Game ID: 22300495
Utah Jazz @ Philadelphia 76ers
Saturday, January 6, 2024 at 7:30 PM ET
Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
PHI 28 29 22 30 109UTA 32 26 29 33 120
PHI vs UTA ScoutingPHI vs UTA 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 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT Embiid missed 2 since 12/25, out tonight
OUT Batum missed 4 since 12/20, out tonight
PHI availability going into 12/30 · back-to-backOUT Embiid missed 3 since 12/25, out tonight
OUT Batum missed 5 since 12/20, returns tonight: 19 min (73% of 26)
NEW Morris Sr. 17 to 23 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 1/02 · 2 days' restOUT Embiid missed 4 since 12/25, returns tonight: 31 min (91% of 35)
OUT Springer missed 2 since 12/29, returns tonight: 21 min (181% of 12)
BACK Batum back 12/30 after 5, 19 min since (73% of 26)
NEW Melton 26 to 34 min over the last 4
PHI availability going into 1/05 · 2 days' restBACK Embiid back 1/02 after 4, 31 min since (91% of 35)
BACK Batum back 12/30 after 5, 21 min since (80% of 26)
BACK Springer back 1/02 after 2, 21 min since (181% of 12)
NEW Melton 26 to 34 min over the last 4
PHI availability going into 1/06 · back-to-backOUT Melton missed 2 since 1/02, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 2 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Embiid back 1/02 after 4, 34 min since (98% of 35)
BACK Batum back 12/30 after 5, 21 min since (80% of 26)
BACK Springer back 1/02 after 2, 18 min since (153% of 12)
PHI availability going into 1/10 · 3 days' restOUT Melton missed 3 since 1/02, returns tonight: 21 min (81% of 26)
OUT Covington missed 3 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Embiid back 1/02 after 4, 34 min since (98% of 35)
BACK Batum back 12/30 after 5, 22 min since (85% of 26)
BACK Springer back 1/02 after 2, 16 min since (140% of 12)
PHI availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restOUT Embiid missed 2 since 1/06, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 4 since 1/02, out tonight
OUT House Jr. missed 2 since 1/06, returns tonight: 14 min (96% of 15)
BACK Melton back 1/10 after 3, 21 min since (81% of 26)
BACK Batum back 12/30 after 5, 25 min since (97% of 26)
BACK Springer back 1/02 after 2, 16 min since (132% of 12)
PHI availability going into 1/15 · 2 days' restOUT Embiid missed 3 since 1/06, returns tonight: 31 min (90% of 35)
OUT Covington missed 5 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Melton back 1/10 after 3, 23 min since (88% of 26)
BACK House Jr. back 1/12 after 2, 14 min since (96% of 15)
BACK Springer back 1/02 after 2, 13 min since (111% of 12)
PHI availability going into 1/16 · back-to-backOUT Covington missed 6 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Embiid back 1/15 after 3, 31 min since (90% of 35)
BACK Melton back 1/10 after 3, 23 min since (88% of 26)
BACK House Jr. back 1/12 after 2, 16 min since (108% of 15)
UTA availability going into 12/30 · 1 day's restOUT Juzang missed 6 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 6 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Clarkson back 12/23 after 6, 27 min since (88% of 31)
BACK George back 12/26 after 6, 23 min since (85% of 27)
BACK Horton-Tucker back 12/28 after 3, 6 min since (31% of 20)
BACK Sensabaugh back 12/26 after 29, 2 min since (11% of 18)
BACK Yurtseven back 12/26 after 5, 2 min since (18% of 11)
NEW Dunn 19 to 24 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 1/01 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 2 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 7 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 2 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 7 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Yurtseven missed 2 since 12/28, returns tonight: 4 min (33% of 11)
BACK Clarkson back 12/23 after 6, 27 min since (87% of 31)
BACK George back 12/26 after 6, 25 min since (91% of 27)
BACK Horton-Tucker back 12/28 after 3, 6 min since (31% of 20)
NEW Dunn 19 to 25 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 1/03 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 3 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Horton-Tucker missed 2 since 12/30, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 8 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 3 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 8 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Clarkson back 12/23 after 6, 27 min since (87% of 31)
BACK George back 12/26 after 6, 26 min since (95% of 27)
BACK Yurtseven back 12/26 after 5, 3 min since (26% of 11)
UTA availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 4 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Horton-Tucker missed 3 since 12/30, returns tonight: 12 min (61% of 20)
OUT Juzang missed 9 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 4 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 9 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK George back 12/26 after 6, 25 min since (93% of 27)
BACK Yurtseven back 12/26 after 5, 3 min since (26% of 11)
UTA availability going into 1/06 · back-to-backOUT Hendricks missed 5 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 10 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 5 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 10 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Horton-Tucker back 12/28 after 3, 9 min since (46% of 20)
BACK Yurtseven back 1/01 after 2, 8 min since (69% of 11)
UTA availability going into 1/08 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 6 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 11 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 6 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 11 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Horton-Tucker back 1/05 after 3, 12 min since (61% of 20)
BACK Yurtseven back 1/01 after 2, 8 min since (69% of 11)
NEW Fontecchio 23 to 31 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 1/10 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 7 since 12/28, returns tonight: 3 min (15% of 21)
OUT Horton-Tucker missed 2 since 1/06, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 12 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 7 since 12/28, returns tonight: 3 min (18% of 18)
OUT Potter missed 12 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Yurtseven missed 2 since 1/06, returns tonight: 3 min (29% of 11)
NEW Fontecchio 23 to 31 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restOUT Horton-Tucker missed 3 since 1/06, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 13 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 13 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Hendricks back 1/10 after 7, 3 min since (15% of 21)
BACK Sensabaugh back 1/10 after 7, 3 min since (18% of 18)
BACK Yurtseven back 1/10 after 2, 3 min since (29% of 11)
NEW Fontecchio 23 to 29 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 1/13 · back-to-backOUT Horton-Tucker missed 4 since 1/06, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 14 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 14 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Hendricks back 1/10 after 7, 3 min since (16% of 21)
BACK Sensabaugh back 1/10 after 7, 3 min since (19% of 18)
BACK Yurtseven back 1/10 after 2, 4 min since (37% of 11)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 110, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 24 free throws a game; Maxey at 27 and Harris at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Melton (2 straight), Covington (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Utah comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 28 free throws a game; Markkanen at 20 and Sexton at 19 a game. Without Hendricks (5 straight), Juzang (10 straight), Sensabaugh (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-2 a night and Philadelphia minus-9 and the defense, Philadelphia allowing 110 a night to Utah's 117. Call it Philadelphia 117, Utah 113, Utah keeping it close.
12/29 @ HOU 131-127 — PHI notes
PHI won 131-127. PHI shot 52% (45 of 86) to HOU's 54%, 12 of 33 from three, and went to the line 33 times to HOU's 21 — 29 points from the stripe to their 15. PHI turned it over 10 times to HOU's 16. The glass went 30-42 against them. Maxey led with 42 (13 of 26, 2 of 9 from three, 14 of 15 at the line); Harris added 22, Melton 15. The hinge was Q4, 41-30: PHI came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 4. PHI trailed 62-63 at the half and won the second half 69-64.
12/30 @ CHI 92-105 — PHI notes
PHI lost 92-105. PHI took 13 more shots (92 to 79), fed by 12 offensive rebounds, but shot 39% to CHI's 51%, 9 of 38 from three, and got to the line 15 times to CHI's 30. PHI turned it over 7 times to CHI's 16. The glass went 36-53 against them. Maxey led with 20 (8 of 22, 2 of 8 from three); Harris added 15, Oubre Jr. 11. Q3 was theirs, 23-24, but the other 3 periods went 81-69 against them. Harris's -20 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/02 vs CHI 110-97 — PHI notes
PHI won 110-97. PHI shot 48% (38 of 80) to CHI's 39%, 12 of 30 from three, and went to the line 30 times to CHI's 23 — 22 points from the stripe to their 16. Embiid led with 31 (10 of 20, 2 of 5 from three, 9 of 12 at the line); Maxey added 21, Harris 20. The hinge was Q1, 43-18: from level to 25 ahead, and the lead reached 31. Embiid was the night's best plus/minus at +32.
1/05 vs NYK 92-128 — PHI notes
PHI lost 92-128. PHI shot 41% (33 of 81) to NYK's 48%, 6 of 23 from three. The glass went 38-49 against them. Embiid led with 30 (10 of 23, 9 of 12 at the line); Maxey added 27, Oubre Jr. 15. Q3 was theirs, 21-18, the deficit cut from 20 to 17, but the other 3 periods went 110-71 against them. They led by as many as 10. Embiid's -29 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/06 vs UTA 109-120 — PHI notes
PHI lost 109-120. PHI took 24 more shots (104 to 80), fed by 15 offensive rebounds, but shot 40% to UTA's 58%, 7 of 38 from three. PHI turned it over 6 times to UTA's 23. The glass went 34-48 against them. Maxey led with 25 (9 of 24, 1 of 8 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Oubre Jr. added 24, Reed 16. Q2 was theirs, 29-26, the deficit cut from 4 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 94-80 against them. Springer's -15 in 13 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/10 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 130, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 31 free throws a game; Young at 26 and Murray at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Hunter (8 straight), Krejčí (7 straight). 2 days' rest. Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 115, shooting 44 percent and 28 from three, 26 free throws a game; Maxey at 27 and Oubre Jr. at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. Without Melton (3 straight), Covington (3 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-7 a night and Philadelphia minus-12 and the defense, Philadelphia allowing 115 a night to Atlanta's 130. Call it Atlanta 119, Philadelphia 118, Philadelphia keeping it close.
1/12 vs SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 118, shooting 42 percent and 28 from three, 26 free throws a game; Maxey at 26 and Harris at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Embiid (2 straight), Covington (4 straight), House Jr. (2 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 121, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 19 free throws a game; Sabonis at 25 and Murray at 22 a game. One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-4 a night and Philadelphia minus-11 and the arc, Sacramento at 40 percent from three to Philadelphia's 28. Call it Philadelphia 118, Sacramento 117, Sacramento keeping it close.
1/15 vs HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 115, shooting 43 percent and 32 from three, 26 free throws a game; Maxey at 26 and Harris at 24 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Embiid (3 straight), Covington (5 straight). 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 121, shooting 44 percent and 29 from three, 27 free throws a game; Sengun at 23 and VanVleet at 18 a game. One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-0 a night and Philadelphia minus-9 and the defense, Philadelphia allowing 115 a night to Houston's 121. Call it Philadelphia 117, Houston 112.
1/16 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 119, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Maxey at 27 and Harris at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Covington (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 116, shooting 55 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Murray at 24 and Jokić at 22 a game. One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-2 a night and Philadelphia minus-8 and the turnovers, Denver giving it away 15 times a game to Philadelphia's 11. Call it Philadelphia 117, Denver 116, Denver keeping it close.
12/30 vs MIA 117-109 — UTA notes
UTA won 117-109. UTA shot 46% (43 of 93) to MIA's 44%, 11 of 41 from three, and got to the line 28 times to MIA's 40. UTA turned it over 10 times to MIA's 16. Sexton led with 22 (8 of 14, 1 of 4 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); George added 21, Olynyk 19. The hinge was Q4, 29-21: from level to 8 ahead. George was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
1/01 vs DAL 127-90 — UTA notes
UTA won 127-90. UTA shot 51% (49 of 96) to DAL's 40%, 12 of 44 from three, and went to the line 18 times to DAL's 10 — 17 points from the stripe to their 5. The glass went 53-41 for them. Fontecchio led with 24 (10 of 16, 3 of 8 from three); Clarkson added 20, Markkanen 17. The hinge was Q4, 34-11: a lead of 14 became 37. George was the night's best plus/minus at +38.
1/03 vs DET 154-148 — UTA notes
UTA won 154-148 in 1 overtime. UTA shot 51% (53 of 103) to DET's 53%, 16 of 32 from three, and went to the line 35 times to DET's 22 — 32 points from the stripe to their 17. UTA turned it over 12 times to DET's 17. Clarkson led with 36 (11 of 20, 4 of 5 from three, 10 of 11 at the line); Markkanen added 31, Sexton 25. The hinge was OT1, 16-10: from level to 6 ahead. UTA trailed 66-68 at the half and won the second half 88-80. Kessler was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
1/05 @ BOS 97-126 — UTA notes
UTA lost 97-126. UTA shot 36% (34 of 94) to BOS's 43%, 6 of 34 from three. UTA turned it over 18 times to BOS's 12, and BOS turned those into 9 steals. Markkanen led with 17 (7 of 16, 2 of 7 from three); Sexton added 13, Collins 12. Q4 was theirs, 22-19, the deficit cut from 32 to 29, but the other 3 periods went 107-75 against them. Collins's -28 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/06 @ PHI 120-109 — UTA notes
UTA won 120-109. UTA shot 58% (46 of 80) to PHI's 40%, 8 of 30 from three. UTA turned it over 23 times to PHI's 6, and PHI turned those into 12 steals. The glass went 48-34 for them. Markkanen led with 33 (12 of 19, 5 of 9 from three); Sexton added 22, Collins 19. The hinge was Q3, 29-22: a lead of 1 became 8, and the lead reached 15. Markkanen was the night's best plus/minus at +8.
1/08 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 122, shooting 49 percent and 33 from three, 29 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 36 and Lillard at 22 a game. Without Crowder (27 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 116, shooting 48 percent and 29 from three, 28 free throws a game; Markkanen at 22 and Sexton at 18 a game. Without Hendricks (6 straight), Juzang (11 straight), Sensabaugh (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-4 a night and Milwaukee minus-1. Call it Milwaukee 121, Utah 118, Utah keeping it close.
1/10 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Markkanen at 24 and Clarkson at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Hendricks (7 straight), Horton-Tucker (2 straight), Juzang (12 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 115, shooting 51 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Murray at 23 and Jokić at 20 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-6 a night and Denver minus-3 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 15 times a game to Denver's 12. Call it Utah 118, Denver 116, Denver keeping it close.
1/12 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 122, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 28 free throws a game; Markkanen at 26 and Clarkson at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Horton-Tucker (3 straight), Juzang (13 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 124, shooting 55 percent and 43 from three, 20 free throws a game; Barrett at 22 and Siakam at 21 a game. Without Poeltl (2 straight), Dick (8 straight), Freeman-Liberty (36 straight). One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the arc, Toronto at 43 percent from three to Utah's 36 and the line, where Utah takes 28 free throws a game to Toronto's 20. Call it Utah 122, Toronto 119, Toronto keeping it close.
1/13 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 115, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 26 free throws a game; Markkanen at 24 and Sexton at 19 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Horton-Tucker (4 straight), Juzang (14 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Davis at 27 and James at 20 a game. Without Hachimura (5 straight), Vincent (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-11 a night and the Lakers minus-1. Call it Utah 119, the Lakers 114.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
UTACS C. Sexton
JC J. Clarkson
JC J. Collins
KD K. Dunn
KG K. George
KO K. Olynyk
LM L. Markkanen
OA O. Agbaji
SF S. Fontecchio
WK W. Kessler
PHIJS 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
TM T. Maxey
UTA/PHI 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
Markkanen, Sexton have double-doubles to lead Utah past the 76ers 120-109 with Embiid out
PHILADELPHIA -- — The 76ers need a better plan to win games without Joel Embiid .
The NBA MVP is hurting — and Philadelphia suffers just as much when Embiid can't play because he's injured.
The 76ers are now just 2-6 without Embiid after Lauri Markkanen and Collin Sexton had double-doubles to lead the Utah Jazz to a 120-109 victory on Saturday night.
“We have Joel, we know what Joel is going to bring to the table," Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey said. "Without him, we've got to find different ways and different guys have to got to step up, myself included, and help us win games.”
Embiid missed the game because of swelling in his left knee. Without an elite rim protector in the lineup, the Jazz scored 72 points in the paint.
Markkanen had 33 points and 13 rebounds, and Sexton added 22 points and 10 assists to spark the Jazz to just their sixth road win of the season and fourth win in five games overall. The Jazz were coming off a 29-point loss a night earlier at Boston.
“Last night was tough, but it tells a lot about our group to be able to refocus and come here locked in,” Markkanen said. “For the most part, we were doing the right things.”
The 76ers not only suffered a 36-point defeat to the Knicks on Friday, they lost Embiid and also Tobias Harris to an ankle injury. The Sixers also played without key rotation players De’Anthony Melton (lumbar spine soreness) and Robert Covington (illness).
Maxey led the 76ers with 25 points and Kelly Oubre Jr . had 24.
“Even though you're missing whatever, five guys, those guys can collectively play together better than that,” coach Nick Nurse said. “They can execute better, they can defend better than that. They can make those open shots. There was plenty of shots to step into and make.”
The numbers were rough: Nic Batum missed all five 3s. Oubre and Maxey missed a combined 14 of 16 3s. Maxey only shot 9 of 24 overall from the floor. The Sixers had four offensive rebounds in the second half.
“When you're short-handed, you've got to play better than that,” Nurse said.
Embiid’s absence was, of course, quite significant. Not only because of what his presence means to the Sixers, but Embiid could put himself at risk at becoming ineligible to win major NBA awards.
The new collective bargaining agreement requires players, in most instances, to play in 65 regular-season games to be eligible for awards such as MVP or the All-NBA teams. Embiid has only met that threshold twice, when he played a career-best 68 games in 2021-22, and 66 games last season. He missed the last four games of December with a sprained right ankle.
The absences forced Nurse to try some oddball lineups. The Sixers opened the second quarter with Pat Beverley, KJ Martin , Oubre., Batum and Mo Bamba on the court.
The 7-foot Markkanen took advantage of his considerable size advantage to make 12 of 19 shots from the floor. He hit a 3-pointer in the fourth to cut off a small Sixers rally and push the lead to 105-91. Sexton hit consecutive baskets late in the game for a 15-point lead and the Sixers crowd booed headed into a timeout.
The Jazz gave the Sixers an early taste of how they tied a franchise record with 154 points in an overtime win over Detroit on Wednesday. They made 13 of 20 shots in the first quarter before they resumed a normal pace and led 58-57 at the break.
John Collins scored 19 points for Utah and Jordan Clarkson had 18. Utah had 24 turnovers.
“Every possession, I felt we got better,” Clarkson said. “I know we always say together and communicate but that’s the only way to win in the league.”
UP NEXT
Jazz play Monday at Milwaukee.
76ers: Embiid and Harris can rest up with the 76ers off until Wednesday's game in Atlanta.
“We're going to get in there and it's going to be a physical practice on Monday,” Nurse said.