The Sixers hit a rough patch, suffering their fourth consecutive loss in New Orleans on Saturday night. Falling 126-111, their record now stands at 30-26, while the Pelicans improved to 16-42.
Tyrese Maxey led the charge for Philly with 27 points, and Kelly Oubre Jr. added 25. On the Pelicans' side, Jordan Poole scored 23, Zion Williamson contributed 21, and Saddiq Bey chipped in 20.
Joel Embiid was absent for his fourth straight game due to right shin soreness and knee management. The Pelicans also missed Trey Murphy III and Yves Missi.
Next up, the Sixers face the Timberwolves on Sunday night. Let's dive into what went wrong for the Sixers against the Pelicans:
Aggressive Approach to Draw Fouls
With Embiid out, the Sixers turned to Andre Drummond and veteran DeAndre Jordan to hold the fort. Both teams struggled early, starting 0 for 4 from the field. However, the Sixers managed to earn free throws by attacking the paint and putting pressure on New Orleans' defense.
Maxey, despite being the last starter to score, faced intense defensive focus without Embiid on the floor. Oubre, a New Orleans native, got the Sixers rolling with a long-range jumper, giving them an early 8-0 lead.
A Sloppy Contest
Quentin Grimes provided a spark with nine points in the first quarter, following up on his solid performance against the Hawks. The Sixers trimmed their rotation, leaving out Trendon Watford, while Justin Edwards joined in the third quarter.
Jabari Walker contributed nine points and six rebounds in 17 minutes. Both Walker and Adem Bona had moments of solid defense on Williamson, but the Pelicans' star found his rhythm in the second quarter, briefly putting New Orleans ahead.
The second quarter was a gritty, foul-heavy affair, but efficient scoring from Oubre and VJ Edgecombe helped the Sixers secure an eight-point halftime lead, punctuated by Oubre's buzzer-beating three.
Third-Quarter Troubles
The Pelicans surged with a 10-0 run early in the third, fueled by a Bey triple. The Sixers struggled with Maxey resting, and Bona's foul on Karlo Matkovic beyond the arc led to three made free throws, pushing New Orleans ahead 97-89.
Despite a 27-11 advantage in points off turnovers, the Sixers couldn't capitalize, allowing the Pelicans to shoot 50% from beyond the arc. Their third-quarter woes continued, with a league-worst minus-17.5 net rating in that period.
The Sixers couldn't find their rhythm in the fourth, as Poole's scoring spree extended the Pelicans' lead beyond 20 points. Without a significant turnaround against the Timberwolves, the Sixers risk extending their losing streak to five games.