Nuggets Spoil 76ers Win Streak, 137-134

The 76ers dropped a tight game to a Nuggets team that was slumping. The Nuggets came in tonight on a 3-game losing streak, and the Sixers on a 4-game win streak. Despite posting their highest point total in a game, the Sixers came up small in the final plays of the game.

Here are the takeaways from tonight’s 3-point loss. 

Rare 3-point Domination Resulting in a Loss

If there’s one positive that can be taken away from tonight’s game, it’s that the Sixers were able to find open shots beyond the arc, and more importantly, convert them. The Sixers shot 52.5% from three as opposed to Denver’s 52.2%. In addition to shooting more efficiently, they made 9 more threes than the Nuggets. Three-point shooting performance has a high correlation with win percentage on a game-to-game basis. This season, teams that outshoot the opposition from three have won at a staggering 79% of the time. This makes it all the more frustrating now that it seems like a great shooting game was wasted. 

Guerschon Yabusele posted a career-high 28 points while shooting 12-17 from the field and sinking 4 threes. Unfortunately, all 4 of Yabusele’s threes came in the half, but he provided a necessary spark to keep the Sixers competitive in the first half and pave the way for others to contribute. None more impactful than the All-Star snub, Tyrese Maxey. Maxey notched his fourth 40-point performance of the season and his second of the week. He scored 42 points on 26 shots while draining 6 threes. Along with his threes, Maxey dished out 9 assists. 

The overall three-point shooting of this game was the ultimate edge that they ultimately did not capitalize on. The role guys provided an excellent boost and it threes in some big spots. Justin Edwards, Kelly Oubre Jr., Eric Gordon, and Ricky Council IV shot 10-18 as a group. The two threes from Council were some of the most important of the night. From the buzzer-beater to end the third and go into the fourth down a possession, to his three to open up the fourth a tie game. Council put the team in a good position to weather the storm down the stretch. 

Dealing with Jokic 

Nikola Jokic is having a self-proclaimed, “best season of career.” Which obviously is a high bar for a 3-time MVP. With the Sixers down Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond tonight, Nick Nurse had to get creative with what looks to throw at Jokic.

The easiest course of action is to meet him early and stop him from getting down low. This worked to open the game, as they held him to only 6 points. Nurse would also change the assignment, giving Jokic a different look every few minutes or so.

The assignment rotated between Oubre, Yabusele, and Edwards. Yabusele had the best time dealing with Jokic. Their plan to neutralize Jokic seemed to be going well, but in retrospect, it seems that the Nuggets were sort of using Jokic in a passive way. More like a play developer, which is his typical role.

However, they did a great job at neutralizing him on the boards, holding him 9 rebounds. Jokic finished the game with 27 points, but the catch was 13 of these points were scored in the final five minutes. Jokic wears down defenders over the course of the game, and for a defender like Yabusele, he was toast by the end of it. 

Upcoming Forecast

The Sixers are still teetering outside of the play-in, now 1-game back of the Bulls. A win tonight would’ve kept them 0.5 games back since the Bulls won tonight. As of now, they have a 38.4% to make the playoffs.

The Sixers have 3 games remaining on this homestand, continuing with Boston on Sunday. It has been said that Embiid may make his return this game against Boston, but as always his status remains to be confirmed.

Then they move on to Dallas and then Miami. That Miami game will be their last game before the trade deadline, as it is the day after.

A move that has sort of been foreshadowed since the beginning of the season, but a Yabusele trade feels more and more real. Tonight’s game can provide a showcase to potential buyers. This seems like the most favorable route for the Sixers. In the best-case scenario, they get a 1st off of a contending team or even get their pick back from OKC for this coming draft. 

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