This podcast is part of the seventy Sixers podcast network search seventy Sixers Insiders wherever you get your podcasts day everybody. I'm feel love yea seventy sixer. Good morning, Sixers people. I'm Lauren Rosen. Welcome back to another post Sixers win reaction. Matt Murphy is with me. If you're listening on Twitter spaces, make sure you're engaging throughout send us a message comment on the space, or if you're listening on the seventy
Sixers Insiders podcast feed, welcome back. We are happy to have you. If you're not already following the seventy six Ers Insiders podcast, you can leave early or arrive late and see this whole thing there, So please make sure you're following us there. Matt Murphy, good morning. One of the most fun wins of beer. To be sure how you feeling. It was awesome. It was an awesome game the Sixers and the Nets. I just said before the show started that it had the feeling of a big
game and big atmosphere. Big game atmosphere really all day in the lead up, during warmups, all of that. There was a high level of shot making from both teams, particularly from three point range in the first half. But the Sixers keep it rolling. Sixth straight win. They've had a really really good run, isolating this nineteen and four
stretch to get to thirty one and sixteen. They're in second place in the Eastern Conference, and they took care during took care of an Eastern Conference opponent during NBA Rivals Week NBA Rivalry Week, the Brooklyn Nets came into town and they beat them at home for the second time this year. The Sixers win at home the first time they were shorthanded. This time. Kevin Durant was out for the Nets, but the Sixers had their lineup ready to go and they held on for a one seven,
one thirty three victory. We are going to hear from Joel Embid, We're going to hear from d Anthony Melton and Tyrese Maxie this morning. But before that, let's run through the box score, give you guys a taste of stats, and as I am doing so, please let us know who stands out most to you. So that's sort of the little question of the day today. Who stands out? As I go through the box score, you can click on the purple icon in the bottom right hand corner.
Let us know you can send us a DM who stands out most to you when I go through these six double figure performances from last night in South Philadelphia, Ben Simmons first return to play against his former teammates, The Brooklyn Nets end up being led by Kyrie Irving, who had a stunning performance last night thirty points, ten assists. Nick Claxton also awesome last night. Seth Curry also awesome last night. Seth actually the leading scorer off the bench
thirty two points, four assists. Love hearing Doc Rivers talk about his son in law post game, saying he was playing a little bit too well for his father in law's taste. On the Sixers side, though six double figure fourmances Tyrese Maxie makes the Sixers also have their leading score come off the bench last night. He finished with
twenty seven points, five assists, three rebounds, two steals. He shot eight for fourteen from the field, six for nine from three point range in his thirty minutes of play. Joel Embiid finished with a twenty six point ten rebound double double plus three assists and two steals. He shot six for eighteen from the floor and he discussed that he didn't love the way he was shooting last night.
We'll hear more from Joel on that last in just a moment, but a perfect thirteen for thirteen from the foul line for Joel and some awesome defense down the stretch. D'Anthony Melton finished with nineteen points, four rebounds, two assists and three blocks. James Harden finished with twenty three points, three rebounds, seven assists and two steals. He shot six for twelve from the field, five for ten from three point territory, six for seven from the free throw line.
Tobias Harris finished with eighteen points, four rebounds and two assists, and Matisse Thybel the final double figure score for the seventy six ers last night, ten points, two rebounds and assist and three steals. He chopped three for five in the field, two for four from three and twelve minutes. Nice little night from Matisse Thybel last night. Matt Murphy, when we talk about the six double figure performances, what stands out most to you? Oh, you're forcing me to
go on the individual player. No no, no, no, no no no no. Pick pick a team, pick a team, team stat whatever you want. Thirty five or thirty six at the free throw line, just one missed free throw in a close game, it really turned out to matter. Joel Embia at a perfect thirteen for thirteen. Like you said, Harden was six for seven, Maxie was five for five, and the list goes on and on. I thought that was really important in this game. There were a lot
of fouls. You could say that your box score takeaway is the six technical fouls seven if you include defensive three seconds emotions ran high. Six technical fouls is is so many seven, like I said, with a defensive three seconds call as well. But on the individual side, I think Maxie coming off the bench and providing that scoring again and some of those threes he hit particularly early in the game, and actually one super late in the game that was clutch. Six threes made tyreas Maxie. However,
he is entering the game for this Sixers team. He was back in the starting lineup the other game, but he's off the bench against Brooklyn. Whenona said Maxie came off the bench on fire. Whenona also said, my friends were at the game and they said it was loud, which we can confirm it was very loud. So I think Tyrese Maxie again just showing his value and his ability to adapt to any role was evident. We've talked about the atmosphere quite a bit. That was a hot
topic in media availability last night. Joel Embiid said he loved the intensity. So go ahead and hear from Joel immediately post game last night. Um, I man, I don't know. I wish every game was like that. It's fun. I love you know, that's why you Yeah, that's why you play the sport and to be able to compete for this moment to enjoy it. For me, it's all about it.
Enjoying it tonight, I enjoyed it. Uh makes me want to be more aggressive and you know it makes me want to win more too, So that's a key for me. The biggest issue defensibility tonight. For you guys, well, uh, I mean we started the first quarter. We we just we gave him, We made them believe now they could get whatever they wanted. That made a bunch of threes. Obviously, Sat came off the bench and you know he was
on fire and Kyle were enough. Full quarter, I mean every single shot, Um, you know the difficulty, uh, you know everyone up those shots I felt like I was right there and he just kept making each one of them. So it made a lot of tough shots. But you know, we still could have done better on that end, as far as you know, you know, being up fourteen on one point with seven or six minutes left, we should have run away with that game. Man, we just started
messing around that. We gave him a chance. Joe Lmbad post game after the win over the Nets. We'll have more audio coming up, I believe as well. Doc Rivers and d Anthony Melton were asked about the atmosphere and Doc Rivers, the Sixers coach, called it a boxing crowd, and Melton kind of echoed that sentiment as well. Joel Embiad's used to the Philadelphia crowd. He said that he wishes every game was like that, but he understands why some are a little bit of more importance to the
fans than others. He talked about the shot making defense. Was asked to the Sixers questions about defense, I should say, we're asked of the Sixers afterwards, but Joel credited Brooklyn and some tough shots that they made. Really the final
shooting percentages for both teams Lauren, were pretty high. And for the Sixers side of things, I know there's a stat about the Nets and how they had one of the highest shooting percentages ever in a loss, but the Sixers that was the fourth time in team history, according to stat Head, that the Sixers have shot at least fifty percent from the floor, forty five percent from three, and ninety five percent from the foul line in a single game, just the fourth time that they've done that.
We're getting a lot of comments, so I want to get to a couple and then please feel free to add anything you're seeing on your side of things, Lauren. But Albert said that when Doc Rivers told James Harden that whenever him an embied click, especially with the pick and pop, they would be unbeatable, he was not wrong. Doc deserves credit. Matthew said over one hundred points after the third quarter. That alone is amazing. Sixers still have to go over one forty seven this season now, though
to one fifty and beyond. Jeanie describing that game as exciting would be an understatement. Five fire emojis and mister Santucci as well. We look good in these last few games. Harden has elevated his play this year. They're listening from Cyprus Lake, Florida. What else are you seeing on your side down the stretch in that one. Of course, we've talked a little bit about Seth Curry, but James Harden really responded for the seventy six ers with a couple
of stepbacks, big finish down the stretch for James. And James postgame discussed the fact that, like you said, Matt, the Brooklyn Nets shooting sixty five percent from the field and you still win that game. Pretty impressive. D' anthony Melton discussed the atmosphere. He discussed his chemistry with Tyrese Maxie and finding his way out of what he called
a little baby slump. So let's hear from d' anthony. Now, my scenes is fine to me, and I thought I'd been in a little slum lady, So I just want to come out, be aggressive, play with ultimate confidence no matter what. Yeah, I do think you guys are really
starting getting the riddom of that starting group. You guys are definitely I think now that we got guys that um, and you know, we played multiple games each other, I think you know we're starting to get our chemistry, and I think the biggest thing is, you know, Tyrese's find his way off the bench. You know, his scoring surges is you know, definitely helping our team and making it
even more dangerous. You actually have that one point at the end of the game where you've got to reave an you picture right back to the three even though you guys are the plain ones moving at the end of that A lot of the best stronto you got, you guys so have like nah, definitely, Uh, me and tyres we talk a good amount um, you know, just you know, about the game, about other stuff, so we understand what we you know, each other they can do and you know, we want to see each other they
succeed to the highest so uh, you know, we're all about winning the game. And no matter what, I'm sure you guys would rather win every game twenty points whatever. If you think playing in so many of these you know, high pressures, hitsas is preparing you for those you know, in the playoffs down the line, Definitely, I think you know, with so many new guys that that type stuff definitely bailes team chemistry, you know, trust with him one another.
Like you said, it's just you know, prepares us for the long hauls, you know, a playing those close games like that. That was de Anthony Melton after the game. Melton in that first half that the Sixers shot eleven for nineteen fifty eight percent from three. Melton was five for five from the field, three for three from three, and he talked also about playing with Tyrese Maxie, how
those two have a relationship beyond the court. They're friends and they really helped the Sixers effort in this one and as backcourt mates and playing different roles and adapting. Speaking of their friendship. If you haven't already listened to the season premiere of The Big Niang Theory, please check
that out. The Big Niang Theory wherever you get your podcasts, a really cool look behind the curtain at the friendship that the two of them have developed as two of the younger guys on this team that love to have fun, love to get out and transition together, but also love to hang out off the court, and they've created an awesome bond. It's been cool to see them support one
another as well. As this change in the starting lineup has been enacted over the last couple of weeks, Matt, I wanted to talk to you about Tyrese Maxie last night we already mentioned at twenty seven points, three rebounds, five assists, two steals, eight or fourteen from the field, six for nine from three. He played a bench high thirty minutes and was in that closing lineup until a little bit offense defense with Mattise Thible down the stretch. But Matt the way that the other guys have talked
about Tyrese over these last few days. I talked to Mattise Bible coming off the court and he said something that Matisse has said many times in the last couple of years. Every time something big has been asked of Tyrese Maxie, he's answered the call. And here he's being asked to make some sacrifices and he's doing it with a grace and be a lot of power on the court. It's been awesome to watch, been awesome to listen to
the guys talk about it. What have you seen from Tyrese over these last few games, Matt A lot of poise, a lot of speed and transition, a lot of shot making from beyond the arc as well. I know there was a really good segment from the NBA on ESPN about Yes, Maxi's transition scoring that you had sent out a tweet about and how he scores in that type of way and it kind of helps balance out this
Sixers attack the way that he's been getting it done. Yeah, Tyrese one of the fastest players in the NBA, and then of course Joel and James liked to take things a little bit slower, but that actually makes the team all the more threatening with the way that they can vary their pace. We also heard from Tyrese Maxie last night, who, of course, if we all remember, was out for a little over six weeks rehabbing his foot injury and now has come back to a team that's won nineteen of
its last twenty three games. They've won six in a row. Tyrese of course, has been a large part of the latter portion of those wins, but watched the others from the bench, and I asked him postgame what he thinks has changed for this team? Watched the games he didn't playing, What do you think the adjustment was? What do you think change for you guys to go on such a streak like this? And I think guys are buying in
buying into the roles, buying into what they have to do. Um, you know, at the end of the day, at the beginning of the year, we had injuries, they had all that, but we still had a brand new team, you know. Um PJ. Tucker comes in. You know, it's his first time playing with James and Joe. I mean he's first time playing with Joe for sure, but like with the dynamic duo of them, and then mel comes in and you know, he can provide what he needs to provide
a house. We had to figure out rotations. Guys weren't playing. Some guys were playing like it was a lot. You know, it's a lot that goes into that and um, once you find that groove, that's when you start, when you start rolling. I think, you know, they find that groove and I think that was December with the homestand and then, um, you know, I just tried to shale right on along with them and then help him as much as possible.
Tyrese Maxie discuss saying his role coming off the bench seen a few people commenting about how they like Maxie and what he brings off the Sixers bench. Have also seen a few people commenting about Matisse thybal so going to read at least one of those. Damo said, let's just give a shout out to Matise for his performance on both ends of the floor. He did an amazing
job last night. Referencing Thible's ten points on offense, the three steals against the nets in the four point when Lauren Rosen you did have a chance to catch up with Matisse after the game, and looked like a really willing shooter out there, and they needed his two maid threes in this game. It actually ended up being a tighter margin. So let's hear about that because he looked confident, did Thible. Yeah, Mattie's a double figure performer at last night.
I'm going to play that interview for you guys right now, but something that you won't see because we're listening. As I explained to him that there were six double figure performances last night and he was one of them, he looked up at the scoreboard to make sure that I was right. So here's Matiefs reacting to that news and discussing some of his teammates as well. Matisse tyble six
double figure performances tonight, You were one of them? How good does it feel to get a win like this and go nineteen and four in your last twenty three It's huge, and definitely to do it at home. I mean it was a messy game, got ugly at times, and for us to overcome that, get past that and played good basketball and be able to finish in the end, obviously there's the biggest testament to us as a team and being able to stit together and play the right way.
Massive performance from tyres Maxie off the bench tonight. What do you make of the way that he's embraced these last couple of weeks. I mean, I've said it as long as he's been in the NBA, Like every time Tyrese is put in a situation, he stepped up to the occasion and even if he has to make a sacrifice, he still ends up showing up above and beyond what we could have expected. James Harden massive in the fourth quarter when step went on a little run there. What
was it like to play with him tonight? I Mean, life is good when you've got guys like James harn and Joel and b the lean on and he continues to carry us through tough games, through tough times. And I mean we're all great. Please Asi. That's Matis Thival with Lauren Rosen of course, and Lauren six in a row. The Denver Nuggets coming in during this rivalry week up next over the weekend. That'll be a Saturday game at three pm Eastern on ABC and then ninety seven five
The Fanatic on the radio side. They're currently, as we speak on January twenty six, the number one seed in the Western Conference. So unless you're seeing anything else on the Nets game, we can look ahead a little bit for a few minutes. If anyone wants to sneak in a final question or thought about the Nets game, the season, the Nuggets game, anything, please click on our icons, send us a direct message or the purple icon in the bottom, send in a tweet and we'll take a glance at
those as well. But it's a it's a big week with the Nets and then the Nuggets. Big time week for the seventy sixers, who have risen to second in the Eastern Conference. So this will be a matchup between two of the league's best on Saturday and an exciting day game opportunity. We don't get too many. Matt I wanted to look around the league really quickly and talk about where the seventy sixers are stacking up, because they're stacking up statistically extremely well after this stretch on the
offensive side and the defensive side. They lead the league in free throw percentage. Last night's ninety seven percent certainly helps there, but leading the league in free throw percentage, fourth in the league in three point percentage. The team
also rating very well in defense. They are the fourth best team in defensive points allowed per game, so I guess allowing the fourth lowest amount of points per game net rating their fifth overall offensive rating also fifth overall, So when your team is standing out offensively and defensively, you know they are doing something right. Certainly shows in the nineteen and four stretch that the team is on right now. But Matt will hope to be back after
that one on Saturday. Any closing thoughts from you. The other day when we were at practice, the number two spot in the East was brought up to a few of the Sixers, and de Anthony Melton acknowledged that they feel good about being in the second spot in the East, ahead of Milwaukee currently and catching up on the Boston Celtics. But he also said they're not number one in offensive writing and they're not number one in defensive writing. While
they're close. They want to be as good as possible on both ends of the floor, and it might seem like a lofty goal, but they're striving to keep climbing not only the league standings, but also those offensive and defensive categories and just be the most complete team they can be. I mean, we're past the midway point of the season. The games are taking on more important for
the standings. But the Sixers have a good thing going right now, and they'll face the Nuggets to have two days off as well, coming off a back to back that they played. Nicola Yokich, the two time MVP, did not play in their most recent game Wednesday, which was a loss to the Bucks by eight in Milwaukee. Was out with a hamstring injury. Had missed two games before the New Orleans game on Tuesday when he returned, so something to keep an eye on Yokich's status coming up.
But the Nuggets are thirty four and fifteen, so should be an absolute battle. Those two teams that played some good games over the years. Everyone's interested in the mbid versus Yokich rivalry as well. They have a local guy in Bones Highland who had fifteen points off the bench. Aaron Gordon had twenty six and fourteen against Milwaukee. Bones Higlands from Wilmington, Delaware. And I know there was some news about Jayalen Brunson having his Villanova jersey number retired
in February when the Knicks come to town. Bones Highland will actually on Friday have his number five jersey retired by Saint George's in Delaware while he's in town. And last March he had when they came to Philly had over five hundred family and friends in attendance, So another local connection coming up in the next one. I don't even think I have five hundred family and friends, so good for him. And on that note, looking forward to
Saturday for sure with you, Matt. We try to do these after every six years of victory, so we'll hope to be back with you after another big one. The seventy six ers then host the Orlando Magic for a pair next week on Monday and Wednesday, and hit the road once again at San Antonio, at New York and at Boston the following week. So Matt, we will hope to be back with you guys as much as we
possibly can. We love doing these each of you. You can send us questions and thoughts in the interim between games, but Matt, I'll let you have the last word and shut this one down. Just sorting through the last couple of comments that came in, I mean there's one from Shaggy that just says goes sixers and then Damo with another one they had previously commented about thy Bul and said sorry for another comment. Absolutely don't say sorry. By
the way, Love y'all from Japan. Just want to give a shout out to Niang for his high spirit throughout the game. He has been huge and we all love his performance. So that's a good way to end it in my opinion. Lauren Rosen, thank you so much, and like you said, we'll talk to people again soon. But
the energy is high, the vibes are high. After the sixth win in a row, this one over the Brooklyn Nets to get to thirty one and sixteen and credits to George Niang always bringing that spirit, no doubt about it. Thanks so much, guys. We'll talk to you next time.