Quentin Grimes and Justin Edwards led four Sixers with 20-plus points but the Spurs used a strong fourth quarter to pull out the win.
Sixers Bell Ringer Season Standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 16
Quentin Grimes – 9
Joel Embiid – 8
Jared McCain – 8
Paul George – 7
Kelly Oubre Jr – 5
Guerschon Yabusele – 4
Adem Bona – 2
Ricky Council IV – 2
Justin Edwards – 2
KJ Martin – 2
Jared Butler – 1
Jeff Dowtin Jr – 1
Andre Drummond – 1
No One – 1
The Sixers had four players score 20-plus points … and still lost. Call it the best of both worlds.
Quentin Grimes and Justin Edwards each scored a team-high 25 points but it wasn’t enough as the Sixers fell to the Spurs 128-120.
San Antonio got off to a good start, but the Sixers were able to hang in the game thanks in large part to Guerschon Yabusele’s physicl play. They trailed just 28-26 after one. In the second quarter the Spurs really started cooking, dropping 36 points on their way to taking a 64-52 lead into the locker room.
After a Chris Paul heater pushed San Antonio’s advantage up to 16, the Sixers started to chip away. Grimes, Edwards and Yabusele were joined by Ricky Council IV during a scoring barrage in which the Sixers dropped 43 points. Council nailed a 30-foot three to give the Sixers the lead heading into the fourth.
After a solid start to the final frame, the Sixers started fading — it’s expected with so many guys playing big minutes as part of a difficult road trip. The Spurs had the much fresher legs as they won the fourth 37-25 on their way to the victory.
The Sixers’ six-game road trip continues Sunday in Atlanta as they take on the Hawks. At 23-47, the Sixers are currently tied with the Brooklyn Nets with the fifth best lottery odds.
For now, let’s talk Bell Ringer.
Quentin Grimes: 25 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 rebounds, 2 steals
Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images
What’s been funny about Grimes is there are games where it just doesn’t seem like his night early on. Then he winds up with a stat line like the one he produced Friday. He took only three shots in the first quarter, got going in the second and then took the game over for a stretch in the third.
Grimes is just constantly in attack mode and is playing with supreme confidence. This was his sixth straight game with 25-plus points. If you’re looking for reasons to support this being legitimate growth and not just empty numbers from Grimes, he also dropped a career-high 10 dimes tonight. His previous career high was nine, which he set back on March 3. This looks a lot more like a 24-year-old player figuring it out than any kind of stat-padding.
The only blemish from Grimes during this recent stretch is turnovers. He had five Friday. With his current usage rate, an increase in turnovers is expected, but it is something he’ll have to figure out.
Justin Edwards: 25 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block
Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images
Edwards has been so impressive as an undrafted rookie. He looks like a legitimate two-way rotation wing. His recent play has me wondering if he could be more.
The 21-year-old has scored at least 18 points in his last three games, including tying his rookie career-high of 25 Friday. A sprained ankle was clearly hindering Edwards out of the All-Star break, but he’s been excellent with his recent role increase. If anything it looks like there’s room for him to be even more aggressive. Plus, he continues to excel on the defensive end. The Sixers got a keeper.
With uncertainty surrounding Kelly Oubre, Jr. returning next season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Edwards have a chance to crack the starting lineup next season.
@sixersnba.bsky.social Justin Edwards has his third straight game with at least 18 points.
The only @NBA rookies with longer such streaks this season are Jared McCain (nine games) and Alex Sarr(four games).
h/t @stathead.com
Guerschon Yabusele: 23 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal
Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images
Yabusele gets a ton of credit for playing on a balky right knee for over a month now. Friday was the healthiest he’s looked in quite some time.
He was seemingly everywhere from the opening tip. A couple early dunks seemed to help get him going and he took advantage of the Spurs not playing a true NBA big all night. Yabusele was a beast on the glass. He served as an offensive hub, most effectively working the two-man game with Grimes. He used the combo of power and touch that earned him the nickname “Dancing Bear” to score on the Spurs in the post.
After it looked like he was understandably fading to close the season, this game was a reminder of how valuable a player Yabusele can be.
Ricky Council IV: 20 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images
Talk about flipping the script. Council had a brutal shooting night against the Thunder Wednesday, going 1-of-11 from the floor. On Friday it felt like he couldn’t miss, going 6-of-9 from the field and 3-of-5 from three for a new career-high 20 points. While the shots from deep helped, this might’ve also been Council’s best game as a driver as he finished strongly at the rim or drew fouls.
While the scoring was great, Nick Nurse was probably even happier about the eight rebounds.