January 16, 2016
This one must feel good for the 5-37 Philadelphia 76ers.
After spending most of the first half of the season on the receiving end of blowout losses, they finally got to see how the other side lives. The Sixers’ first four wins of the season came by a combined 34 points.
On Thursday against the Bulls, they blew a 24-point lead and lost the game in overtime. But on Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center, there would be no comeback by the visiting team as Brett Brown’s crew opened the second half of the season in style, cruising past the Portland Trailblazers, 114-89.
Here’s how it played out in South Philly, where Terry Stotts and his team found out something they don't tell you on television...
It's not sunny in Philadelphia. pic.twitter.com/5FDVwpRNju
— Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) January 17, 2016
• Jahlil Okafor got things started for the Sixers. He hit his first seven shots of the game and finished the first quarter with 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting. He only played a few minutes at the end of the first second quarter, but the Sixers were cruising without him. The Blazers started by putting another former Blue Devil on him -- Mason Plumlee -- but that didn't work too well.
Okafor taking Plumlee to school https://t.co/iwICv9xo9T
— Michael K-B (@therealmikekb) January 17, 2016
They then went with Meyers Leonard ... and got similar results.
Jahlil Okafor in the first quarter pic.twitter.com/YILFwpdxO3
— max (@MaxRappaport) January 17, 2016
Okafor led all scorers with 25 points on 12-of-16 shooting and added 10 rebounds in 29 minutes. For the rookie center, it was his 16th 20-point game of the season.
• Okafor got plenty of help from his teammates. The Sixers finished with five players in double figures. The others were Isaiah Canaan (14), Ish Smith (16), Robert Covington (16), and Richuan Holmes (17).
• Nerlens Noel finished with just 4 points in 26 minutes (he also had 8 rebounds, 4 blocks and 4 assists), but did do this...
Nerlens reverse oop https://t.co/jVCrzGcboc
— Michael K-B (@therealmikekb) January 17, 2016
• There were some stars out Saturday night to see the Sixers win. The biggest of the group were Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill.
Just a couple adorable photos of @NICKIMINAJ and @MeekMill at tonight’s @Sixers game… pic.twitter.com/crV3y6K6Xw
— Matt Mullin (@matt_mullin) January 17, 2016
When Dame DOLLA comes to town pic.twitter.com/9LKRUilMp1
— Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) January 17, 2016
Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill courtside at the Sixers game tonight. pic.twitter.com/JzBIvLT3uY
— Matt Mullin (@matt_mullin) January 17, 2016
Mo'ne Davis of Taney Little League fame was also in attendance, as was Temple grad and ESPN anchor Kevin Negandhi.
• Nik Stauskas sat out after injuring his shoulder Thursday night against the Bulls. He's hoping to be back on Monday.
• The Blazers have their share of players with local ties, although none did anything special against the Sixers.
C.J. McCollum (Lehigh University) -- 13 points (6-18), 2 assists, 2 rebounds
Tim Frazier (PSU/Ex-Sixer) -- 3 points (1-3), 5 assists, 1 rebound
Gerald Henderson (Episcopal Academy) -- 9 points (4-7), 2 assists, 5 rebounds
Mo Harkless (drafted by Sixers) -- 2 points (1-3), 1 assist, 1 rebound
• The Sixers shot 55.3 percent (42-of-76) from the field (a season-high) and 43.5 percent (10-of-23) from three.
• The largest lead of the night for the Sixers was 31 points (in the fourth quarter). At one point during their OT loss to the Bulls, the Sixers led by as many as 24 points, which was a season high. They surpassed that mark in the first half Saturday night when they built a 25-point lead.
The Sixers will take on the Knicks on Monday afternoon at Madison Square Garden for their annual MLK Day game. They then play in Orlando on Wednesday before returning to Philly to take on the Celtics on Saturday night.
