The Philadelphia 76ers knew they would need everybody to step up in order to knock off the Memphis Grizzlies at home. They did so as they got big games from mostly everybody, but the one player who needed a big game was Tobias Harris.
With Joel Embiid out due to a planned rest day, it was up to Tobias Harris to step up in a big way and be the guy they need him to be. Harris is Philadelphia’s highest-paid player so it was time to step up with Embiid out.
Harris dropped 31 points on 12-for-25 shooting and he knocked down two triples. It was a performance that was expected of him, but he was also challenged by his teammates to have a big game.
“I told him we needed 30 points today and he did it so I don’t think anything else needs to be said about that,” said Drummond. “That’s pretty much it. I told him after shootaround, if you don’t have 30 today, we’re not winning the game. He had 31. 31’s not enough. He could’ve had 35.”
Harris later added that Drummond did indeed challenge him to get 30, but he deflected praise to the rest of the team.
“Yeah, I told him with Joel out, we need an extra 50 points, really,” laughed Harris. “Tyrese (Maxey), he helped out in that regard, but just great efforts from everybody. At the beginning of the game, Seth (Curry) really didn’t have it going like that, but he hits a big shot for us. Danny Green comes in there in overtime, makes a huge 3.”
The Sixers have been on Harris to continue to get back to who he was before on the offensive end. It has been a weird season for him in terms of his scoring, but coach Doc Rivers was happy with what he saw on Monday.
“Again, quick decisions,” said Rivers. “Every time we got stagnant, we didn’t score. Every time we went downhill and made plays, we score. Tobias, we’ve really been getting him when he comes off to either go downhill like he did on one, or pull up for a jump shot instead of the floater and he’s doing that again.”
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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