It’s over. It’s finally over.
Don’t cry because it’s over … smile because it’s freaking over.
The Sixers’ 2024-25 season from hell ended Sunday afternoon with 122-102 loss to the play-in bound (evergreen) Chicago Bulls. The Sixers finish 24-58 on the season, with the fifth-best lottery odds already clinched.
Lonnie Walker IV led the team with 31 points on 11-of-23 from the field and 8-of-15 from three. Adem Bona turned in another strong performance to close the season with 16 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. Jared Butler added 19 points and five assists.
Meanwhile, former Sixer Jumaine Jones rang the bell pregame — another stark reminder that the team hasn’t made it past the second round of the playoffs since 2001. Many things will have to go right this summer for that drought to end in 2025-26.
Here are some thoughts from the Wells Fargo Center.
(Yes, I did the recap on the final day of the season just to see if I still got it. Let me know in the comments.)
First Quarter
- There was an early sequence where Marcus Bagley made a good defensive play, stripping rookie Matas Buzelis and then diving on the floor for the loose ball. Bagley then attempted to throw the ball up the floor to Bona … only for it to go right into Julian Phillips’ hands, leading to a Kevin Huerter three. Ladies and gentlemen, your 2024-25 Philadelphia 76ers.
- Bagley did make up for it with a backcourt steal and dunk a few possessions later. He’s come on these last couple games with his ability to defend, rebound and track down loose balls in general. He had four rebounds and three steals in the first.
- Fun fact: Kevin Huerter has never missed a shot at the Wells Fargo Center. He led the floor with 11 points after one.
- And another strong start for Bona. Stuck in the corner with the shot clock winding down, the rookie to took the ball to the basket strong and finished with a baby hook. His activity level continues to stand out as he had a put-back on a Bagley missed three and another offensive rebound moments later that led to a Nikola Vucevic foul. Bona led the Sixers with nine points.
- When Bona checked out, Isaiah Mobley — who literally signed with the Sixers right before the game — took over at the five. The Bulls, who are mostly healthy, couldn’t pull away though, as the game was tied 29-29 after one.
Second Quarter
- Mobley knocked down a three on the Sixers’ first offensive possession of the second. Welcome!
- Walker made his third three of the contest to give the Sixers a 38-34 lead with 9:24 left in the half. Walker didn’t have the most efficient half but he continues to be aggressive and take the shots that are there.
- Huerter, man. He made a couple more threes to put Chicago back up 40-38. He had a game-high 18 at the half.
- The Jared Butler-Bona connection continues to look good. Butler finding his floater recently has definitely helped. He had 12 points and four assists at the half. Bona will obviously be back and Butler has a team option. That duo could get some run together next season. With how this past season went, you never know, they could get a lot of run together.
- Rough closing game for Quentin Grimes but it seems like the young guard has shown enough as he enters restricted free agency. He was scoreless.
- Hell of a first half for Bona, who finished with 12 points and seven rebounds. Walker led the Sixers with 16 points. He was just 6-of-14 from the field but did make 4-of-8 from three. This plucky group took a 56-49 lead into the locker room.
Third Quarter
- Bulls went almost full Sixers, resting Huerter, Vucevic and Coby White to start the second half.
- Bona didn’t commit his first foul until the 9:55 mark of the third quarter. Even then, it was a tough foul as he challenged Talen Horton-Tucker at the rim and just caught him with the body. Impressive growth area from Bona.
- Patrick Williams, Zach Collins and Horton-Tucker seemed to give the Bulls a little energy boost. Chicago got out to a 66-62 lead, forcing a Nick Nurse timeout.
- The Sixers’ offense really sputtered as the Bulls built the lead to 10. Bona finally got them back on the board with a nice drive and dunk attempt, forcing a Collins’ foul.
- That might’ve been one of the ugliest quarters of basketball I’ve seen played in this building — and that’s really saying something. The Sixers scored 19 points in the frame. Bulls up 86-75 after three.
Fourth Quarter
- Bagley’s hot shooting from Friday didn’t continue but the forward did have another double-double with 10 points and 15 boards. If you’re looking for another positive, Walker had another nice outing, putting up 31 points.
- As for the game, the fourth quarter went almost as poorly as the third. Fitting close to the season.
- That’ll do it! I can’t thank all of you enough that made it this far. If you’re reading this recap you are truly a sicko and represent everything Liberty Ballers is all about. We’ll have the offseason covered from every angle possible — including (hopefully) bringing in a young, exciting player with a high first-round pick. We all deserve it after this season.