76ers crushed again, lose to Warriors, 123-80

OAKLAND - The book on forward Marreese Speights is a well read one throughout the NBA: Terrific at the offensive end, not very interested in playing at the other end.

When Speights is scoring the way he did last night during the first half, no one is going to complain about his defense, or lack thereof.

And when 76ers play their second horrendous game in a row, all logic appears to go flying in the wind, much like the Sixers jumpers appear to of late.

The former 76ers forward made his first 12 shots (seven field goals and five foul shots) and scored 20 points in the first half, propelling the Golden State Warriors to an insurmountable lead and ultimately a 123-80 win over the Sixers. Speights finished with a career-high 32 points.

The 43-point loss came a day after the Sixers were spanked in Los Angeles by the Clippers, that one by 45 points. Two nights, two losses by a total of 88 points? While the expectations for this season were low, it is now way below that.

"Mo came out energetic in the first quarter and Steph (Curry) hit some shots and then they all started chipping in after a while and it opened up the flood gates," said Evan Turner. "We knew he (Speights) would come out with energy. He played a great game and once again he just opened up the flood gates.

"I don't know, you just look up at the scoreboard and you see a lot of points. I really don't know. We were in the game at one point, down by about ten, and the next thing you know it popped up to like 25 or 30 and that was in about a five minute stretch. We played a really great team, but at the same time I don't understand what occurred."

He's not the only one. Who can explain consecutive outcomes like this?

"It's hard for everybody because the reality of it is they have put in so much time and despite the turmoil it's a group that has been together, stayed together," said coach Brett Brown. "At times you look up and you have to keep on going and keep on playing with some level of dignity and it's hard doing that. For the most part I think they did that. I think the first half score (66-33) was not reflective of the defense in many ways. We couldn't score, we couldn't make a shot. Look at what we've shot from the three point line the past two nights. Balls just didn't go in and it carries over to the other side. That's the memory. The game was obviously gone early in the third period and then it was just a matter of trying to see it through and playing the game the right way.

"They have to keep their own spirits up, I have to help them. There's a respect for the game, a pride for doing our job, an appreciation that we have spent together which has been quality time. The situation is real in regards to spending working time with each other. How do you keep it up? Who knows? I think everybody has to do their job and remember who is in the room. There are good people in that room."

Maybe, but they're horrendous on the court right now. It was the seventh straight loss for the Sixers and 17th in 20 games as they dropped to 15-38. Golden State improved to 31-21.

It was the second time this season that a Warrior who used to be a Sixer destroyed his former team. Early in the season Warriors forward Andre Iguodala hit seven three pointers on his way to a season-high 32 points in leading Golden State to a 20-point win.

The 33-point halftime deficit was actually six points better than the one the Sixers had the night before against the Clippers. In the first half last night, Speights and Curry combined for 12 field goals and 37 points. The Sixers as a team had only 14 field goals and 33 points.

Once again, it was that ugly, especially in the second quarter. In those 12 minutes the Warriors outscored the Sixers by 37-12, made 68.4 percent of their shots (to 23.1 percent for the Sixers), snared 18 rebounds to the Sixers seven and outscored them 15-0 from the three-point line.

Then it got even worse. Way worse, as Golden State built the lead up to as many as 49 points a couple of times in the second half.

Michael Carter-Williams led the Sixers with 24 points, while Thaddeus Young and Evan Turner each had 12. A night after missing 25 of their 28 three point attempts, the Sixers went just 2-for-17 last night, making them 5 for their last 45 (11.1 percent).

Aiding Speights in Golden State's offensive onslaught were Curry (23 points), David Lee (13 points, 13 rebounds), Andre Iguodala, Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes (11 each).

Sixshots: After turning his ankle in Sunday's loss to the Clippers, swingman Hollis Thompson was out last night…The Sixers will face the Utah Jazz tomorrow and then part ways for the All Star break. They return to action on Tuesday, February 18 when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers…The Warriors were giving out Wilt Chamberlain bobbleheads last night.