PHILADELPHIA 76ERS-CHARLOTTE HORNETS 144-114 | THE TABLE
The amusing Charlotte Hornets have a better start on the field than Philadelphia, with one triple of LaMelo Ball and taking advantage of some Sixers turnovers. Harden starts in passer mode (3 quick assists), while T takes care of the pointsobias Harriswhich signs the first Philadelphia tear with 9 points resulting from an excellent 3/3 from the arc. The Hornets already in the first quarter welcome back on the field Gordon Haywardlast seen on an NBA court on February 7. Harden continues to seem uninterested in shooting, but already has 5 assists in the first quarterand the tactic seems to work: Embolite is continuously involved and responds (already 9 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists at the first break) and Philadelphia closes the first twelve minutes above 3, 29-26. Ball does not find much rhythm and then his Hornets suffer, also because Harris continues to score: two of his baskets in a row (which already bring him to 13) force coach Borrego to time-out with Charlotte under 8. The gap also goes up to 10, but it’s as if it gives guests a jolt: 10-0 half-time and match straight away tied (38-38), still taking advantage of Philadelphia turnovers (already 10). The hosts, however, react, carried away by a Embiid already in double double, which also sports a triple to score for points 17, 18 and 19 (with 10 rebounds) with two minutes to play before half-time. Philadelphia puts its head back in front, also thanks to Charlotte’s porous defense, and at half-time it is 58-53 Sixersdespite 12 turnovers but thanks to better shooting percentages (over 56% from the field, against 41% for the Hornets) and to dominate under the scoreboards (31-21 the rebound count pro-Sixers).
The story of the second half
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An acceleration by Tyrese Maxey brings back the advantage of Embiid and his companions in double figures (67-57) and the second half is all for the 76erswhich at the opening place a break at 14-3 and they seem to want to split the game in two. Charlotte does not score anymore, but above all she never (never!) Stops the attack of the Sixers (12/14 shooting in the first half of the third quarter) that after a triple by Harden also fly to +21 With more than two minutes to play in the third quarter, Philadelphia already reaches 100, also touching the maximum advantage at +29. Charlotte has a start right on the last possessions of the fourth, and closes at -23 (103-80) thanks to a triple from Terry Rozier, but the tender seems to be addressedalso because Charlotte’s defense conceded to the hosts 30 assists on the 40 baskets scored. Two dunks and a block of DeAndre Jordan seem to confirm the flat encephalogram of Ball and his companions at the Wells Fargo Center, with the Sixers in control even at the start of the fourth quarter. There is no more game until the final siren: coach Rivers removes the holders, coach Borrego follows closely (his starting five closes everything in double figures, with Miles Bridges best scorer of his with 20 points). Per Philadelphia 29 points and 14 rebounds for Embiid23 per Harris e more assists (13) than points (12with only 10 pitches) per Harden plus a super 21/43 from three team points.
