Sixers Fall Just Short in Utah

By Sean Kennedy (@PhillyFastBreak)

Utah 95, Philadelphia 91 – Box Score

In their second opportunity this season, the Philadelphia 76ers were once again unable to capture the elusive unicorn known as a 2-game winning streak. Despite Utah missing three starters due to injury in Derrick Favors, Rudy Gobert, and Alec Burks, the Jazz drained their first seven shots from the floor and scored a season-high 37 points in the first quarter.

However, the game for Sixers fans became fun again in a hurry in the second half thanks to Ish Smith and Richaun Holmes. The pair helped Philadelphia to a 14-2 run late in the third quarter as the Sixers completed the comeback from down as many as 21 points down to take the lead. Smith finished with a team-high 22 points and 11 assists, while Richaun Holmes was outstanding on both ends, scoring a career-high 18 points and blocking 3 shots.

The game see-sawed back and forth and the Sixers still led by two inside the final minute. However, Utah still had one big game player on the court and Gordon Hayward (game-high 24 points) took advantage of Nerlens Noel erroneously sagging off in the pick-and-roll, and drained the go-ahead three pointer.

Curiously, the Sixers then went to Nik Stauskas on two straight plays, despite the fact that he was scoreless on the game. As you might imagine, that plan did not work out, and after the Jazz hit one free throw to go up two, it was back up to Ish Smith to win the game or send it to overtime. Sadly, Ish didn’t have one more heroic trick up his sleeve, as he got himself open in the lane but his 5-footer was just off the mark. Although the loss dropped Philadelphia to 2-31, at least the return of Ish Smith has made Sixers basketball fun again.

Other Game Notes:

• Brett Brown went with a different starting lineup in this contest, with JaKarr Sampson and Carl Landry in place of Robert Covington and Jerami Grant. Covington has been slumping lately and may have found himself in Brett Brown’s doghouse once again; he didn’t have the best game in Utah going 1-5 from three with 2 turnovers against no assists in 26 minutes. Meanwhile, after two great games to start his Sixers career, Landry looked like a 32-year-old man coming off an injury, going scoreless in 8 minutes.
• Aside from his late defensive gaffe, Nerlens Noel was mostly terrific, finishing with 18 points on 8-9 shooting and 5 blocks. The chemistry he has with Ish Smith is tremendous and the pair connected on another handful of lobs throughout the game. Noel is great at finishing above the rim and Smith is the perfect guy to penetrate the lane and find him after the defense collapses. Jahlil Okafor being out Monday night also allowed Noel to shift to his more natural center position defensively, and Nerlens continues to look much more comfortable without Jahlil around.
• I mentioned Richaun Holmes already, but I want to reiterate how well he played and what a great find he was in the early second round. For the people that say who cares about the second-round picks the Sixers gave up in the Ish Smith trade, somebody like Holmes is the reason you should care.