The Grizzlies’ balanced scoring attack and three-point shooting spree doom the Sixers | Best/worst
Memphis placed seven players in double figures and had as many threes from its starters as it did from its reserves.
It was one of those games, 76ers coach Doc Rivers and the players said, the team has to forget immediately.
That shouldn’t be hard to do. Trailing by 26 points entering the fourth quarter, the Sixers fell to the visiting Memphis Grizzlies, 116-100, on Sunday at the Wells Fargo Center. It was the second game of a back-to-back, after Saturday’s 122-113 home win over Minnesota.
The loss to Memphis came without Joel Embiid, who rested his left knee. He returned Saturday after a 10-game absence because of bone bruise in the knee.
Here are the best and worst performances from Sunday’s loss:
Best performance
This could go to a number of Grizzlies, who had seven players score at least 10 points. We’ll give it to De’Anthony Melton, a third-year guard, who was originally a second-round draft choice by the Houston Rockets out of USC.
Melton came off the bench and scored 15 points, shooting 5-for-8, including 4-for-6 from three-point range. He also added three rebounds and three assists in just 15 minutes. Melton didn’t play in the fourth quarter, which was mop-up time.
Melton also added an impressive blocked shot from behind against Mike Scott, which originally looked like a sure layup.
» READ MORE: Sixers coach Doc Rivers says it was an easy decision to sit Joel Embiid against Memphis
Worst performance
Sixers guard Seth Curry had just three points. He shot 1-for-6, including 1-for-5 from three-point range. An 89.4% free-throw shooter, Curry missed both of his foul shots. He had one assist and one turnover in 23 minutes and 34 seconds.
Best defensive performance
Memphis forward Kyle Anderson is a 6-foot-9 defensive whiz who can defend several positions. He had three blocked shots and two steals. Of his three blocks, two came against Ben Simmons and the other against Scott.
Anderson also had two steals, including this one, when he picked Tobias Harris’ pocket and scored on a layup:
In 25:26, Anderson had a plus-20 rating.
Worst statistic
In the third quarter, when the Grizzlies outscored the Sixers, 45-29, to put the game out of reach, the Sixers allowed Memphis to shoot 16-for-22 (72.7%), including 7-for-12 from three-point range (58.3%).
Best statistic
The Grizzlies received eight three-point field goals from their starters and eight more from their reserves. The Sixers made eight total.