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PHILADELPHIA —Here are five takeaways from the Sixers’ 129-105 win over the Kings in South Philadelphia.
1. Danny Green still has it. The 33-year-old had a strong start to the game, knocking down a pair of threes within the first three minutes of the game. Green’s first assist of the night had Sacramento calling timeout and it was never really close after that.
2. Matisse Thybulle plays a masterful game. Thybulle was +32 during his 32 minutes on the floor tonight, accumulating eight points, seven rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
“He’s like inspector gadget with long arms…his instincts are incredible,” Rivers told FortyEightMinutes.com and other reporters in Philadelphia after the contest.
Thybulle needs three steals on Sunday night against the Knicks to win someone an NBA Top Shot moment.
3. Tobias Harris will get a triple-double, eventually. Harris finished with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists., yet again coming close to becoming the fourth current member of the team to join the triple-double club. Harris told FortyEightMinutes and other media in Philadelphia that accomplishing the feat isn’t really a major goal.
“Just a testament to guys making shots out there…for me, that’s the evolution of my game. It’s a good thing too,” Harris added.
Rivers praised Harris’ mentality, explaining that Tobias came into the game with the right mindset.
“He’s such a pro but he really set the tone with his attitude, ” Rivers said.
4. Dwight Howard continues to be a fan favorite. Howard had another nice game, though late in the third, with the Sixers up 30+, you could tell he was feeling himself. In one sequence, he dribbled the ball fullcourt for an attempted dunk and followed that up with a clear goal tend on defense where he just ripped the ball out of the air on a Kings’ jump shot. All fun when Philadelphia is blowing out yet another team at home.
Howard received chants from fans the entire game and the former All-Star continued to hype up the crowd after Kings big man Robert Woodard missed a pair of late free throws. The double doink earned those in attendance a free frosty (fans have received free Wendy’s in 3-of-4 home contests this season).
5. Daryl Morey doesn’t miss. Morey’s swap of Zhaire Smith and Tony Bradley, who continues to start in place of Joel Embiid, doesn’t get enough credit. Morey has executed three trades since coming to the Sixers (Bradley, Danny Green, Seth Curry) and I’m not sure how I’d rank them in terms of success. Morey will look to go 4-for-4 before the NBA trade deadline on Thursday.
