76ers Bounce Back at Bulls! Warriors, Suns, and Nuggets Next

James Harden. Shout out, of course to d'y Anthony for his versatility all season, doing whatever's asked of him, stepping up in big moments, and cool to see him sort of find a good stride in recent days and weeks heading into the playoffs. So d Anthony finishes with the team high twenty five points plus four rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block. He finished out a plus twenty nine and thirty three minutes of play, eight for sixteen from the field, four threes, five or six from

the free throw line, also twenty points. Scorers also scoring twenty points rather Tyrese Naxie twenty one point, five rebounds, four assists, and a steel, eight for nineteen from the field, for for eight from the from three point territory, and Matt Doc said after the game that he was perhaps most impressed with the fact that Tyres Maxie was picking up full court last night showing some defensive intensity. Really seen some improvements from young to Irese on the defensive

end in recent weeks as well. Tobias Harris the third and final twenty plus point score twenty points, nine rebounds, eight assists, so close to another triple doubl for Tobias Harris finishes at a game high plus forty. I saw on stat muse that I'm going to look to pull up about how Tobias is one of very few players to have multiple forty plus plus forty rather finishes this season. Matt.

There are a few other key performers that we can, of course talk about, but I think that worth noting is how everybody contributed across the board, from the starters to the bench. At one point in the second quarter, all nine sixers that had participated scored. That include at the time, of course, Joel Embiid, who ended up leaving the game early didn't come back in the second half. I've seen a lot of tweets about that as well.

The official word of course there I want to use the correct language mild right calf tightness for Joel, but expected to play Friday, and so good to see the Sixers figure it out in the second half without James Harden or Joel Embiid and do it in pretty dominant fashion. So Matt, as always, what stands out to you, Well, Lauren Rosen not a key performer? Is me right now?

Because if any podcast listener sort of hears me abruptly joining the conversation right now, it's because I forgot to record the first few minutes of this show on my end. So I think the podcast is going to start with the box score, your lovely box score breakdown and my box score takeaway, which is the near triple double for Tobias Harris his sixth game of the season with at least twenty points, five rebounds, and five assists, And it

was much more than that. It was it was the twenty points, but it was nine rebounds and eight assists in the thirty three minutes as you laid out. Of course, great shooting night for Tyrese Maxie and d Anthony Melton,

particularly in the first half. And I know we may hear from Tobias Harris postgame on spaces right now, but how about that first half rhythm that this team was in of their three point shooting night where they had sixteen makes, they had twelve of twenty two in the first half fifty four and a half percent, and that included Maxi going four for five Melton going three for five.

I thought some stats that came out of that seventy six forty eight halftime score were really interesting, including one that was tweeted by our friend Kate Scott, the TV voice of the seventy six ers, via Josh Schrager on their crew The Sixers twenty three assists on twenty six made buckets in the first half, a season high for any half and the most since December seventh, twenty nineteen for the Sixers, and they were up twenty not even five minutes into the game, in large part due to

the shooting. Maxie and Melton are in quite good form from beyond the arc right now, and Tobias Harris as well. For him to finish with such a well rounded stat line it was good to see, and almost a triple double for Harris, but knocked down a couple of threes as well, So a night that you shooted that well. They were up twenty with seven forty one left in the first quarter. The second fastest into a game that a team took its twenty point lead over the last

twenty five seasons, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Shout out Elias, that's a great stat A seventeen o start ended up being a twenty three to one lead. Matt, you mentioned those the two fellas in the Academy. If you don't know what the Academy is, it means you're not subscribed to the Big Niang theory with George Niang.

So make sure you're doing that. Because our first guests of the season were Deanthony Melton and Tyrese Maxie, and they talked a lot about how they worked together, working out to together with their player development coach, Spencer Rivers, and the way that they both developed that three point

shot that yielded for a piece last night. Also, in the interest of getting things right here on Twitter spaces in the seventy six Ers Insiders podcast one sixteen ninety one victory for the seventy six ers last night, I believe I said one fourteen, and I have been itching to correct myself ever since. So Matt Murphy you mentioned it.

I think we should hear now from mister near triple double himself to Bias Harris last night after the game, and Doc Rivers has given to Bias a lot of credit for being ready, staying ready, the ultimate professional, the ultimate inefficiency production last night shared the ball super well.

That was another key takeaway from Doc Rivers. So let's hear Tobias Harris immediately postgame to Bias and the way the last game and did just what do you feel like we're the biggest corrections that you guys mean that allows you can jump out to the huge joy. Defensively, I thought we were just totally locked in from starting game,

getting stops, getting on running um. You know, we know they're a team that helps overhelps a lot too, so you know, making that first pass, the quick pass as well, that opened up the game for us and we were able to make shots and just roll from there and then overall too like I thought, we did a better job of taking care of the basketball and you know, value in every possession and getting a shot up, going

to the glass, offensive rebounding as well. But the defense was the name of the game earlier on and making shots. Everybody contributed and just gotten a good flow tonight. I know that kind of a mixed feelings about these back to back games that now they kind of sprinkled throughout the season. But is this a was this a good one to have because you could like immediately make those

corrections and do it against the same opponent. Yeah, I mean, you know, we we knew that wasn't our best effort, you know, at home, and I thought that we just had too many mensum mistakes in that game, whether that was turnovers, defensive execution and uh on on the offensive

and just not making the easy play. I thought tonight was a good job to come in and and and just take ull take where we learned from the last game and put it into play, and we got off obviously, we got off to a good start, great start really, and was able to to just let that fuel us through the through the whole night. And anytime you have that type of lead and that cushion, you know, it's

easy to get relaxed. But I thought, you know, well, we did a good job of just keeping an above twenty for the majority of the time, and that was big for us. What was it for you tonight? Just within all the offensive stuff you're talking about, but being able to make an impassive rob just to be aggressive with whatever play and that necessarily doesn't mean looking for a shout every time, you know, just take what the

defense is given. And um, you know, with the added opportunities, I was able to have an offensive on the offensive end a half court just being able to try to pick apart how they're playing. Um, you know, I know how they play and how they rotate on defense. So just being able to look for look for my shot coming off. But also a lot of guys will open to night on those easy skip passes. And I thought we shot We shot the ball really well tonight and even had a lot of good looks that guys would

love to have another shot at. And you know that's that you know, that's that type of rhythm in the flow the whole team needs. Um Now as we you know, wind down the stretch that we have up until playoffs. We talked so much about how well you guys playing on the road this whole month. You're really challenging road month, and you guys have rolled through it. Basically, just what do you feel like maybe even the things like off the court and the way you approach games is have

you guys? I want to use the word of the sure. But if you guys progressed in that way, that's now kind of the intangible stuff that's now meeting to things. Yeah, I mean, and you know we're going out on party and every night, so that's helping us. Tobias Harris having some fun there at the end with the lighthearted answer about the team's road success. Harris with twenty nine and

eight in thirty three minutes at Chicago. The Sixers are forty nine and twenty three overall, third in the Eastern Conference, twenty six and eleven at home, yes, but twenty three and twelve away from home. For that forty nine and twenty three record, we talked a lot about the first half and the shooting start they got off to, but defense was key in this one as well. In fact, in the fourth quarter the Sixers held the Bulls to

just fifteen points and they get the win. In night two of the miniseries, with a day off in between. After losing in Philadelphia, they beat the Bulls in Chicago. The road trip continues now flew out West La in the back to back coming up a very interesting back to back at that the Golden State Warriors at their place on Friday, and then at Phoenix the Suns on Saturday. Both of those games will be ten pm Eastern starts NBC Sports Philadelphia and ninety seven five the fanatic NBA

TV as well for the Golden State game. But on paper it looks very difficult with that back to back against Golden State and Phoenix. The Warriors are thirty eight and thirty six, They're starting a homestand and they've been really good at home twenty nine and seven home record. The road has kind of been their kryptonite this year, but they're in sixth in the West. So a matchup that everyone will have their eyes on on Friday in

the Bay. Yeah, a meaningful matchup for both teams. You mentioned at The Warriors have struggled on the road of late. Just took a five game road trip and lost three of those five and then one in Houston and in Dallas last night. Houston not last night, but Dallas last night. And the Warriors, of course always bring the firepower, they

bring the championship experience. They will bring a challenge to the seventy sixers, who did not play tired last night, but have got to be dealing with some fatigue by and large. Then you mentioned, of course the team moves on to Phoenix and Denver. Matt, I'm looking forward to all three of these West Coast matchups, and always interesting when you get to see teams that you don't get to see all that often. Sixers after dark for those of you on the East Coast. I am. I don't know, Matt.

I was going to say, do you have any of those three that stand out to you that you've had circled on your calendar? I know all three could be great, but anything you're particularly looking forward to, perhaps a single matchup that might excite you most. I don't know if you see where I'm going here, but yeah, what do you think? It's Denver for sure. And I circled this one on spaces actually a few spaces ago, I think, so Monday the twenty seventh, nine thirty Eastern start for

that one in Denver. The Sixers at the Nuggets. Of course, the MVP conversation with Joel Embiid kind of being a favorite right now over Nicola, Yokich Phoenix in between Golden State and Denver. They have not had Kevin Durant since March eighth, with an ankle injury and he's expected back either at the end of this month or potentially early April, so it does not sound like he will be back

when the Sixers visit the Phoenix Suns. That huge trade that went down with Durant going from Brooklyn to Phoenix. I did want to give a shout out to Jimmy who says good morning from China, and then Winona dedication here. Winona checked in and first of all said, I love how Toby is stepping up, thinks the Sixers can take the Warriors in the next game of the trip, and then said a little earlier on I was traveling last

night during the game from New York to Tampa. Plane was packed and the eight dollar internet was spotty, but I had to see the fellas. Great win Let's all get some rest. But that's dedication, getting the internet watching the Sixers bulls, and I'm glad that the Sixers were able to come through for Winona. As we get ready to wind down, do you have any insight Lauren Rosen on the popcorn photo in the locker room with Tyrese Maxie. No specific insight, but we know that Tyrese is a

popcorn fan. Many a meme has been born from Tyrese eating normal sized receptacles of popcorn last night. Of course it was an ultra large one. If you haven't seen it, I know Matt pinned that tweet to the top of the space. If you're listening as podcast, make sure you go either to the Sixers Twitter Instagram or Tyrese's Instagram or a night's photo of our man holding onto a very large bag of popcorn. It's how he likes to

unwind after a long day. Who can blame him, Matt, Tyrese Maxie did not play in the first matchup between the Sixers and Warriors, nor did Stephen Curry, so we'll hope to see both of them tomorrow night. That's Friday Night in the Bay very much looking forward to the Sixers hopefully getting their second and final when over the Golden State Warriors this year. They took a one eighteen one oh six win in the first meeting between the teams.

Joel Embiid notched to thirty four point thirteen rebound double double in that one. James Harden scored twenty seven to five and nine the Anthony Melton was big in that matchup as well. Near a triple double territory with seventeen points,

nine rebounds, and seven assists. As for that Nuggets game you mentioned, there's some uncertainty in between, of course, with exactly who the Phoenix Suns not rather not uncertainty, but the Phoenix Suns matchup not quite as star studded as people might have hoped when they looked at this stretch with Kevin Durant's sideline, but the Nuggets finale for this road stretch will be something. The Sixers also won that one. The first matchup between those teams one twenty six to

one nineteen Joel Embid was pretty spectacular. Forty seven points, eighteen rebounds, five assists, three steals, and two blocks. And you know these teams are looking forward to facing off once again. Matt to do more of these with you as this road trip continues. As always, we try to do these after Big Sixers wins. We convert them to seventy Sixers Insiders podcasts. If you're not following the seventy Sixers Insiders podcast podcast feed wherever you get your podcasts,

please do so now. Same goes for the Big Niang theory. With George Niang, we have an episode coming out in the next few days that I think people are really gonna like some special guests, some topical topics. Well that's not really fair. I guess many topics might be topical, but some topical discussion based on this season, based on life outside of the NBA, I think you guys are

really going to enjoy that. So seventy six Ers Insiders Podcast, the Big Niang Theory podcast, Please make sure you're following us there. You can always reach out to us. The dms are always open. You can tweet at us, you can send us a note. Let us know what you guys want to see. The playoffs approach. So as we Matt and I plan our coverage for the playoffs, please let us know what you'd like to see. We are here for you guys. We love doing these. Matt Murphy,

I'll let you have the last word. Yes, please follow the seventy Sixers Insiders podcast feed. In addition to the Big Niang Theory with George Niang and Lauren Rosen, we've got a bunch of conversations with Sixers players individual interviews coming to the seventy Sixers Insiders podcast feed in the

very near future. For the last word. Today, I am going to repeat some stuff I mentioned at the top which got cut off from the podcast, but after this win in Chicago to bounce back when the Sixers are now ten and two in a road heavy March, They've won seven straight on the road, so everyone's looking for that to continue as they have three more games on this road trip. But that will do it for us today.

Stay tuned throughout the end of the regular season. Lauren Rosen, thank you so much, thanks to the listeners, and we'll see and hear from everybody next time. See you guys. By Su