The Sixers were comically shorthanded and had few highlights in a drubbing by the Celtics.
Sixers Bell Ringer Season Standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 16
Joel Embiid – 8
Jared McCain – 8
Paul George – 7
Guerschon Yabusele – 4
Kelly Oubre Jr – 4
Quentin Grimes – 4
Ricky Council IV – 2
Justin Edwards – 2
KJ Martin – 2
Adem Bona – 1
Jared Butler – 1
Andre Drummond – 1
No One – 1
The Sixers — what’s left of them — played a basketball game Thursday. It did not go well … or it went very well depending on your perspective.
While both teams were shorthanded, Jayson Tatum led the charge in a dominant 123-105 Celtics win at TD Garden.
It’s the Sixers’ third straight loss. They’ve dropped 12 of their last 13 and are now 20 games below .500 at 21-41. The Chicago Bulls beat the Orlando Magic so the Sixers’ play-in fantasy is fading fast. The Brooklyn Nets lost a tight one to the Golden State Warriors so Philly didn’t get much help with the ping-pong balls either.
Tyrese Maxey and Paul George were both out. Joel Embiid, Jared McCain, Eric Gordon and Kyle Lowry all remain sidelined.
Slim pickings for Bell Ringer, but let’s get to it.
Kelly Oubre, Jr.: 27 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals
David Butler II-Imagn Images
Going to use this space to shoutout Kelly Oubre, Jr. for this season.
It’s been miserable for everyone involved. While there have been bright spots like Guerschon Yabusele, Jared McCain, Justin Edwards and the newly-acquired Quentin Grimes, Oubre’s efforts have flown under the radar a little.
The 29-year-old wing is tied with Yabusele for the team lead in games played and has played more minutes than any other Sixer. Despite having a brutal season from three, Oubre is having one of the most efficient seasons of his career, shooting 47.2% from the field coming into tonight, which would crush his previous career high.
The biggest turnaround for Oubre has been playing more under control on drives and finishes around the rim. Against Boston — and really all season — you saw Oubre blow by his perimeter defender with his first step, come to a jump stop and then hit a little floater a couple feet from the rim. It’s also helped him as a playmaker. He dished out a season-high six assists Thursday and is averaging 1.8 per game, which would be a new career high.
Oubre is a flawed player, but he’s done a lot of things well over his Sixers tenure. His efforts in a lost season shouldn’t go unnoticed.
Justin Edwards: 14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block
David Butler II-Imagn Images
Edwards continues to be one of the few bright spots for the Sixers this season. The rookie got off to a great start tonight, making a nice leaner after a drive into the paint followed by a three. While the team effort to slow down Tatum tonight stunk, Edwards continues to take on difficult defensive assignments and battle.
The Kentucky product and Philly native is showing an awful lot of promise. The shot looks great and he’s gaining more confidence putting the ball on the floor and getting to his spots. Feels like you can pencil him in for a rotation spot next season, regardless of what moves are made.
Lonnie Walker IV: 17 points, 3 assists, 1 rebound
David Butler II-Imagn Images
A shoutout for another local-ish product.
Walker, the Reading native, returned to Boston Thursday. You’ll recall Walker was in camp with the Celtics but failed to make their final roster (largely because of financial constraints). After a few months overseas, Walker was back in TD Garden and bringing some offensive juice.
It’s been a weird journey for Walker. He’s admitted recently that he’s just now getting used to the time change. It’s reflecting in his play as he’s making more shots (he was 5-of-10 from deep Thursday) and appears to have his legs underneath him.