Instant monitoring. On Friday night of NBA action, the New Orleans Pelicans displayed both dominance and vulnerability in a contrasting second-half game, ultimately coming away with a 103-95 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Despite missing key players, the 76ers came back strong but fell short, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the game. “We saw a great basketball performance in the first half,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said.
Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with 23 points and 12 rebounds, and Najee Marshall contributed greatly with 19 points. The game seemed to be going well with the Pelicans taking a 35-point lead, but the 76ers came back in the final quarter.
“A win is a win. At the end of the game, we found a way to get the win,” Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram said. “That’s all that matters.”
The 76ers’ comeback attempt was fueled by a 3-pointer by Jeff Dowtin Jr., cutting the lead to five points with less than a minute left. But time was running out for Philadelphia, and they were left wondering what would happen after a 34-point fourth quarter. Tobias Harris and Kelly Oubre Jr. had great performances for the 76ers, scoring 21 points and 20 points, respectively. The loss adds to the 76ers’ recent struggles, losing 15 of their last 21 games and further complicating their position in the Eastern Conference standings. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey’s absences due to injuries have been a big factor in the 76ers’ recent success, and the team is eagerly awaiting their return. Sixers coach Nick Nurse shared an update on Maxey and expressed optimism about his potential return. The 76ers’ shooting struggles were especially evident from beyond the arc, missing 18 of their first 20 shots. Injuries have plagued the team, affecting their depth and on-court play. “I’m in hyperdiagnostic mode,” the nurse said. “We want to know who can accomplish what we need to do when we get the talent back.”
Despite the Pelicans’ big lead, Green warned his team against complacency, a message reinforced by the 76ers’ recent rally. “We’ve done a great job of building leadership,” Green said. “Don’t get too relaxed and reveal everything. I felt like we relaxed a little bit and (Philadelphia) turned up the volume.
Both teams are looking forward to the upcoming games, with the Pelicans looking to build on their winning streak and the 76ers looking to rebuild their team and strengthen their playoff position.
Leave a Reply