By Jerry Wein
The Sixers were without star center Joel Embiid last night, and the result was a turnover-filled loss on the road.
Which reminds us of last season.
Ja Morant scored 17 points, leading the Grizzlies to a 106-104. Morant, who sprained his left ankle Dec. 28 at Brooklyn, added six assists. Rookie Xavier Tillman added 15 points and Grayson Allen had 12 as the Grizzlies won their fourth straight game.
Shake Milton, who had 31 points in the Sixers win over Miami on Thursday, helped rally Philly from a 13-point deficit in with a burst in the fourth quarter, scoring 15 of his 28 points in the period, while going 6 of 11 from the field in the frame.
Tobias Harris added 21 points, including six straight to pull the Sixers within 105-104 on a 12-footer with 1:25 left. But Harris stepped out of bounds in the closing seconds, turning the ball over.
Tyrese Maxey missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer, and Memphis took the win.
“It was just a very undisciplined, sloppy basketball game. Turned the ball over down the stretch the last two times,” coach Doc Rivers said, adding: “Disappointing loss to me. Very winnable game, and just didn’t get it done.”
Ben Simmons fell just short of a triple-double with 11 points, a season-high 16 rebounds and nine assists.
The Grizzlies benefited from Morant’s return, while the Sixers played without center Embiid, who was rested due to right knee pain. It was yet another game where Philly was without one of its starters.
“At the end of the day, we do need each other. … When we are together, the five starters, we complement each other,” Harris said.
Neither team led by more than six points in a closely played first half. Harris led balanced scoring from Philadelphia with 10 points. Morant led Memphis with 12 points.
Memphis stretched the lead to 11 points near the midway point of the third quarter and eventually held an 88-76 lead heading into the fourth.
The win marked the eighth straight game Memphis has held an opponent under 110 points.
“Over the last eight games, these guys have just really embraced the opportunity to get better on both sides of the ball,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said “Defensively, that’s a lot of credit to (the players).”
