Sixers Bell Ringer: Yabu, Maxey only Sixers to show effort in blowout loss vs. Nuggets

Sixes Bell Ringer season standings:

Jared McCain – 8

Tyrese Maxey – 8

Joel Embiid – 7

Paul George – 6

Guerschon Yabusele – 3

Kelly Oubre Jr – 2nd

Ricky Council IV – 2

KJ Martin – 2

Justin Edwards – 2

Adem Bona – 1

Turns out, a cross country matchup against an opponent with an elite center wasn’t the tonic for this team, then Denver Nuggets look up Sixes 144-109 Tuesday night.

Philadelphia turned in their worst defensive performance of the season, surrendering a 61.2% field goal percentage to the Nuggets while allowing them to shoot 51.6% from beyond the three-point arc.

The two lone sixes who battled in the laughs were Tyrese Maxey and Guerschon Yabusele, who finished with 28 and 22 points, respectively.

Only two other players for Philadelphia were able to reach double figures. It was Paul George and Justin Edwards.

Edwards had 11 points and shot 4-of-10 from the field, as did PG, who shot 5-of-11 from the floor. It’s easy to dismiss a meh shooting night for Edwards as he continues to try to find his place in the NBA. George was 0-for-3 in the second half.

Only because we have to, let’s talk Bells.

Guerschon Yabusele

He wasn’t the leading scorer for the Sixers tonight, but everyone who watched the game definitely felt that Yabu provided the most energy for Philadelphia. While he couldn’t do much to slow down Nikola Jokic, that was hardly an indictment of him as the Sixers’ defense struggled as a whole.

Despite that, Yabu shined as someone who continued to make an effort at both ends even after the match was well under way. 10 of his 22 points came in the third quarter as he tried to knock a lifeless Sixers team back into the contest. For as tough as this season has been for the Sixers, Yabusele’s efforts have never diminished.

Tyrese Maxey

Not only was Maxey the leading scorer for a team that was being torn down, but he was one of the few guys who made an effort on both ends of the floor as long as he was out there.

Maxey added two steals to go along with 28 points and 10 assists. He shot 11-of-21 from the floor despite an ineffective 3-of-10 from beyond the arc. His best scoring game in the second, after getting an and-1 back, he had a pair of threes to follow. He was one of the few Sixers to hustle on both ends, finishing the night with two steals, but it was little enough to stop the Nuggets, who scored 144 points on the night.