PHILADELPHIA — The 76ers looked hapless when they got clobbered at Ball Arena on Jan. 21. They looked like a reinvigorated force 10 days later, even short-handed.
It took a Nikola Jokic pick-and-pop 3-pointer with 40 seconds remaining for the Nuggets to end Philadelphia’s four-game win streak Friday night at Wells Fargo Center, 137-134 after a regaling night of optional defense.
Jokic’s three gave the Nuggets a 133-130 lead, then his driving bucket prevented them from needing to get a stop with the game on the line. The reigning league MVP scored 11 of Denver’s last 15 points. He answered a late Philadelphia 11-2 run by sinking a game-tying 3-pointer with 2:10 to play. He gave Denver a 130-128 lead with 59.7 seconds remaining, with three points the old-fashioned way. He wrapped up with 28 points, nine boards and 13 assists.
Guerschon Yabusele’s contested heave came up short as time expired, allowing the Nuggets (29-19) to take a deep breath with their three-game skid snapped.
Jamal Murray continued to play with an attacking mindset, leading Denver with 31 points and 11 assists on a 12-for-22 night. Russell Westbrook exited the game with left hamstring tightness early in the fourth quarter and didn’t return.
But the Sixers, playing without Joel Embiid and Paul George, got huge boosts from Tyrese Maxey (42 points) and Yabusele (28 and three steals). Eric Gordon buried deep 3s to keep them afloat in the fourth quarter whenever Denver threatened to pull away. Philadelphia shot 53% from three as a team.
Michael Porter Jr. arrived in Philadelphia in the midst of his quietest stretch of the season, with only one 20-point performance in the last 13 games. (He had scored 20 in seven of the previous eight.) Shots weren’t falling, and Porter wasn’t doing enough to make up for a lack of scoring. He dribbled into a three at New York that grazed the front of the rim, then he didn’t get back on defense to stop a Josh Hart leak-out dunk.
After Denver’s loss to Minnesota last Saturday, Malone pointed out to Porter that he didn’t secure a single rebound, saying, “I’ve never seen that from you before.” In fact, it was Porter’s first zero-rebound game since his rookie season, and his first ever when playing nine or more minutes.
The 26-year-old forward rediscovered some rhythm by cutting and getting downhill against Philly. He scored 24 points but was just as guilty as everyone else for the lethargic defensive showing.
The Sixers couldn’t protect their rim at all in the opening minutes. Denver quickly scored the first 12 paint points of the game, including a lob from Westbrook to Murray. But an early 21-12 lead faded fast, with a Maxey 3-pointer capping a 13-3 run to give Philadelphia the edge. By then, a tone was established: The underdog 76ers were hosting a track meet in their building against tired visitors.
“I think it’s maybe that time of year right now where the end of January, I think a lot of guys are tired mentally, physically,” Malone had said before the game when asked about a recent 3-point shooting drought for Julian Strawther. “And with eight games to go prior to the break, we have to find a way to fight through that.”
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