Sixers vs. Hornets Recap: Holding off the Swarm

A late charge from the visiting Charlotte Hornets was not enough to keep your Philadelphia 76ers from improving to 7-0 at home in the wet confines of the Wells Fargo Center by way of a 133-132 final in overtime.

(At least, it was wet OUTSIDE Wells Fargo.)

Inside was a little dry, too, when you look at the Sixers shooting numbers. From deep, if you’re name wasn’t Dario Šarić, you had a bad night shooting from behind the three point line. Saric was 4/8 from three, but Robert Covington, JJ Redick, and Landry Shamet were a combined 4-21.

Šarić had a second good night in a row after his performance at Indiana on Wednesday. The Homie had 18 points off 6/13 shooting from the field with four made threes. Ben Simmons added 22 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists. For what seems like the umpteenth game in a row, Joel Embiid was the bell ringer – as was “Creed II” co-star Tessa Thompson to start the game.

Embiid feasted on the Hornets front line tallying 42 points and 18 rebounds. He also blocked four shots and only committed three turnovers. Charlotte had no answer as Embiid caused starting center Cody Zeller to foul out followed by Dwayne Bacon – both in the fourth quarter and overtime.

Speaking of the last 17 minutes of the game, the Hornets did everything they could to erase what was once a 21 point lead. (Sheesh! These blowing leads of 15+ are going to be the death of me this season.) Kemba Walker had 22 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. Embiid came back and tied the game at 117 with a three (the only Sixers made three in the fourth) with about 25 seconds left.

In fact, let’s dive further on that made Embiid three. Before that, take a guess what the last FG was before that was – an Amir Johnson layup that put the Sixers up 104-98. That happened at 7:20 to go in the fourth. That is an unforgiveable stretch of going without a field goal, fellas. Amazingly, Walker missed a jump shot with about two seconds left, otherwise, there would have been lots of throwing things.

Let’s review.

The Sixers had a terrible shooting night from their best three point shooters (Redick, Covington, Shamet), allowed a 21 point lead to evaporate, went without a field goal for over five minutes in the fourth quarter, and still somehow improved to 7-0 at home despite Kemba Walker going H.A.M. in the final period.

Take the wins however you get them, I guess. The Sixers are 8-5. We’ll take it.