PHILADELPHIA — With roster upheaval continuing to provide a challenge, Nick Nurse relied on the familiar Thursday as the Sixers defeated the Toronto Raptors, 114-99.
With 10 players on the 18-man roster who weren’t with the team last season – including four who weren’t there as recently as Tuesday – the Sixers relied on defensive fundamentals and an undramatic playing rotation to improve to 3-1.
Though technically boosted by four bodies acquired in the trade for James Harden and P.J. Tucker, two didn’t dress and none were used in high-leverage situations. Nurse replaced Tucker in the starting lineup with Kelly Oubre Jr., and used Furkan Korkmaz, Patrick Beverley, Jaden Springer and Paul Reed as his key reserves.
That could change by Saturday when the Phoenix Suns visit at 1.
“It would have been better if it happened a month ago, I know that much,” Nurse said of the personnel swirl. “But there are ways to get them out there and accommodate them. We’re not going to call out the trickiest plays. We’ll cut it down to the basics, or to some sets that have NBA commonality, sets they have played before.
“We won’t overload them. We’ll do a few things and then get them a little extra study hall in the next couple days to get them up to speed.”
Nicolas Batum did not dress for personal reasons Thursday, and Marcus Morris, who had not played for the Clippers, was scratched to continue his physical ramp-up. K.J. Martin and Robert Covington appeared only late in the fourth quarter, the game effectively decided.
Joel Embiid, off to another MVP candidacy, provided 28 points and 13 rebounds and was a plus-22. Oubre and Tobias Harris added 23 points apiece. Tyrese Maxey scored 18, with Kormaz scoring 10 points in 21 minutes.
“That’s the name of the game, guys coming in to make big shots,” Harris said. “You have seen it time after time in big games and in playoff games. You need those guys to come in and give a performance and help us win.”
Scottie Barnes led Toronto with 24 points.
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Tucker was a 76er for one full season and three games, but two coaches chose to regularly start him despite his inability to score.
“We’re going to miss him,” Nurse said. “I know it’s hard sometimes to believe how impactful he is when he has games sometimes where he’s got zero-zero-zero-zero, maybe four rebounds, but I guarantee you there were some guys in our conference that breathed a sigh of relief to see him get thrown into that deal.
“He’s a game-influencer, a game-changer. So we’ll miss him. And he’s one of a small number of people who can bring your team toughness. So it’s sad to see him go.”
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After jobs in Houston, Phoenix, Detroit, Boston, New York and with the Clippers, Morris is glad to return to his hometown at age 33.
“I just think the teams I was on in the last few years, I wasn’t myself,” he said. “There is a big difference between East and West. I know I wasn’t myself. I know I wasn’t half myself. So being able to come home and being able to play in front of different fans and embracing the fan base and being able to see my family, it’s going to be a different atmosphere for me and a different turn-out.”
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Martin arrived in Philadelphia, looked around the locker room, and knew so many faces that it barely felt like he was traded at all.
“Tyrese is my age and he was in my draft class and I have known him since high school,” Martin said. “De’Anthony (Melton) is from L.A., and we played in the same conference in high school. And Cov, Marcus and Nico are coming with me from L.A. So it will be good.”
Martin had played a total of 15.5 minutes in two games this season with the Clippers, but the 6-6 forward averaged 12.7 points last season in Houston. But he is optimistic about the scenery change.
“Joel gets double-teamed a lot and that will help me play to my strengths,” Martin said. “I think we’ve got a good balance of everything.”
Source: Berkshire mont
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