The Sixers defeated the Pelicans 103-95, making it their third straight loss.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Zion Williamson had 23 points and 12 rebounds and Najee Marshall had 19 points as the New Orleans Pelicans faced no injuries Friday night against the in-form Philadelphia 76ers. They won 103-95. , All-Stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. .

The Pelicans held on after Jeff Dowtin Jr.’s 3-pointer cut a 36-point lead to five with 45 seconds left. The 76ers scored 34 points in a close fourth quarter, but ran out of time to mount a spectacular comeback.

For the Sixers, Tobias Harris had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Kelly Oubre Jr. had 20 points. The Sixers lost for the 15th time in 21 games, dropping the projected Eastern Conference contenders to seventh place entering the game.

They are 6-11 since losing Embiid in January. In Game 30, Golden State’s Jonathan Kuminga fell on the left foot of a 7-footer. A timetable for Embiid’s return from knee surgery has not yet been determined. The 76ers lost their third straight game without Maxey, who is recovering from a concussion. Maxey lost his balance while driving in the third quarter of Sunday’s game against Dallas and hit his head on another player’s knee. He left the game, but was able to come back and finish the game.

Coach Nick Nurse said before the game that Maxey was following the NBA’s concussion protocols and was “doing very well” and hoped to be back for Sunday’s game against the Knicks. Do you think the 76ers are missing their franchise star? The Sixers scored just 15 points in the first quarter and took nearly three minutes to score in the second quarter. The 76ers missed 18 of 20 3-point shots in the first half.

While Embiid and Maxey are still the big names on the sidelines, injuries have plagued the Sixers this season. Nic Batum (sore left leg) was added to the list of players absent, along with Robert Covington (knee) and De’Anthony Melton. (return). This allowed the Pelicans to easily get through the night. In the first quarter, they made five threes and made 14 of 20 shots to take a 23-point lead. The Pelicans, coached by former 76ers guard Willie Green, are ranked fifth in the West.

The Pelicans led 50-20 with one game remaining before allowing the Sixers to close in on them in the final moments. Last Friday, they set a franchise record by scoring 48 points in the first quarter in a 27-point victory over the Pacers. On Tuesday night, New Orleans won by 41 points, handing the Raptors their worst home loss in franchise history.