In a game filled with bad defense, poor rim protection, and untimely lapses on the glass, the Sixers ultimately got what they deserved on Friday night as they allowed the Pelicans to snatch just their eighth win of the season.
Sixers Bell Ringer Season standings:
Jared McCain – 8
Joel Embiid – 7
Tyrese Maxey – 6.5
Paul George – 4.5
Guerschon Yabusele – 3
Kelly Oubre Jr – 2
KJ Martin – 2
Ricky Council IV – 1
Justin Edwards – 1
The Sixers and Pelicans met for a Friday night matchup in South Philly with New Orleans coming away with a 123-115 win.
Two of the most injury-riddled teams in the NBA throughout this season, the Sixers were missing Joel Embiid, Jared McCain, Andre Drummond, KJ Martin and Kyle Lowry, while Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Herb Jones and Trey Murphy were all sidelined for New Orleans.
The Pelicans ran out to a 28-24 lead after the first quarter. The Sixers struggled mightily shooting the ball in the first frame going 3-of-13 from beyond the arc, including 0-of-5 from Tyrese Maxey. CJ McCollum got it cooking early for New Orleans, pouring in 18 first-quarter points to propel the Pelicans to the lead.
The Pelicans would come out strong in the second quarter extending their lead to double figures. The Sixers fought back and cut the lead back to just one behind 11 second-quarter points from Ricky Council IV, who provided a burst of energy and bench scoring that the Sixers have lacked for most of this season. The Pelicans closed the quarter strong to go into the halftime break with a 53-47 advantage.
tricky ricky pic.twitter.com/psKhd1N9b5
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 11, 2025
at the half. @cryptocom pic.twitter.com/EHEsEyTbHb
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 11, 2025
The Sixers duo of Paul George and Tyrese Maxey finally came to life in the third quarter after both having a rough first half. McCollum continued to be a thorn in the Sixers’ side as he closed the quarter with 30 points for the game before the fourth quarter began. A three at the third quarter horn from Jose Alvarado gave the Pelicans a commanding 87-78 lead headed into the final period.
New Orleans came out firing on all cylinders in the fourth as the Sixers continued to sputter. The Pelicans took a 105-92 lead with just under seven minutes to play after a four-point play from Jordan Hawkins in what felt like the dagger. The Sixers went on a 9-0 spurt to get back within striking distance but two late McCollum threes and a Nick Nurse technical would allow the Pelicans to keep the Sixers at arm’s length. The Sixers fell to the Pelicans in a game that, to be brutally honest, was a disaster for most of the night. The Sixers came out flat and finished that way as they allowed the Pelicans, the team with the worst record in the Western Conference, to snag their eighth win of the season. Let’s get to Bell Ringer.
Tyrese Maxey: 30 points, 12 assists, 6 rebounds
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Maxey got it going in the second half of this one after a bad first half. Maxey finished with 30 points and 12 assist to lead the Sixers. Maxey went just 2-of-9 from the three-point line as he continues to struggle to consistently find his stroke from deep this season.
Paul George: 25 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Paul George had one of his better halves of his Sixers career after halftime of this one following a brutal first half. George knocked down 5-of-12 from beyond the three-point line, He also had a few key assists in the second half when the Sixers were trying to mount a run to get back into this one. Hopefully George can build on this performance and be a more consistent source of offense for this Sixers team.
Ricky Council IV: 13 points
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Ricky Council was one of the lone bright spots from tonight’s game. Council would finish with 13 points, most of those coming in the second quarter as he kept the Sixers afloat as they struggled to find any rhythm on that end of the court. Council finished 5-of-7 from the field and knocked both of his attempts from the foul line. Council’s energy and effort are exactly what the Sixers need out of him off the bench in his limited role. Let’s hope Ricky can also build on this performance and continue to provide the Sixers with some much-needed bench scoring,