76ers: Three Takeaways from Win vs. Wizards
On Monday night, the Philadelphia 76ers welcomed the Washington Wizards into the Wells Fargo Center, looking to build on their recent run of form, having picked up wins against the Wizards and Hawks last week.
They would more than build on their recent successes, as they started the game hot, scoring 43 points in the opening quarter as Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey had some notable buckets.
Nick Nurse’s men would continue to add to this lead in the second, as they exited the first half ahead of the Wizards by 29 points.
This lead would only balloon further and further, extending to as far as 48 points in the fourth quarter, with Philadelphia ending the game on top, 146-101.
With this win, the Sixers have claimed the season series against the Wizards, coming out on top in all of their three matches so far this season, with the series finale coming on February 10.
What were the takeaways?
No signs of soreness for Embiid
Going into Monday night’s match, there was a lot of speculation surrounding the playing status of Embiid, who was listed as questionable with left knee soreness.
Despite this, Embiid would show no signs of any pain as he came out of the gates dominating the Wizards, scoring ten points in the opening quarter, before expanding it to a 17-point first half.
With Philadelphia pulling far ahead of Washington, with only a minute and a half to spare in the third quarter, Nick Nurse pulled Embiid from the game, with the reigning MVP ending the night with a 34-point, ten-rebound double-double.
Sixers find great success from downtown
Prior to the start of Monday night’s match, the Sixers held the sixth-highest three-point percentage in the association, and against the Wizards, they showed why.
Philadelphia converted an astounding 19 shots from beyond the arch, nearly beating out their season-high 22 makes, which they achieved against the Los Angeles Lakers earlier on in the season.
Maxey led the way for Philadelphia, draining five makes from downtown in the first quarter alone, with Patrick Beverley, Marcus Morris Sr, and Robert Covington all recording multiple shots as well.
De’Anthony Melton’s big night on defense
To say that De’Anthony Melton had a lackluster night on the offensive end would be an understatement, only managing to score five points on 18 percent from the field, both metrics far below his season averages.
Yet, this doesn’t tell the whole story of his performance against Washington, as the former USC guard, managed to be a defensive threat for Philadelphia, recording a season-high five steals.
Pair these strips with the three defensive rebounds and it’s clear to see that Melton’s worth on the court goes beyond his offensive capabilities.