The Philadelphia 76ers suffered a double-overtime loss to the Chicago Bulls, with turnovers proving to be the difference in the game. Joel Embiid had another MVP-caliber performance, making 11 of 22 shots and 15 of 17 free throws. This was his seventh consecutive game with multiple blocks. P.J. Tucker was unavailable for the game against the Bulls, and head coach Doc Rivers did not comment on how Tucker’s absence impacted the team. This was the second time in four games that the Sixers had to overcome an abundance of turnovers. They will look to improve their ball control when they face the Bulls again on Wednesday at the United Center.
Sixers’ Playoff Berth on Hold After Losing Double-Overtime Game to Bulls
The Philadelphia 76ers were hoping to clinch their sixth consecutive playoff appearance, but Monday night’s double-overtime loss to the Chicago Bulls delayed the confirmation. The Sixers were on an eight-game winning streak before the game, but they couldn’t close out Chicago at home, eventually losing 109-105 after Joel Embiid fouled out with 3 minutes and 54 seconds left in the second overtime.
The loss pushed the Sixers down to third place in the Eastern Conference standings, with a 48-23 record, half a game behind the second-placed Boston Celtics, with 11 games remaining. While the Sixers expect to do much more than reach the playoffs, they still have to take things one step at a time.
The game against the Bulls came after the Sixers honored members of the franchise’s 1982-83 squad, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the team’s last NBA title. However, a victory would have given them more to celebrate.
Despite the loss, Embiid, who finished the game with game-highs of 37 points, 16 rebounds, and three blocks, remained optimistic about his team’s performance. He said, “I thought tonight could have been better, but it happens. So you move on to the next one. You learn from it. And like I said, the biggest key [of the road trip] is staying together.”
De’Anthony Melton also gave a solid performance with 19 points, while Tyrese Maxey had 22 points. James Harden, who struggled through 2-of-14 shooting, finished with five points, 12 assists, and seven rebounds.
Although the Sixers dominated the boards 54-42, they were doomed by 21 turnovers compared to Chicago’s 10.
The loss to the Bulls was the first time Embiid had lost to them in 13 games. The Sixers will play the Bulls again at the United Center on Wednesday, starting their four-game road trip. As the season draws to a close, the Sixers will look to rebound from the loss and secure their playoff berth.
Turnovers Prove Costly as Sixers Lose to Bulls in Double-Overtime Thriller
The Philadelphia 76ers suffered a double-overtime loss to the Chicago Bulls, with turnovers proving to be the difference in the game. “The story of the game was turnovers and we really couldn’t get anything going, offensively, really the whole game,” said Joel Embiid, who finished the game with five turnovers.
Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 26 points, while DeMar DeRozan added 25 and Nic Vucevic contributed 21 points, 12 rebounds, and four steals.
Double-Overtime Thriller
The game went into double-overtime after DeRozan missed a three-pointer before the overtime buzzer. The Bulls took a 107-105 lead after LaVine hit a pair of foul shots with 51.4 seconds left in double-overtime. The Sixers had chances to tie the score and take the lead, but Tobias Harris missed a 13-foot jumper, and Coby White converted a pair of foul shots for the Bulls after being fouled by Harris.
MVP-Caliber Performance from Embiid
Joel Embiid had another MVP-caliber performance, making 11 of 22 shots and 15 of 17 free throws. This was his seventh consecutive game with multiple blocks. Embiid’s basketball IQ, understanding of angles, and ability to draw fouls make him stand out, according to Bulls coach Billy Donovan. Embiid had nine points in the first quarter but scored only two in the second. He bounced back in the third quarter, scoring 16 points.
No Tucker for the Sixers
Danuel House Jr. got his second consecutive start for the Sixers with P.J. Tucker out for the second straight game after spraining his left ankle on Friday against the Charlotte Hornets. House finished with four points, three rebounds, three assists, and a steal.
The Sixers will look to rebound from the loss when they play the Bulls again on Wednesday at the United Center, starting their four-game road trip.
Sixers Struggle with Turnovers in Loss to Bulls
Philadelphia 76ers power forward P.J. Tucker was unavailable for Monday night’s game against the Chicago Bulls, which was not surprising as he did not participate in the morning shootaround. Head coach Doc Rivers did not comment on how Tucker’s absence impacted the team.
The Sixers struggled with turnovers for the second time in four games, committing several unforced errors in the process. “We didn’t get into much offense,” said Rivers, “When we did get in it, we got good looks. We got some. We made some. I don’t think anybody is going to look at this game and think, either team, that this was an offensive juggernaut game. It was pretty ugly.”
The Sixers will look to improve their ball control when they face the Bulls again on Wednesday at the United Center.
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