By: Kylan Watson

After falling to the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night, the Philadelphia 76ers faced the Brooklyn Nets for the final time this season. Thanks to a second-half scoring explosion from Quentin Grimes Philly was able to beat the Nets 104-97.

The Sixers found their offensive rhythm early in this game thanks to their ball movement creating high-percentage shooting opportunities that they cashed in on. VJ Edgecombe scored 10 of 16 points in the first quarter and the Nets could not slow him down in that period. He used his aggressiveness to attack the paint and get multiple Brooklyn defenders in foul trouble.

Without Tyrese Maxey (Pinky injury), Joel Embiid (Right oblique injury but has started on-court work and could return during next week’s road trip), Paul George (suspension returns 3-25-26), and Kelly Oubre Jr (Elbow injury), on the court he is now the main scoring option, and he played like it in this contest. However, Edgecombe will need to continue to use this opportunity to develop as a playmaker it will help his development as a superstar to face multiple double and triple teams during a game and make the right play.

By the end of the first half Philly had a 20 plus point lead and headed toward an overwhelming victory. But the third quarter was their undoing again as they could not stop a scoring explosion from the Nets which cut their lead to single digits. Brooklyn finally started hitting their shots and forced the Sixers into multiple turnovers which led to easy buckets for them. Danny Wolf (15 points), Josh Minott (14 points), and Ben Saraf (12 points) combined for 41 of Brooklyn’s 97 points and Wolf used his size advantage to put points on the board and the Sixers had to send multiple defenders at him to slow him down in this game. The damage was done though as the Nets were able to gain some confidence and took the lead in this game late in the fourth quarter.

When the Sixers needed it, most Grimes was able to hit some clutch buckets in that period to help Philly pull ahead in this contest. He scored 28 points in this game, and they needed all those points to stay ahead of Brooklyn in this contest and regain their momentum. Grimes has had a rough few games for the Sixers, but finding his offensive rhythm this afternoon is just what the doctor ordered for a Philly squad who needs more playmakers and scorers during this stretch that has been filled with injuries. In addition, Justin Edwards scored 19 points in this game off the bench and is another player they will need to step up as the role players try to keep the Sixers at the top of the standings as the season ends.

The Sixers will now prepare to face the Portland Trailblazers tomorrow night and will need to limit their turnovers, win, or keep the rebounding battle competitive, and continue to cash in on the high-percentage scoring opportunities created from their ball movement. Implementing these things into their game plan on Sunday will put them in great shape to win their 37^th game of the season.