NEW YORK — The Philadelphia 76ers came away with a 101-98 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night. Outside of Joel Embiid and James Harden, they did not shoot the ball well but did just enough.
Tobias Harris and De’Anthony Melton combined to go 1-for-12 from the floor, but the Sixers made enough stops on defense to walk away with a win they needed.
“I just love our trust. We’re starting — we’re not 100%, we’re getting there,” coach Doc Rivers said after the win. “We’re starting to really just trust each other, make the right play. That’s all we talk about. Make the right play and don’t blame him. If a guy misses, you did the right thing and tell him to keep doing it.”
These are the performances the Sixers need to seriously contend in the East. The other top teams, the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks, already have that chemistry and bond as a team. That’s something the Sixers still need to develop to have a chance.
“That’s what we’re starting to get to do,” Rivers added. “If we can get to that point, the good teams have gone through that already. The Milwaukees and the Bostons and the Golden (States) — they have already gone through that growth. We’re growing and we’re getting through that. We have to get there because it’s the only way you’re gonna keep moving on.”
The Sixers have two games left before the All-Star break that starts on Thursday. On Monday, they host the Houston Rockets. These two games will give them an opportunity for growth before getting the rest they need.
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