The Sixers must be wondering at this point what it will take for them to finally get a win this season, because they were oh so close tonight in Washington. They really did everything you could ask for in this one. They shot 55% from the field while the Wizards only shot 47%. They were even with the Wiz in the rebound department at 36 a piece. Finally they were pretty even turnover wise with 22 and 21 respectively, and steals wise with 10 and 15 respectively. So defensively, it was an evenly matched contest and it was the scoring or lackthereof that made up the difference in this one. In fact, Washington had the advantage for the better part of the night because offensively they were able to take advantage of all the turnovers they got, While the Sixers failed to consistently take advantage of their turnover opportunities.
Individually the Sixers top performer was Lou Williams who poured in 30 points, mostly in the 4th quarter to almost singlehandedly carry the team to a win. Other impressive Sixers included Elton Brand who put up a solid 21 points and 9 rebounds, Andre Iguodala who contributed 12 and 9 assists, and Jrue Holiday who had his best game of the season thus far with 14 and 13 assists. Other than that it was a pretty average night for the rest of the Sixers and it showed at times. The other guys did their part as well though, they just weren't as into the game and weren't as a big a part of the Sixer's efforts as the others were.
Early on the Sixers actually jumped out to a 14 point lead and appeared poised to break this one open into an easy win. Then Doug Collins started going to the bench to end the quarter and the lead all but evaporated. The Sixers managed to hang in there for the next 2 quarters on guts and guile alone, before they finally heated up and started hitting shots again. Most notably Lou Williams drilled a trey at one point early in the 4th, that just beat the shot clock and Ignited Williams game. He was only 1 for 7 on the night before that first trey, but after that he caught fire and couldn't miss again. He hit another trey a later in the quarter to momentarily put the Sixers up 6. Later still with the Sixers clinging to a 3 point lead in the final seconds he drilled 10 straight free throws to preserve the lead.
Unfortunately all of Williams heroics went for naught as Cartier Martin somehow knocked in a three over Iggy at the buzzer to force overtime. In overtime the two teams went back in forth until Brand banked in a mid range jumper to put the Sixers up 1 with 14 seconds left. Alas, Brand then fouled out trying to block Andray Blatche's possible game winning attempt. It looked to be a clean block but the officials blew the whistle, Blatche sunk the free throws and the Sixers were down 1 with 7 seconds left. Unlike Washington the Sixers were not able to get a clean look as Iggy wound up throwing up a wobbly fadeaway that caught iron as time expired. So in the end the Sixers ultimately dropped their 4th straight game to open the season, 116-115. Better luck next time boys.
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2 comments:
I turned this game on and all that was left was the last play of the 4th quarter and I thought to myself finally the Sixers are going to win, but boy was I suprised when the Wizards hit that 3 with so little time left. It just seems like its going to be one of those years for the Sixers.
-to ph1llysports
yeah it could be one of those years
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