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PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Markelle Fultz has heard 20,000 supporters of the Philadelphia 76ers urge him to shoot whenever he's touching the ball, regaining confidence in his power for a # 1 choice closer to home. A burst that a shine.
Fultz had the look that he wanted in the second quarter. He dribbled up to the line of foul without a defender on his way, fired and pulled off a rider. The ball shook the rim before crossing the net.
The Sixers fans stood up, shouted for joy and chanted "Fultz! Fultz! Fultz! & # 39; & # 39;
Yes, just a jump from the first pick in the 2017 draft in the second game of the season was enough to get fans up – and to breathe a sigh of relief at Fultz.
"It makes me feel better so the whole crowd feels as good as I want," Fultz said.
The curious case of Fultz's missing rider has been pursued against the Bulls when one of the NBA's most scrutinized players managed to steal the show from his more accomplished teammates with routine baskets – though worthy highlights.
Until he succeeds, Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid will continue to lead the Sixers.
Simmons earned a triple-double with 13 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists and Embiid had 30 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Philadelphia 76ers ahead of the Chicago Bulls 127-108 on Thursday night.
Fultz scored 12 points on 5 of the 15 shots, the most shots made by a Sixer.
"He shot to say it," said coach Brett Brown. & # 39; & # 39; He did not seem to be afraid of anything. He missed the shots but they looked good. & # 39; & # 39;
Fultz just had a difficult season as a rookie who was cut short because of a right shoulder injury, a broken shot and a loss of self-confidence. Even his personal shootout coach said that Fultz had been a victim of the "Yips", an assertion that was shot on press day by the second-year guard. Fultz simply blamed his injury on the lost season. Brown tried to give Fultz confidence by placing him in the starting lineup – but dropped him for the start of the second half.
Fultz was one of 6 in 15 minutes in the first period and played only very late in the third and the Sixers topped by 88-68.
"The challenge is to grow it and help us win the game," said Brown. & # 39; & # 39; There is no book that tells you how to do that, so you will have to find solutions. There will be pain along the way and some good points. "
With or without Fultz, the 76ers had a lot of positives after a nighttime disaster in Boston.
Simmons made a triple-double with a time remaining at 2:34 in the third, 13th of his career and the first Sixer to get one in the home opener. Sixers fans chanted "Trust the Process!" When Embiid ended the third goal with free throws.
Fultz once again had a long range ace in the fourth quarter – this time with a 3! He scored his first career point of 3 points for a lead of 108-88 and the Philly fans who are firmly perched in his corner went crazy and sang his name again.
The Sixers know that if they want to become legitimate contenders at the Eastern Conference, Fultz will have to become the star they envisioned when he wrote it.
& # 39; & # 39; I'm never afraid, "said Fultz. I have worked hard this summer. Tonight I have not done much, but I will continue shooting at them. If I see an open shot, I'll shoot it. & # 39; & # 39;
He did not even worry when the Chicago defense collapsed, challenging him to take risks. The Bulls, who did not expect to win much in the East, scored a total of 35 points in the second and third quarters. Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 30 points in their first game of the season.
"When we started missing shots, we stopped watching and bouncing back," said Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg.
TIP-INS
Bulls: G. Kris Dunn missed the match for the birth of his son. … Bobby Portis had 20 points and 11 rebounds.
76ers: Rapper Meek Mill sits next to the court and rang the ceremony, Liberty Bell, to begin the game. Embiid thanked the fans for coming and told them to "trust the process".
1st Q & NO D
Embiid scored 12 points in the first 5 minutes of the match and neither team missed much of the first quarter. The Sixers made 11 of their first 14 shots and the Bulls started 14 of 19. The 76ers scored 70% in the quarter and still dominated the Bulls 41-38.
FOLLOWING
Bulls: Saturday home match against Detroit.
76ers: Welcome Orlando Saturday.
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