By Sean Kennedy (@PhillyFastBreak)
Philadelphia 108, Detroit 101 (OT) – Box Score
Down three, coming down to the final possession, the Sixers needed someone to step up huge and hit the big shot. Enter one Hollis Thompson, who had hit two threes in the first 3 minutes of the game, but had been quiet for most of the contest. Still, he received the in-bounds pass in the corner and rose up like he’s hit clutch game-tying threes in the NBA for years.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsUsQE9tD30]
The shot breathed new life into the Sixers, and after a terrible Brandon Jennings isolation play was snuffed out, Philadelphia was set to take care of business in overtime. The overtime period was not one that will be pored over in summer camps by coaches looking to instruct young kids how to play the game. The Sixers went over three minutes before scoring their first points, with Henry Sims’ jumper from the top of the key finally getting them on the board in bonus basketball. Fortunately, the Pistons were even more inept offensively, as they went the entire overtime without making so much as a single field goal (tallying just a single point). Once the Sixers made it a three-point game with 30 seconds left, the lead felt insurmountable.
Once again, the duo of Robert Covington and Michael Carter-Williams ignited the offense for the Sixers. Covington continues to set career-highs each and every game, this time dropping a game-high 25 points on 9-14 shooting (3-6 from downtown). He’s now shooting a ridiculous 53.1% from three on the season, which would seem unsustainable, but it’s been 11 games now so his true percentage probably isn’t too far off.
Carter-Williams driving into the lane remains the only reliable way the Sixers can create offense. He finished with 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 15 assists in this contest, even shooting the ball well for a change (8-12 from the floor). His mid-range floater was on point once again, and he’s developed an effective way to drive right at the opposing big man, and then drop it off to his teammate for an easy lay-in (be it Noel, Sims, Covington, etc.). Sometimes the defender will catch a piece of that drop-off and the ball will get kicked around (MCW did have 7 turnovers after all), but it’s really the best way the Sixers have to get easy buckets.
K.J. McDaniels’ outside shot has regressed back to the mean of late, but he’s still doing work defensively and on the boards. McDaniels registered another 4 blocks last night and is averaging 1.5 swats per game on the season. He’s a wing. That’s ridiculous.
The Sixers will have a few days to revel in their victory and receive all the accolades sure to come their way, as they’ll next take on the Hawks in Atlanta Wednesday night. More importantly…
Sixers have been a competent NBA team for about two weeks now. Still bad, but losses have been by 10 or less, plus 2 wins.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) December 7, 2014
Competent! That’s progress.
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