PHILADELPHIA coughed up a nine-point fourth quarter lead in a disappointing 105-101 defeat against the struggling Memphis Grizzlies — and Ben Simmons didn’t do a whole lot to stop it.
Simmons failed to score a point or register an assist in the final eight minutes of the game as his team suffered an embarrassing meltdown.
The 76ers’ supporting cast had done their best to get a road win as Dario Saric, Robert Covington and Timothe Luwawau-Cabarrot combined to make 12/16 three-pointers while establishing a 83-74 edge with a quarter to play.
But with Simmons (six points, seven assists) and Joel Embiid (15 points, 14 rebounds) failing to have their normal impact, Memphis came charging back.
The Grizzlies responded in the fourth, going on an 18-8 run to take their first lead of the game at 92-91 with 6:53 remaining. A Marc Gasol three made it 98-95 with less than four minutes remaining as the 76ers’ turnovers became comical.
Tyreke Evans also stepped up, taking his tally to 17 points to make it 100-95 with 3:10 on the clock. “You’re seeing a team shooting itself in the foot in the 76ers,” the game commentator said.
Covington stopped the rot by hitting a three before Embiid missed a pair of free throws that could have tied the game.
Simmons was then incorrectly called for a foul after cleanly knocking the ball away from Jarell Martin as he drove to the hoop. Martin made both free throws to make it 102-98 with 54 seconds remaining.
After another Philly turnover, Evans hit one of two from the line to push the lead to five points with 35 seconds to go.
After a Dario Saric layup, Martin gave the 76ers a shot by coughing up an offensive foul as both teams tried their best to lose.
Embiid was fouled and hit one of two to make it a two-point game before the Grizzlies turned the ball over in their back court. But with plenty of time on the clock, Covington threw up a prayer — and hit nothing but air as Memphis held on.
The 76ers (22-21) were looking to make it four wins in a row but instead were left to rue another fade out.
SO LONG KIDD: BUCKS SACK COACH
Australian NBA players Matthew Dellavedova and Thon Maker’s Milwaukee coach Jason Kidd has been sacked.
The Bucks have responded to a mid-season slide which has left the playoff hopeful in eighth place in the Eastern Conference with 22 wins and 23 losses.
Assistant coach Joe Prunty will serve as head coach for Monday night’s game against Phoenix.
The decision to end Kidd’s three-plus season tenure in Milwaukee is somewhat of a surprise given the Bucks had made the playoffs twice.
Giannis Antetokounmpo turned into an All-Star under Kidd’s watch and the Bucks were considered an emerging force at the start of the season. But the side lost four of five going into Monday and had been prone to defensive lapses especially on the perimeter.
General manager Jon Horst said “a fresh approach and a change in leadership are needed to continue elevating our talented team towards the next level.”
Kidd brought 27-year-old Dellavedova to the Bucks after the Boomers’ guard won the NBA championship with Cleveland.
Dellavedova starred for the Bucks in 2016-17 before his minutes fell away this season after the recruitment of positional rival Eric Bledsoe.
Kidd oversaw Maker’s rookie season in 2016-17, with the centre’s average minutes per game almost doubling this season.
His sacking might also cast doubt over the Bucks’ reported interest in recruiting veteran Australian Andrew Bogut, who is without a team.
— wires
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