 81) to ORL's 55%, 6 of 30 from three. DET turned it over 15 times to ORL's 9. Cunningham led with 21 (8 of 15, 2 of 6 from three); Hayes added 16, Burks 14. Q1 was theirs, 23-28, but the other 3 periods went 95-68 against them. Hayes's -22 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/11 vs IND 123-131 — DET notes
DET lost 123-131. DET shot 56% (45 of 81) to IND's 57%, 10 of 29 from three, and went to the line 30 times to IND's 19 — 23 points from the stripe to their 14. The glass went 30-43 against them. Cunningham led with 23 (11 of 21, 1 of 6 from three); Thompson added 20, Ivey 18. Q1 was theirs, 36-33, but the other 3 periods went 98-87 against them. Bogdanović's -12 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/13 vs PHI 111-129 — DET notes
DET lost 111-129. DET shot 44% (39 of 88) to PHI's 52%, 10 of 33 from three. The glass went 35-53 against them. Bogdanović led with 33 (11 of 19, 5 of 9 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Cunningham added 21, Thompson 10. Q4 was theirs, 31-25, the deficit cut from 24 to 18, but the other 3 periods went 104-80 against them. Cunningham's -23 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/15 @ PHI 92-124 — DET notes
DET lost 92-124. DET shot 43% (35 of 81) to PHI's 42%, 4 of 21 from three, and got to the line 23 times to PHI's 31. DET turned it over 21 times to PHI's 11, and PHI turned those into 17 steals. The glass went 42-54 against them. Wiseman led with 20 (9 of 12); Bogdanović added 17, Ivey 13. Q4 was theirs, 30-30, but the other 3 periods went 94-62 against them. Cunningham's -32 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/16 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 134 a night and allowing 125, shooting 54 percent and 42 from three, 29 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 40 and Lillard at 22 a game. Without Crowder (15 straight), Connaughton (6 straight). 2 days' rest. Detroit comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 125, shooting 46 percent and 28 from three, 23 free throws a game; Bogdanović at 20 and Cunningham at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Duren (4 straight), Bagley III (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the arc, Milwaukee at 42 percent from three to Detroit's 28 and the glass, where Milwaukee has been minus-1 a night and Detroit minus-11. Call it Milwaukee 127, Detroit 112, Milwaukee by 15.
12/18 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 124, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Young at 32 and Bogdanović at 25 a game. Without Johnson (10 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 131, shooting 46 percent and 26 from three, 27 free throws a game; Bogdanović at 20 and Cunningham at 19 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Duren (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the arc, Atlanta at 39 percent from three to Detroit's 26 and the glass, where Atlanta has been minus-1 a night and Detroit minus-13. Call it Atlanta 125, Detroit 114, Atlanta by 11.
12/21 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 132, shooting 48 percent and 29 from three, 27 free throws a game; Bogdanović at 23 and Cunningham at 23 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. Without Stewart (2 straight), Duren (6 straight). 2 days' rest. Utah comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Sexton at 26 and Markkanen at 22 a game. Without Clarkson (5 straight), George (4 straight), Juzang (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Utah wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-1 a night and Detroit minus-12 and the defense, Utah allowing 117 a night to Detroit's 132. Call it Utah 118, Detroit 117, Detroit keeping it close.
12/23 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 123, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Thomas at 26 and Bridges at 14 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Simmons (21 straight), Walker IV (10 straight), Clowney (13 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Detroit comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 130, shooting 47 percent and 28 from three, 25 free throws a game; Cunningham at 24 and Bogdanović at 21 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Duren (7 straight), Hayes (2 straight), Knox II (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Brooklyn wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Brooklyn has been minus-2 a night and Detroit minus-10 and the arc, Brooklyn at 36 percent from three to Detroit's 28. Call it Brooklyn 119, Detroit 114.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PHIDH D. House Jr.
DM D. Melton
FK F. Korkmaz
JE J. Embiid
JS J. Springer
KM K. Martin
KO K. Oubre Jr.
MB M. Bamba
MM M. Morris Sr.
NB N. Batum
PB P. Beverley
PR P. Reed
RC R. Covington
TH T. Harris
TM T. Maxey
DETAB A. Burks
AT A. Thompson
BB B. Bogdanović
BO Bogdanovic
CC C. Cunningham
IL I. Livers
IS I. Stewart
JH J. Harris
JI J. Ivey
JW J. Wiseman
KH K. Hayes
MS M. Sasser
PHI/DET the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Joel Embiid scores 35 as the 76ers deal Pistons a franchise-record 22nd straight loss
PHILADELPHIA -- — Joel Embiid scored 35 points and Tyrese Maxey added 19 as the Philadelphia 76ers dealt the Detroit Pistons their franchise-record 22nd straight loss 124-92 on Friday night in the second game of a home-and-home series.
The Pistons, who lost to Philly 129-111 on Wednesday night in Detroit, eclipsed the franchise mark set at the end of the 1979-80 season and start of 1980-81. The Detroit streak is the sixth-longest single-season skid in NBA history.
Only the 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers and the 2013-14 Philadelphia 76ers (both lost 26 straight), along with the 1995-96 Vancouver Grizzlies, the 1997-98 Denver Nuggets and the 2011-12 Charlotte Bobcats (all lost 23 in a row) have lost more games in a row in a season. Philadelphia holds the overall mark of 28, set at the end of 2014-15 and start of 2015-16.
“It’s deflating,” Pistons coach Monty Williams said. “It is what it is. It’s a lot of repetitive games.”
Embiid, who scored 41 points on Wednesday, added 13 rebounds for his ninth straight double-double as the Sixers won their fifth straight game. Embiid has averaged 36.3 points and 12.1 points in those nine games, and broke Wilt Chamberlain’s franchise record for most consecutive games with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds.
Embiid is also the first NBA player with at least 675 points and 200 rebounds in the first 20 games of a season since Chamberlain did it in 1964-65.
“It’s great to be in that class,” Embiid said. “I just want to dominate every single night.”
The reigning league MVP, Embiid also added four blocks on the defensive end, but it’s his offensive game that continues to impress his teammates, even more than he did a season ago.
“He is getting better, which is scary,” Maxey said. “He made a layup today that I like to do where he made a Euro step and laid it high off the glass. He’s 7-foot-2 and he runs the floor at the same speed I do. It’s scary.”
James Wiseman led the Pistons with 20 points. Bojan Bogdanovic had 17 as Detroit fell to 2-23 overall.
Former Piston Tobias Harris added 13 points for Philadelphia, and Marcus Morris Sr . was perfect on five 3-point shots for 15 points off the bench. The 76ers outrebounded Detroit 54-42.
The 76ers more than doubled Detroit in the second quarter, outscoring the Pistons 35-17 and building a 61-39 halftime lead. Philly stretched the lead to 32 points after three quarters. That allowed Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse to rest Embiid for the fourth quarter and the rest of the regulars for the final 10 minutes.
The Pistons turned the ball over 21 times, the second-highest total of the season. Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse felt that the team made adjustments following Wednesday’s game in Detroit that forced many of those turnovers.
“You got to give our guys credit,” Nurse said. “They played hard and they made improvements defensively on the stuff we saw from the last game that we tried to work on the last couple days. Whoever hit the floor was out there trying to do the stuff we worked on and it paid off.”
There was plenty of tension between the teams, stemming from Wednesday’s game when Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart was ejected for a Flagrant-2 foul on 76ers guard Patrick Beverley .
During warm-ups, Beverley approached Stewart and the two started jawing before members of both teams’ security intervened.
Beverley continued a spirited conversation with Pistons assistant coach Jarrett Jack before eventually walking away. The conflict did not carry over to the game, although Stewart and Embiid were each assessed a technical foul for chirping with each other while Embiid was shooting free throws near the end of the first half.
“There’s competitive basketball, there’s emotional basketball and then there’s irrational,” Williams said. “Sometimes we let it get past emotional and get irrational and it has nothing to do with the game.”