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"Best" and "Worst" awards: Sixers vs. Pistons

    by Keith Pompey, The Philadelphia Inquirer
    Published 

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – This is my look at some of the best and worst performances from the 76ers' 108-101 victory over the Detroit Pistons Saturday night at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Best performance:  This goes to Michael Carter-Williams.  The Sixers point guard is turning into a double-double machine.  He had 20 points, a season-high 15 assists, eight rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots to do with seven turnovers.  This was his second consecutive double-double and third in four games. Last season's rookie of the year recorded a triple-double four games ago.  On Saturday, Carter-Williams posted his best shooting performance during this successful stretch. He made 8 of 12 shots and went 4-for-5 from the foul line.

Worst performance:  I had to give this to Brandon Jennings.   On the positive side, the Pistons point guard finished with six assists. However, he only made 2 of 10 field goals. He shot an airball and had several other shot attempts clank off the rim or backboard. He also committed five turnovers.  (Yes, Carter-Williams had seven. But he did a lot of other positive things, while Jennings flat out struggled).

Best defensive performance:  This was easy. K.J. McDaniels had another stellar defensive performance. The rookie second-round pick tied his career high with four blocked shots.  The guard also had two steals and seven of his nine rebounds came on the defensive end.

Best performance in a losing effort:  Josh Smith gets this on a night when he finished with 23 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three blocks.

Worst statistic: This award goes to the Pistons scoring just one point in the overtime session.

Best statistic: I'm giving this to the Sixers holding a 53-47 rebounding advantage over a towering a massive Pistons frontline.

Worst of the Worst:  This goes to the Pistons missing all 11 of their overtime shot attempts. Making just 34 of 87 shots for the game was bad enough. But Detroit couldn't do anything right in the overtime period.  They missed layup, hook shots, and three-pointers. Seven of their misses came within three feet of the basket.

Follow Inquirer 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter @PompeyOnSixers and on Instagram at PompeyOnSixers