George Struggles as Embiid-less Sixers Fall to Suns at Home
The Sixers faced a tough loss against the Suns, missing key players and struggling offensively throughout the game.
Philadelphia, Suns, Sixers, Paul George, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid
Philadelphia: The Sixers had their first home game since December 23, but it didn’t go as planned. They lost 109-99 to the Suns, dropping their record to 14-20 this season.
Tyrese Maxey was a bright spot, scoring 31 points and dishing out 10 assists. Kelly Oubre Jr. also had a solid game with 26 points and 11 rebounds. But Paul George struggled, hitting only 5 of 18 shots for 13 points.
Missing Joel Embiid and a few other key players, the Sixers had a tough time keeping up. The Suns were led by Bradley Beal with 25 points and Kevin Durant, who added 23.
Despite a rough start, the Sixers showed some defensive grit early on. They went on a 14-0 run, with Maxey and Guerschon Yabusele hitting threes and Oubre throwing down some dunks. Yabusele played with great energy, even against bigger opponents.
Oubre, back from injury, did a great job guarding Devin Booker, who struggled to score early on. The Sixers’ defense was sharp, rotating well and avoiding unnecessary fouls, which was impressive after a long road trip.
Coach Nick Nurse used all his players, including two rookies, Justin Edwards and Adem Bona. Bona was active on both ends, grabbing rebounds and even throwing down a dunk. He had a couple of fouls but showed promise.
As the game went on, the Sixers hit a dry spell. George’s iso plays weren’t working, and the team struggled to score consistently. George made a tough shot early in the third, but it didn’t spark the offense.
Oubre tried to rally the crowd and hit a buzzer-beater three to end the third quarter, but the Sixers couldn’t find their rhythm. They scored just one point in four minutes at the start of the fourth, and the Suns took advantage.
With the Suns pulling ahead, it became clear that a comeback was unlikely. Durant hit a couple of threes, sealing the win for Phoenix and marking their first victory since Christmas.