Without LeBron James and Joel Embiid, Sixers stage a comeback in Charlotte for a five-point win
For the second consecutive night, VJ Edgecombe hit a dagger three that put the Sixers up four with under a minute left. It was part of a 10-point, seven-rebound night from Edgecombe
CHARLOTTE — In the Sixers’ first back-to-back of the season, LeBron James sat out one part of it while Joel Embiid sat out the other.
On Saturday against the Charlotte Hornets, both James and Embiid were out at the same time, though Jaylen Brown returned from his one-game absence because of a left knee injury.
It aided in the Sixers’ ability to claw out a 109-104 comeback win against the Hornets.
For the second consecutive night, VJ Edgecombe hit a dagger three that put the Sixers up four with under a minute left, this time from the left wing as the shot clock wound down with 36.1 seconds remaining. It was part of a 10-point, seven-rebound night from Edgecombe, who smiled on his way back to the bench with James there waiting to celebrate with him.
The indefatigable Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 38 points while Brown had 16 in his return. Anfernee Simons added 19 off the bench.
Grayson Allen finished with 27 to lead Charlotte. The Sixers were down 101-94 and scored 15 of the last 18 points of the night.
Defense disorganized, but shows up late
The Sixers had a 15-10 lead in the first quarter and closed it in miserable fashion. The Hornets outscored them 27-12 the rest of the way as the Sixers looked disorganized on the defensive end with players, like Justin Edwards, getting minutes for the first time all season, or others like Jabari Walker re-entering the rotation. Charlotte led 37-27 after one.
That changed in the second quarter, when the Sixers steadied themselves and retook the lead after forcing six turnovers and holding the Hornets to 1-for-10 shooting in the first 9 minutes, 30 seconds of the quarter. Maxey finished the half with 19 while Simons, who has been riding a hot streak the last three games, had 11.
But the complementary basketball on both ends of the floor that got them back in it during the second quarter disappeared in the second half. Charlotte shot 61% in the third quarter while the Sixers offense couldn’t keep pace.
The Sixers finally strung enough stops together after being down 101-94 in the fourth quarter. A steal from Brown and a block from Dean Wade were part of an 8-0 run in which the Sixers took the lead on Maxey free throws with 1 minute, 22 seconds left.
Overall, the Sixers missed the communication of James, whom the team has credited with being a leader in that department, especially on defense. It also missed the rim protection of Embiid, as the Hornets shot 71%. But the defense showed up in crunch time.
Brown tries to shake off slow start
Brown was back in the lineup, but it was slow going for him at the start of the game. He was 0-for-5 in the first quarter and 2-for-9 in the first half. He found a little more success attacking the rim in the third quarter to finish with 16 points. All of his buckets came in the paint or at the free-throw line.
At one point, Brown and Allen got into a momentary scuffle and drew offsetting technical fouls during the fourth quarter, but despite his offensive struggles, he had a few big defensive plays in the Sixers comeback.
Brown also iced the game with a pair of free throws with 5.2 seconds remaining.
Help in the frontcourt
The Sixers got some needed help in the frontcourt with two players returning from injury – Jabari Walker and Tacko Fall. Walker had missed the last three games with left patellar tendinopathy, but was available to play.
Walker was the first bench player into the game alongside Simons in the first quarter. He finished with 12 points, six rebounds and might have played more if not for the four fouls he committed in 19 minutes.
Fall, who the team signed to a two-way contract exiting training camp, was listed as questionable because of a left quad injury that has kept him out. But Fall was also available.
Philon gets some run
The absences of James and Embiid meant rotation minutes for those farther down the bench, and again rookie Labaron Philon Jr., got some time. Philon had a solid stretch of play as the Sixers came back in the second quarter. He showcased his athleticism in getting to the hoop multiple times, knocked down a three, and held his own on the defensive end as Maxey rested. Philon was a plus-two in his five minutes in the first half.
He played another four minutes in the second half but didn’t attempt a shot.
