76ers Vs Pelicans: Pelicans 126, Sixers 111 hands Philadelphia fourth straight loss
The 76ers vs pelicans matchup ended with New Orleans pulling away for a 126-111 victory, a result that extended Philadelphia's losing streak to four games and leaves the Sixers searching for answers as they continue a three-game road trip. The loss matters now because it amplified persistent second-half problems and came without Joel Embiid, a pattern that has dogged the team this season.
Late surge erased Sixers' lead — final 21 minutes and fourth-quarter run
Philadelphia led from late in the first quarter until the final two minutes of the third, and at one point held an 11-point advantage, but New Orleans outscored the Sixers 60-35 during the final 21 minutes. The Pelicans surged to a 97-91 lead by the end of three quarters, then opened the fourth with a 23-8 run capped by Jordan Poole’s three that made it 120-99 with 5: 20 left. Jeremiah Fears’ free throws put New Orleans back in front at 91-89 in the third quarter, and Jordan Poole’s late scoring virtually squelched any chance of a Sixers comeback.
76ers Vs Pelicans: the third-quarter slide and poor second-half shooting
The game illustrated a recurring issue: Philadelphia could not find traction after halftime. The Pelicans outscored the Sixers 40-26 in the third quarter and then held a 29-20 advantage in the fourth. Philadelphia shot just 31. 4% in the second half and went 3-for-24 from deep, missing 21 of 24 three-point attempts. Those numbers helped turn a road game into a 126-111 loss and underlined the need for halftime fixes.
Jordan Poole, Zion Williamson and role players paced New Orleans
Jordan Poole highlighted the win with a 23-point outing that included five three-pointers. Zion Williamson added 21 points and Saddiq Bey scored 20. Karlo Matkovic contributed a nine-point sequence that began with a cutting dunk while he was fouled, followed by a corner three and three made free throws after being fouled on another deep shot — all during what was described as a 40-point period for the Pelicans. Those contributions helped New Orleans mount the comeback and close out the game.
DeAndre Jordan’s impact after late lineup change
The Pelicans changed their starting lineup at the last minute and turned to veteran center DeAndre Jordan to start. One account called him a 17-year veteran center while another described him as an 18-year veteran and 37-year-old; both accounts agreed that he grabbed 15 rebounds and blocked four shots. Another report added that Jordan had six points, 15 rebounds and four blocks, was plus-13 in 31 minutes, that it was only his third game of the season, and that he hadn't played since Oct. 29. New Orleans' decision to go big and Jordan's work in the paint posed problems Philadelphia could not solve.
Philadelphia scoring and depth: Maxey, Oubre and supporting cast
Tyrese Maxey scored 27 points and had seven assists, while Kelly Oubre Jr. added 25 points. VJ Edgecombe scored 14 points and had five rebounds. Quentin Grimes finished with 11; Dominick Barlow had nine points and five rebounds; Jabari Walker had nine points and six rebounds. Maxey shot 2-for-11 from deep in the game and was 6-for-22 from three in the first two games coming out of the All-Star break. Reports noted New Orleans got physical with Maxey and harassed him, and that the Sixers have been relying on him for heavy minutes and varied roles when Joel Embiid does not play.
Standings, streaks and what’s next for Nick Nurse’s team
The loss was Philadelphia's fourth straight and came as the Sixers opened their three-game road trip on Saturday. Without Joel Embiid, the Sixers have lost eight of their last nine games in which the big fella doesn't play, and the team dropped to 30-26 on the season. Philadelphia still sits sixth in the Eastern Conference standings. With 26 games left in the season, coach Nick Nurse and Co. were urged to find a way to be effective after halftime. The Sixers will look to rebound on a back-to-back and take on Minnesota on Sunday night at 7 p. m. ET.
