The Philadelphia 76ers were searching for answers. They needed a spark against the San Antonio Spurs while playing without Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris, Kyle Lowry and others.
Coach Nick Nurse turned to rookie Ricky Council IV, who played the entire fourth quarter and all of both overtimes in a 133-126 double-overtime win over the San Antonio Spurs. He turned in 11 points on 4-for-5 shooting, hit three big free throws and had four steals. He was absolutely terrific in a tough situation for Philadelphia.
“I would say he was really good at the defensive end?” Nurse told reporters following the win. “He really was like, disrupting rhythm, picking up full court, like he was really moving his feet, keeping his guy in front, like, making the start of their offenses take a long time and that ends up — it usually ends up helping so that first and foremost, he was great there.”
Council had not received legitimate minutes in quite some time. He is a rookie on a two-way deal, so the Sixers made certain he received maximum court time in the G League to develop.
His play in the fourth quarter and the two overtimes against the Spurs was impressive, and Philadelphia needed all of it.
“Ricky’s kinda like, if he gets some space, he’s gonna go downhill, too,” Nurse added. “He mad a layup, he got fouled, and incredible pass out to Nico (Batum). The left-hand wrap around that was really the dagger play a little bit so he was good. He plays hard. He plays hard.”
Minutes and production like this are going to be meaningful and helpful for Council. The Sixers turned to their rookie and he responded with a terrific performance.
“It’s good,” Council told reporters. “I mean, I got a tap on the shoulder at the beginning of the fourth quarter telling me we need energy and they’re looking for energy so be ready. Coach came down with the board. My name was on the floor. So that type of confidence — they know I have that type of energy to impact the game was big so I had to go out there and do it and we came up with the win.”
The Sixers have three games left. All are at home, and they will need to win all of them if they are to move up in the Eastern Conference standings.
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