Here’s the box:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/nba/event/2014/19863/boxscore/
On a night when no one really expected the Sixers to win their first game of the season since they were playing the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs, at least the tanking team gave the 12,843 at Wells Fargo Center something to cheer about.
Zach Ertz.
One of the loudest ovations of the evening came when Eagles tight end Ertz, who was sitting courtside, was introduced.
There also were top performances from Michael Carter-Williams and Alexy Shved and the Sixers gave a great effort, which is more than you can say for the Flyers.
But Kawhi Leonard scored a game-high 26 points and had a crucial three-point play in the final minute to help the Spurs defeat the winless 76ers 109-103, extending Philly’s franchise-worst losing streak to start the season to 0-17.
The Spurs (13-4) played without stars Tim Duncan (rest) and Tony Parker (shoulder). Even without the duo’s more than 31 points out of the lineup, San Antonio had little trouble. Aron Baynes scored 15 points and Manu Ginobili and Cory Joseph each added 14 for San Antonio, which won its eighth straight. Leonard also had 10 rebounds while tying a career-high in points.
MCW had 24 points and 11 rebounds and Shved chipped in 19 points for Philly.
The 76ers also were short-handed, as leading scorer Tony Wroten (knee) missed his second straight game and rookie first-round pick Nerlens Noel (hip) sat after getting injured in Sunday’s practice.
Philly became just the fourth team in league history to open a season with 17 losses, joining the 1998-99 Clippers (0-17), 1988-89 Heat (0-17) and the 2009-10 Nets (0-18). The 76ers can tie the Nets for the worst start in NBA history on Wednesday at Minnesota with a potential chance to break the record at home on Friday against Oklahoma City.
The Sixers made a late run at the Spurs, pulling within 101-96 with 1:33 remaining on Henry Sims’ layup. But Leonard put the game away by converting a three-point play to make it 104-96 with 42.7 left.
The 76ers were competitive in their last three losses, losing by an average of 8.3 points per game to Portland, Brooklyn and Dallas, during this four-game homestand. They fell behind big early before battling back late.
The Spurs shot 49 percent (24-for-49) from the field and outrebounded Philadelphia 31-17 in the first half while taking a 61-46 lead.
