(Quick note: Since my last post, the Sixers have played 11 games, and there are many headlines that need to be addressed. First and foremost, the NBA has suspended all games throughout the remainder of the season due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, I will discuss this more in-depth in a later blog. For now, I will talk about how the Sixers played since I last posted.)

Since February 11, the Sixers have competed in 11 games. At the start of this period, they were sitting in 5th place in the East and were coming off a 2-2 record in their previous 4 games. Looking to make a run towards the playoffs, Philadelphia had to step up their performance, especially on the road, if they wanted to compete for a top seed heading into the playoffs.

The Sixers started with 2 home games against the Clipper and the Nets. As the Sixers have done all season, they took care of business at the Wells Fargo Center and won both games. Ben Simmons led the charge against the Clippers, recording a triple-double with 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists in front of a sold-out crowd. The Nets game, a double-overtime thriller, was highlighted by 39 points and 16 rebounds from Joel Embiid, who helped lead the Sixers to another strong home win. Soon after, the Sixers took a trip to Milwaukee to play the Bucks, who they had lost to merely two weeks before. Heading back to face Giannis Antetokounmpo and seek redemption against the top team of the East, the Sixers could not come through. They dropped yet another road game, 119-98, as Anteokounompo scored 31 points and secured 17 rebounds in the dominant victory. Although the loss was disappointing for the team, they had to refocus and prepare for the Hawks, who visited Philadelphia two days later.

Looking for a bounceback game after the loss in Milwaukee, the Sixers brought the fire against a struggling Atlanta team. In particular, Joel Embiid scored a career-high 49 points on 17 shots and went 14-15 from the free-throw line. Tobias Harris added another 25 points in support, and the Sixers continued their domination at home for the season, improving to 27-2 at the Wells Fargo Center. Coming off the win, the Sixers looked to continue their winning ways against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have struggled since Lebron James left 2 years ago. However, there was one issue: the game was on the road. Sadly, the Sixers, again, failed to come through and win a game that should have been an easy victory. They gave up 108 points to a team that was 9-22 at home, while only scoring 94. To make matters worst, Joel Embiid, coming off one of the best games of his career, sprained his shoulder in the first quarter and missed the remainder of the game.

Coming off the loss, the Sixers turned their sights towards the remainder of their February schedule and looked to start March on a positive note. So, how did the team fair against the Knicks and the Clippers? How long will Joel Embiid be out? Tune in to the next blog to find out!