CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Philadelphia 76ers picked up an ugly 97-89 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night thanks to the spark provided by Danuel House Jr. off the bench.
Joel Embiid had yet another big game: 33 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, but it was House who gave Philadelphia a boost with nine points, three rebounds and a big block off the bench. It was an important effort for him on a night the Sixers needed it.
“Man, D-House has been great,” Embiid said after the win. “Whenever his name is called, he always shows up. He’s probably a guy, you know, I’m not part of the decision-making, but he’s definitely showing that he wants to do more and he’s been doing it. He’s been great.”
House scored seven of his nine points in the fourth quarter and he had an emphatic block on the break that essentially sealed a win for the Sixers over a pesky Hornets team.
“I think just his physicality defensively, we need that,” Embiid added. “The energy that he brings, cutting, rebounder, picking up full court, putting pressure on the defense. Even off the drive and kicking, knocking down big shots. He’s been great.”
Coach Nick Nurse turned to House due to the nature of Philadelphia’s depth in this one. The Sixers were without De’Anthony Melton, Robert Covington, and Patrick Beverley.
“I thought he was really good,” Nurse said of House. “Obviously, he played a really long stretch there to end it. He just was guarding. He made a couple of tough baskets. He knocked a bunch of — he got a bunch of deflections and knocked the ball away a bit. It was great for him.”
On the second night of a back-to-back, the Sixers needed somebody to step up. It turned out to be House.
“You got to find somebody,” Nurse finished. “Some X factor on nights like this or back-to-backs, you know, somebody’s got to come in and provide some sparks and he certainly did that at a high level.”
Philadelphia looked sluggish all night, in this instance, it was House who provided a difference.
“Spark, energy, effort,” said House. “Come out and just impact the game anyway, anyhow.”
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