The best and worst of Sixers-Nets, including Kevin Durant’s triple-double and Philly’s fourth-quarter blues
The Sixers struggling mightily from the field in the fourth quarter, making 6 of 23 shots (26.1%).
Kevin Durant, left, of the Nets shoots against Matisse Thybulle, center, and Joel Embiid, right, of the Sixers during the second half of the Sixers' home opener at the Wells Fargo Center.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Best performance: This goes to Kevin Durant, especially after posting an impressive triple-double.
Advertisement
The Brooklyn forward finished with game highs of 29 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists in 36 minutes, . This was his second triple-double as a member of the Nets and 13th of his career.
Worst performance: This was an easy one. Nets center Nic Claxton was a huge non-factor, finishing with three points on 1-for-4 shooting. He was also a defensive liability, posting a minus-19 in 16:50. Claxton didn’t play in the fourth quarter.
Best defensive performance: This goes to Jevon Carter on a night Joel Embiid had a game-high four blocks to go with two steals. The Nets reserve guard gets it for making things tough for Sixers guards Seth Curry and Furkan Korkmaz in the second half. Carter finished with one block but delivered tight defense on the perimeter the entire game.
Joel Embiid of the Sixers is introduced as part of the starting lineup for their game against the Nets at the Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 22, 2021. It is the first home game of the season for the Sixers.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Former Sixers broadcaster Marc Zumoff rang the Liberty Bell replica before the game against the Nets at the Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 22, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Dominic Costanzo wears a shirt mocking Ben Simmons of the Sixers prior to their game against the Nets at the Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 22, 2021. It is the first home game of the season for the Sixers.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Dominic Costanzo wears a shirt mocking Ben Simmons of the Sixers prior to their game against the Nets at the Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 22, 2021. It is the first home game of the season for the Sixers.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Danny Green of the Sixers comes out to warm up prior to their game against the Nets at the Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 22, 2021. It is the first home game of the season for the Sixers.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid, #21, of the Sixers and Kevin Durant, #7,of the Nets battle for a rebound during the 1st half of the Sixers home opener at the Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 22, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid, right, of the Sixers and Kevin Durant of the Nets battle for. a rebound during the 1st half of the Sixers home opener at the Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 22, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Tobias Harris, right, of the Sixers collides with Nic Clayton of the Nets during the 1st half of the Sixers home opener at the Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 22, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid, center, of the Sixers has the ball stripped away by Patty Mills of the Nets during the 2nd half of the Sixers home opener at the Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 22, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid, left, of the Sixers blocks a shot by Nic Claxton of the Nets during the 1st half of the Sixers home opener at the Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 22, 2021. Danny Green is right. No goaltending was called.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
A Philadelphia police officer watches over the basketball during a timeout in the game between the Sixers and the Nets during the 1st half of the Sixers home opener at the Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 22, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Tyrese Maxey, center, of the Sixers goes up for a layup against Patty Mills of the Nets during the 1st half of the Sixers home opener at the Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 22, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Tobias Harris, right, of the Sixers reacts after he made a pass to give Matisse Thybulle, center, an open dunk against the Nets during the 2nd half of the Sixers home opener at the Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 22, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Kevin Durant, left, of the Nets shoots against Matisse Thybulle, center, and Joel Embiid, right, of the Sixers during the 2nd half of the Sixers home opener at the Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 22, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Danny Green, right, of the Sixers and Kevin Durant, center, of the Nets look towards the official for the call after their collision during the 4th quarter of the Sixers home opener at the Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 22, 2021. Grren was called for the foul.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Head Coach Doc Rivers of the Sixers to a fould being called on Danny Green during the 4th quarter of the Sixers home opener against the Nets at the Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 22, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Sixers fans disagree with an official’s call late in the game against the Nets at the Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 22, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Patty Mills, center, of the Nets beats Joel Embiid, right, of the Sixers down court during the 2nd half of the Sixers home opener at the Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 22, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
James Harden, 2nd from right, of the Nets goes up for a shot between Joel Embiid, center, and Tyrese Maxey during the 2nd half of the Sixers home opener at the Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 22, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Head Coach Doc Rivers of the Sixers yells at Tyrese Maxey during the 4th quarter of their loss to the Nets at the Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 22, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Kevin Durant of the Nets trades good-natured barbs with Sixer fans during the 4th quarter of the Sixers home opener at the Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 22, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
James Harden, center, of the Nets passes around Joel Embiid, left, of the Sixers to set up a LaMarcus Aldridge dunk during the 4th quarter of the Sixers home opener at the Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 22, 2021. Danny Green is right.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Seth Curry, right, of the Sixers and Joe Harris of the Nets go after the ball during the 1st half of the Sixers home opener at the Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 22, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
LaMarcus Aldridge, left, of the Nets pulls down a rebound in fron of Seth Curry of the Sixers during the 2nd half of the Sixers home opener at the Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 22, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Tobias Harris, left, and Joel Embiid of the Sixers walk off the court after their loss to the Nets at the Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 22, 2021.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Worst statistic: You have to give this to the Sixers’ fourth-quarter shooting. They shot 6 of 23 for 26.1%. Embiid (0-for-3), Tobias Harris (1-for-4), Danny Green (0-for-3) and Georges Niang (0-for-3) combined to go 1-for-13.
Best statistic: This goes to the Brooklyn making 11 of 12 (91.6%) foul shots in the second half.
Worst of the worst: I had to give this to the Sixers scoring one point in the final 5 minutes, 32 seconds. That enabled the Nets to closeout the contest on a 16-1 run.
As the Sixers beat reporter, I provide daily coverage, perspective, a social media presence and long-form takeout pieces about one of the NBA's young emerging teams.
