Sixers Get Embarrassed in Loss to Memphis

The Sixers were nowhere to be found Sunday night in their 16-point loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. With this loss, the Sixers lose the season series 2-0 against Memphis. Both games against the Grizzlies were played without Embiid.

In a rare loss at Wells Fargo Center, the 76ers were horrid in just about every facet of the game. Shooting 37/89 (41.6%) from the field, including only making 8 of their 34 three-point attempts. The Sixers also missed a total of 10 free-throws, shooting 18-28 (64.3%).

Electric garbage time performances from Paul Reed, Isaiah Joe, and Rayjon Tucker, made the final score a little more admirable.

The Grizzlies' top scorer was Dillion Brooks with 17. Brooks shot all of just nine field goal attempts to lead his team in scoring, including going 2-2 from behind the arc. Ja Morant had a quiet scoring night but notched a game-high 10 assists. Grayson Allen got a hot hand, making a total of four three-pointers.

One bright spot for the Sixers was Tobias Harris leading the game in scoring with 21. Although he was efficient with his scoring, it did not make any impact on the game. Shake Milton had 14 off the bench, but had a putrid shooting performance, going 0-2 from behind the arc and 5-11 from the field. The only other Sixer in double-figures was Rookie, Paul Reed. In just 13 minutes, Reed went 5-7 from the floor with 10 points in total.

Ben Simmons in this game, turned heads, but not in a good way. In 26 minutes, Simmons had a total of seven points on six shots and making just 50% of his six free-throw attempts. The theme of offensive struggles for Ben while Joel is out continued. Fans of the NBA were quick to bring their thoughts about his performance to social media, where Ben receiving slander left and right for his play on the court.

This would have been a perfect game for Ben to turn the tide with his offensive woes. The Grizzlies do not exactly have lockdown defenders. Being a 6'10" mobile guard, I would have loved to see Ben take on Kyle Anderson, Dillion Brooks, or Grayson Allen on the perimeter, but he chose not to.

Now with 70% of the season schedule complete, Philadelphia holds a share of 1st place in the east with the Brooklyn Nets, both with 34-16 records.

Next time out, the 76ers will face an Eastern Conference rival in the Boston Celtics. To keep a hold of the one seed, this is a crucial match-up. The Celtics on the other hand, desperately need a win to put themselves in a better position with the playoff seedings.