Sixers Bell Ringer: Sixers sensation Joel Embiid falls flat in home loss to Suns

Sixes Bell Ringer season standings:
Jared McCain – 8
Joel Embiid – 7
Tyrese Maxey – 6.5
Paul George – 4.5
Guerschon Yabusele – 2
KJ Martin – 2
Ricky Council IV – 1
Justin Edwards – 1st
Kelly Oubre Jr – 1st

The Philadelphia 76ers took the floor at Wells Fargo Center for the first time in two weeks and were treated to (deserved) boos from their fans after putting in an embarrassing effort in a 109-99 loss to Phoenix Suns.

Joel Embiid was ruled out to Monday afternoon’s contest for a sprained foot that Sixers coach Nick Nurse said Embiid suffered a few games ago. The big guy is day to day, and the injury is considered “nothing major,” according to the nurse. Kyle Lowry was also ruled out for this one with hip soreness, and Andre Drummond was a very late scratch, ruled out just before the tip with a sprained toe.

The first half of this match was ugly, and not even in an interesting way. In a “neither team can shoot the ball” kind of way. The Suns managed just 16 points in the first quarter, then the Sixers’ terrible basketball reins took hold in the second frame, shooting just 7-for-22 (32%) from the field. After a really lackluster 24 minutes of ball, Philadelphia led 46-42.

A 10-0 Suns’ run in the third put Phoenix back on top for the first time since Kevin Durant’s first basket of the game put them up 3-0. The Suns as a team didn’t do anything wild and spectacular either, the Sixers just seemed to stop scoring (even more so than in their 46-point first half). A burst of scoring from Kelly Oubre Jr. to end the third gave the Sixers a chance to get back into the game, but the team squandered it. The Suns rebuilt their lead and defeated the Sixers 109-99.

The Sixers will be back on the floor of the Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday night to host Washington Wizards who have only managed six wins this season.

Until then, let’s get to the Bell. This was a really ugly match with not much to be proud of, but there are a few guys that I can shout out.

Kelly Oubre Jr.: 26 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist

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Against one of his old teams (Oubre played for the Suns from 2018-2020), Oubre had a 26-point, 11-rebound double-double for the Sixers on Monday night and was the team’s most efficient scorer, shooting 9-for-18 ( 50%) from the floor with a triple.

Oubre’s biggest moment on Monday was putting together a flurry of scoring in the third period. With 3:24 left in the period, Oubre had 10 total points in the contest. Less than three and a half minutes later, when the buzzer sounded to end the third frame, he had 23. When no one for Philadelphia could get anything going, Oubre got aggressive the rest of the game. He took it all to the cup, into traffic and not only finished at the edge, but drew a number of mistakes in the process. In a sequence toward the end of the third, Oubre drew shooting fouls on three consecutive possessions, including converting two three-point plays.

Then, to beat the buzzer, Oubre sank a 31-foot triple to pull the Sixers within five points in the final frame.

Now, the Sixers ruined it by letting the Suns pull away again right at the start of the fourth (through no fault of Oubre, who was on the bench at the time), but Oubre deserves credit for being the only reason the Sixers even had a chance in the fourth. Not only was he successful in sparking the offensive production, but he seemed to be the only one playing with any heart at that point in the contest.

Guerschon Yabusele: 14 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block

Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

Yabusele has appeared in every game for the Sixers this season – the only member of the squad with perfect attendance. It’s a good thing, too, because Yabusele has found success in every role the team has put him in. Tonight he started in place of Andre Drummond, who was a late scratch for the contest with a sprained toe, and delivered once again with a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double on Monday night.

Yabusele was able to help the Sixers from the perimeter in the first half thanks to the Suns seemingly deciding not to cover him at the arc to start the game. Nine of Yabusele’s 12 points in the first half were on three triples, none of which were exactly contested. He also had success working with different teammates and even put a nice shot home on a beautiful Caleb Martin bounce pass off a two-man play.

The Suns actually started to defend Yabusele more in the second half and made offensive production more difficult for him, but he kept finding ways to help his team. He is always the guy who goes after every board and fights for every loose ball as well as staying engaged and aggressive defensively. Yabusele continues to be one of those players that, if you just watch a Sixers game here or there, you might not think he’s a significant factor for this team. But looking at consistency and reliability in being a net positive for the Sixers, Yabusele has consistently been the player to do all the little things right for Philadelphia.

Yabusele finished Monday night with 14 points on 5-for-12 field goal shooting (three triples) with 10 rebounds (five offensive) as well as an assist and a block.

Tyrese Maxey: 31 points, 10 assists, 2 steals

Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

It’s usually hard to look at the guy who scored the most points in the entire field and criticize, but Monday night might be the exception. I was actually debating whether Maxey should be a contender tonight. If you just look at the box score you’d think “he led the field with 31 points and had 10 assists, sure he’s a possibility” but let me explain. The problem for me is that Maxey’s best run in this game that led to those stats came too little, too late. He already had nine of his 10 assists by the fourth, but the final frame was the only real solo success Maxey had on the night. He had missed some open threes, had a number of turnovers and really didn’t get into any sort of groove with the exception of the fourth period. Especially with Embiid sidelined and Paul George’s shooting leaving a ton to be desired, Maxey unfortunately doesn’t have the luxury of getting going before the final frame if the Sixers want to win games.

However, the fourth period itself was a good showing for Maxey. Suddenly, he hit the triples himself outside of the catch-and-shoot and got the points, but it was just too late. Sixteen of his 31 points came in the fourth period in the form of four triples, a mid-range jumper and a pair of foul shots. In a stretch of just under two minutes midway through the frame, Maxey scored 11 straight points for the Sixers. It was a showcase of the best Maxey can be for this team, just not enough of it. Despite his efforts, the Sixers’ just couldn’t come back in this one.

Maxey ultimately led the field with his 31-point, 10-assist double-double, shooting 11-for-25 from the floor, 6-for-14 from long range and adding two steals on the defensive end.