Sixers Fall in Double OT Preseason ‘Thriller’

By Sean Kennedy (@PhillyFastBreak)

Double OT preseason game? Everybody won. pic.twitter.com/G7d3nYWTlq

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 7, 2016

Washington 125, Philadelphia 119 (Double OT) – Box Score

It was the game that would not end. It just went on and on, my friend. Some people started playing it not knowing what it was. And they’ll continue playing it forever just because…

I had that little earworm from my childhood bus-riding days on my mind as the Sixers home preseason opener went over the three-hour mark Thursday night. In a game that featured a couple lengthy delays already to fix the basket, the scrappy Sixers came back from not one, but two late 3-point deficits to force an additional 5-minute session.

While I’m all for bonus basketball normally, it seemed silly to keep playing in a game where the main goal for teams is to come out of it healthy. Lo and behold, Richaun Holmes rolled an ankle early in the second overtime. It seems like he’ll be fine, but that’s the type of thing you’d like to avoid. Just end it in a tie like they do in baseball spring training after a 10th inning.

Anyway, on to the action game action, which was fun once again! Joel Embiid didn’t dominate quite as much as on Tuesday night, but still had a couple flashes of brilliance on his way to 5 points (2-6 shooting), 3 rebounds, and a block. Embiid’s best bucket of the night came when he used his strength to muscle himself into good position against Marcin Gortat (a man I might add, who looks like he wrestles bears for a living so that’s saying something), and then used his size to shoot over the top of him.

.@JoelEmbiid nets his first bucket at home. https://t.co/4XWfI0aJAi

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 6, 2016

I’d rather see Embiid do more of that than keep jacking up those midrange jumpers that he can get off only because it’s a few inches taller than the defender. He hasn’t played in 2 years, though, so I’ll give him some license to get those shots out of his system.

The play of the night came when Embiid absolutely erased a shot near the rim by fellow Jayhawk Kelly Oubre. JoJo basically made Oubre look like that small child at Sixers Beach Bash.

.@JoelEmbiid with the denial! 🚫 #NBApreseason https://t.co/7eUquXAQt1

— NBA TV (@NBATV) October 6, 2016

Then, you have the sudden legitimate contender for Rookie of the Year, Dario Saric. The Croatian star was outstanding once again, dropping 14 points and 4 rebounds in just 18 minutes of action. Saric has such a polished game, much more the a typical rookie, which is a testament to his time playing professionally overseas. He knows how to position himself defensively, putting the effort in to properly box out and making the correct reads in defending the pick-and-roll.

Most crucially though, the outside star looked great once again. Saric drained a handful of jumpers, including going 2-3 from behind the arc. Even if one of those made threes was on a lucky bank, the form and results have both been there for him through two preseason games thus far. With a boatload of minutes coming his way following the Ben Simmons injury, Saric looks poised to put up huge numbers this season.

Finally, with Jahlil Okafor (knee) and Nerlens Noel (groin) both sitting out, Richaun Holmes was a warrior, playing a team-high 38 minutes prior to the late ankle roll. Holmes showed off his great two-way game, recording 20 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. I love how fiercely Richaun battles down low, as 6 of those rebounds came on the offensive glass and time and time again, he finished with authority around the rim. I don’t know how, but Brett Brown needs to find some minutes for Holmes this season even with the 20,000 centers on the roster.

Other Game Notes:

• Jerami Grant had his best shooting game, possibly ever. He hit a number of outside shots against the Wizards, finishing 7-9 from the field for 17 points, to go along with 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block. Shooting has always been the missing piece in his game; if he really has made strides this summer, the Sixers have a legitimate NBA rotation player on their hands.
• Brandon Paul left the game with a right oblique muscle contusion. Tough break for a guy who was starting to mount a serious case to force his way onto the roster. We’ll have to see how serious that injury is for the former Illinois star.
• Next up on Saturday night, the Sixers travel to Cleveland to take on LeBron James and the defending champions.