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THE SCORE OF THE BOX
After a slow start, the home team did what they did all season.
The Sixers kept their perfect record at the Wells Fargo Center with a 119-114 win over the Suns on Monday.
They are now 9-0 at home and 12-7 in general.
Here are the observations of the victory.
• Deandre Ayton, the Suns rookie, beat Joel Embiid two times earlier than expected, but you knew it was only a matter of time before Emiid could find him. The Sixers made a concerted effort to bring the ball to Embiid to start the second quarter and made his presence felt.
The footwork on this move that gave the Sixers their first lead was excellent …
I HAVE THEM.
Embiid is fighting for a difficult bucket and a bonus shot. Sixers down one. pic.twitter.com/oAR5FjYV0q
– NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) November 20, 2018
Welcome to the NBA tour.
Embiid continues to add monster numbers, finishing with 33 points and 17 tables.
• Jimmy Butler continues to help the Sixers at both ends of the ground. With just over 30 seconds to go in the first period and his team lagging, 62-53, the Suns attempted a lob to former Sixer Richaun Holmes. Butler came out of nowhere to block the shot.
At the other end, Landry Shamet scored four points.
The vet and the recruit do it on both sides.
Butler arrives with a big block and Shamet with a big bucket on the other end! pic.twitter.com/HKXRzyPtdi
– NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) November 20, 2018
It was a quiet night for Butler on offense (16 points out of 4 out of 9), but with the way Embiid cooked, Butler seemed happy to let the big man work.
• Ben Simmons was aggressive early and often, attacking the rim throughout the match.
His stint in the second quarter over Trevor Ariza, an elite defensive wing, was one of Simmons' most impressive moves. He turned around Ariza and ended up with a slam of one hand.
He finished a decisive pass of a triple-double with 19 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists.
• It is interesting to note that Markelle Fultz was not the first leader of the bench in the second half. Brett Brown went to T.J. McConnell, who received an enthusiastic ovation from the crowd.
As earlier in the season, the move was probably made for defensive purposes. We will know more after the match.
• You saw another moment when Butler and Simmons seemed to be reading in the field. At the end of the second quarter, as Simmons climbed the ball in transition, he noticed Butler at the block with Jamal Crawford. Simmons lobbed the ball at Butler and the latter was able to make a mistake.
After his debut at home, Butler mentioned that he had told Simmons to pitch him as a wide catcher. It's an interesting dynamic that both begin to develop.
• Nothing in Wilson Chandler's numbers will impress you, but he played well. The veteran striker does a ton of little things on both sides of the ground. His minute restriction was reduced to 27 tonight and he made those minutes count.
He really looked better at every game he played. At one point in the second quarter, he made a very good move and just missed a mid-range jumper. He has shooting capabilities, something that the Sixers could use. Once he's completely released, he should be a real asset to the Sixers.
• Speaking of the Sixers' extra-season additions, Mike Muscala continues to give the team a solid run. As Amir Johnson continued to struggle, Muscala was replaced by five substitutes in the second half. He finished with 19 points, nine from the free throw line.
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