By: Kylan Watson

The Philadelphia 76ers were riding high as they faced the Memphis Grizzlies on the second half of a back-to-back. They played like it at times playing flat and sloppy, and the Grizzlies took advantage jumping on the Sixers and destroying them 116-100.

The Sixers were missing a big piece as Joel Embiid missed this game with knee soreness. With his absence most of the offense fell to forward Tobias Harris and guard/forward Ben Simmons. Harris took on the challenge scoring 13 of his 21-points by half-time. Unfortunately for the Sixers they played like a team who played last night. They just could not throw a rock in the Delaware River. Other than Shake Milton (14-points) and Matisse Thybulle (10-points) nobody else scored more than nine points.

On the performance of Ben Simmons, “I think you guys are way more concerned about his scoring than I am. I think Ben does so many things for this team that helps us win. Scoring, I’m just telling you, is the least thing that I’m concerned about,” said Sixers Head Coach Doc Rivers.

That and the Grizzlies being able to attack the paint and shut everybody else down enabled them to blow Philly out. When the Sixers were able to stop Memphis from getting to the paint at will. They rained three-pointers on them. They hit 16 three-pointers. A combined eight threes came from guards Grayson Allen and De’Anthony Melton. They also scored 29 of the Grizzlies 114-points. The one positive for Philly on the defensive side was they were able to hold guard Ja Morant to six-points. However, they could not stop anybody else.

When the Sixers lose much like against the Nuggets last week they lose badly. However, they will need to get it together as they now head on a four-game road trip starting on Tuesday night. When they face the Celtics in a prime-time match-up. Philly will most likely have Embiid available for that game, but they will need a strong effort on both sides of the ball if they want to sweep the season series against Boston.