Tag: PJ Tucker

Player grades: Joel Embiid dominates again, Sixers beat Trail Blazers

Joel Embiid has another dominant night as the Philadelphia 76ers knocked off the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Philadelphia 76ers were looking to continue their winning ways on this road trip as they invaded the Pacific Northwest on Thursday night. The Portland Trail Blazers represented the fourth game of this five-game West Coast road trip and the Sixers were looking to build off a 3-0 start.

The Blazers offered their own challenges, but Philadelphia was locked in defensively and held Portland to just 37.6% shooting en route to a 105-95 victory. The Sixers led by as many as 26, and they received 32 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks from Joel Embiid to lead the way.

James Harden added 16 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds. Tyrese Maxey had 15 off the bench. Tobias Harris added 11 and seven boards. Shake Milton added 10 and Georges Niang chipped in with nine off the bench.

Here are the player grades following another win on this road trip:

Player grades: Joel Embiid dominates to lead Sixers past Clippers

Joel Embiid has another big night to lead the Philadelphia 76ers past the Los Angeles Clippers on the road.

The Philadelphia 76ers were looking to continue their winning road ways on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Sixers have been terrific on this five-game road trip in clutch situations, and they were looking to build off wins in the first two games.

On Tuesday, Joel Embiid provided another dominant performance, going for 26 points in the first half on his way to 41 points. He added nine rebounds. His performance allowed the Sixers to come away with a 120-110 win over the Clippers as Philadelphia improved to 3-0 on the road trip.

Tobias Harris added 19 points, six rebounds and six assists, James Harden had six points and nine assists. Tyrese Maxey had 22 huge points off the bench, and PJ Tucker added six. Georges Niang added nine points.

Here are the player grades following the win:

Predicting what 3 starting lineups Doc Rivers will turn to for Sixers

As the Philadelphia 76ers begin their new starting lineup combinations, it’s time to predict which lineups coach Doc Rivers will turn to.

The Philadelphia 76ers came away with a 113-112 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday to improve to 2-0 on their road trip, but the focus is on the team’s starting lineup.

Coach Doc Rivers altered the lineup on Sunday, inserting De’Anthony Melton despite having everybody, including Tyrese Maxey, healthy. Considering Maxey has had defensive issues since returning from a left foot fracture, one had to have seen this coming for Philadelphia.

After the win, Rivers revealed the Sixers will use three starting lineups for the foreseeable future. It’s time to predict what lineups Philadelphia will turn to.

Player grades: Joel Embiid leads Sixers past short-handed Lakers

Joel Embiid leads the Philadelphia 76ers past the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers on the road.

The Philadelphia 76ers were looking to continue their winning ways on this five-game road trip as they visited the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night. It was the second night of a back-to-back for the Sixers, who began the trip in Salt Lake City with a win on Saturday.

The Lakers certainly gave Philadelphia trouble. LeBron James continues to defy logic and beat Father Time, but Joel Embiid was too much for Los Angeles to handle. The Sixers walked away with a 113-112 win to begin the road trip 2-0. Embiid had 35 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Sixers.

James Harden added 24 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds. Tyrese Maxey had 16 off the bench, and Shake Milton added eight. Tobias Harris had 15 points and three blocks in his return from a one-game absence due to injury, and Georges Niang added eight.

Here are the player grades following the win:

Player grades: James Harden leads Sixers past Jazz to begin road trip

James Harden leads the Philadelphia 76ers past the Utah Jazz to begin a five-game road trip.

The Philadelphia 76ers were looking to begin their five-game road trip on the right note when they paid a visit to the Utah Jazz on Saturday to begin the trip. The Sixers were also looking to bounce back from a poor defensive effort in a loss on Thursday at home.

They got off to an excellent start as they scored 41 points in the first quarter and built up a 20-point lead by playing with pace and sharing the ball. They got away from that a bit as the Jazz worked their way back into the game and took the lead late, but Philadelphia was able to then escape with a 118-117 victory. James Harden led the Sixers with 31 points, 11 assists, and six rebounds on the night.

Joel Embiid had 30 points and seven rebounds while drilling the game-winner with 4.9 seconds left, Tyrese Maxey had 21 points, and Shake Milton had 17 points off the bench.

Here are the player grades after the win:

Player grades: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads Thunder in win over Sixers

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the way for the Oklahoma City Thunder in a win over the Philadelphia 76ers on the road.

PHILADELPHIA–The Philadelphia 76ers were looking to sweep this quick two-game homestand as well as the season series with the Oklahoma City Thunder before they head out on the road for five games. The Thunder are a rebuilding team still trying to find their way, but they do scrap out on the floor.

Oklahoma City built a 19-point lead as the Sixers faced adversity after two very easy wins over the Detroit Pistons. Led by James Harden, Philadelphia was able to rally and take a lead in the third quarter, but was brief as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was able to rally the Thunder past the Sixers 133-114. Gilgeous-Alexander had 37 points, eight rebounds, and six assists.

Harden had 24 points, six rebounds, and 15 assists. Joel Embiid added 30 points and 10 rebounds, Tyrese Maxey added 17 points and six, and Tobias Harris had 13. De’Anthony Melton hopped off the bench and had eight points while Georges Niang added 10 points.

Here are the player grades following the loss at home:

PJ Tucker weighs in on his lack of scoring, Joel Embiid, Sixers fans, legacy

PJ Tucker opens up on his lack of scoring, Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers fans, and what he wants people to remember him for.

CAMDEN, N.J. — Philadelphia 76ers veteran PJ Tucker has seen a lot in his basketball career. A second-round pick in the 2006 NBA draft by the Toronto Raptors, he spent one season in the NBA before going overseas for five seasons. He returned to the NBA with the Phoenix Suns in 2012.

Since his return, Tucker has become one of the scrappiest players in the league and has become an elite corner 3-point shooter. He was a difference-maker with the Milwaukee Bucks when they won a title in 2021. He was a big help to the Miami Heat in 2022 when they were within one win of the NBA finals.

In Part 2 of his sit down with Sixers Wire, Tucker opened up on his lack of scoring, Joel Embiid, his relationship with Sixers fans and how he wants fans to remember him. Part 1 can be read here.

Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Sixers receive a B+ grade for offseason moves at the halfway mark

The Philadelphia 76ers receive a B-plus grade for the moves they made in the offseason at the halfway point of the season.

The Philadelphia 76ers made waves in the offseason. They made a big trade on draft night to bring in De’Anthony Melton from the Memphis Grizzlies and brought in PJ Tucker, Danuel House Jr. and Montrezl Harrell to bolster their depth.

The Sixers will reach the season’s halfway point on Thursday, so it is a good time to evaluate those additions to the roster, how they have fit and how they have helped the team succeed.

Bleacher Report gave the Sixers a B-plus for those additions:

Sixers’ PJ Tucker takes pop quiz, tries to guess career highs, accomplishments

Philadelphia 76ers veteran PJ Tucker takes a pop quiz on his career as he tries to guess his career highs and his accomplishments.

CAMDEN, N.J. — Philadelphia 76ers veteran PJ Tucker has been in the league for 11 seasons in addition to 5 years overseas. He has accomplished a lot in his career.

After entering the league in 2006 with the Toronto Raptors, he went overseas and played five seasons internationally before returning to the NBA in 2012 with the Phoenix Suns. Since then, he has carved out a reputation as a guy who does the dirty work and ensures his team wins games by doing all of the little things.

He won a title with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021. He was one win away from the finals with the Houston Rockets in 2018 and with the Miami Heat in 2022.

Tucker sat down with Sixers Wire and took a pop quiz on his career as he tries to guess his career highs and his other accomplishments.

Editor’s note: There will be a Part 2 from this conversation coming.

Player grades: Joel Embiid returns, Sixers easily beat Pistons again

Joel Embiid returns as the Philadelphia 76ers cruise to another easy win over the Detroit Pistons at home.

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers returned home to host the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday looking to sweep both the home-and-home series and the season series between the two teams. The Pistons were missing a number of key pieces and it showed.

Philadelphia led by as many as 41 as they took care of business and destroyed the undermanned Pistons at home, 147-116.

Joel Embiid returned from a three-game absence. He had 36 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Sixers as he looked his aggressive best.

James Harden had another triple-double with 16 points, 15 assists, and 12 rebounds, Tobias Harris had 14 points on 6-for-6 shooting and six rebounds, and Tyrese Maxey had 16 points as well. PJ Tucker also chipped in with six and eight rebounds as the Sixers played with their regular starting lineup for the first time since Oct. 29. Shake Milton had 11 points and five assists, Jaden Springer had 10, and Montrezl Harrell had eight off the bench.

Here are the player grades following the win: