The Philadelphia 76ers were in need of some help from the rest of the team as they were severely undermanned without Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons who were in the league’s health and safety protocols due to contact tracing. So, coach Doc Rivers and the Sixers turned to little-used Tony Bradley to give the team a lift.
Bradley got the start in place of the big fella and he had 14 points on 7-for-7 shooting and he had three blocks. The team also received 18 points and 12 rebounds from veteran Dwight Howard off the bench in an effort that the team really needed from him. The two big men were terrific all night long.
“Yeah, they were fantastic,” said Rivers. “32 points, 17 rebounds I think, five blocked shots, they just played with great energy. I thought both of them played within themselves. We fell into something offensively that we thought that we can be successful at. They kept doing it. They kept finding the ball guys kept finding them. So, really happy for both of them.”
Bradley was the one who really set the tone from the beginning. The young big man from North Carolina really gave the team a spark from the jump and that is exactly why Howard has a special nickname for him.
“I thought Tony Bradley, I call him the battery pack, he had his battery pack out there tonight he was the Energizer Bunny,” laughed Howard. “He came out, got some good blocks, good rebounds, good putbacks, he finished around the basket, I thought he had an amazing game. He sparked us tonight so I’m real proud of the young fella. He got a start and he played great.”
For Philadelphia to be able to get such a big game from both Bradley and Howard, it is a confidence boost for the team. It lets them know that they understand how to win on the rare occasion when their star players can’t go.
“Just feel good I wasn’t planning on doing that,” smiled Bradley. “I guess I just wanted to, from the jump, just bring energy and effort so I feel good. I don’t know what else to say.”
Bradley was playing so well that Embiid even stated that the team should build around him now.
“That’s good,” laughed Bradley. “For him to have the support and for him to say that is funny especially from Joel. I appreciate it.”
The Sixers will now head to the nation’s capital to take on the Washington Wizards on Friday where the hope is that the big fella can return.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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