The Philadelphia 76ers were short-handed when they invaded the United Center on Wednesday night to begin a four-game road trip. As they were looking to bounce back against the Chicago Bulls, they entered the contest without James Harden and Jalen McDaniels due to injuries.
Then, they lost Joel Embiid at halftime due to mild right calf tightness. Although it sounds as though if the game had been closer, he would have been OK to play.
The Sixers welcomed PJ Tucker back to the lineup, and they ran all over the host Bulls, 116-91. Philadelphia led by as many as 31, and they jumped to a 23-1 lead. Tucker was a big reason for that as he set the tone.
“PJ was great,” coach Doc Rivers told reporters. “He looked great. He moved as well as I’ve seen him move so he played well. Defensively, made shots but his energy — listen we’re a completely different defensive team when PJ Tucker is on the floor and it’s not even close.”
The Bulls didn’t convert on a field goal until the 6:34 mark of the first quarter. The Sixers were active on the defensive end. They were getting into the passing lanes and that allowed them to get out in transition, which is where they have their most success.
“I think how we was executing on defense,” De’Anthony Melton told NBC Sports Philadelphia. “Holding a team to what we did in the first seven minutes is impressive. So we was going out there just being locked in, in sync on defense, and getting out in transition just moving the ball so when we play like that, we get the results we want.”
The defensive tone the Sixers played with was important. When that happens, they are able to play at the pace they are looking for. Tucker was a big part of that to help give the team a spark.
“Defensively, I thought we were just totally locked in from the start of the game, getting stops getting out running,” Tobias Harris added. “We know they’re a team that over-helps a lot, too. So making that first pass, the quick pass as well, that opened up the game for us, and we were able to make shots and just roll from there.”
The Sixers look to carry this play into The Bay on Friday when they take on the Golden State Warriors.
[lawrence-related id=77266,77263,77259]