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PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Jimmy Butler had her name singed and performed her favorite theme song.
Butler scored 28 points in his debut at home, Joel Embiid was 23 and the Philadelphia 76ers beat Utah Jazz, 113-107, on Friday night.
Butler, the quadruple All-Star acquired Monday in Minnesota as part of a five-player deal, was greatly ovationed during the introductions and quickly made an impression, the Sixers having built a 16-point lead in the first quarter .
Fans followed him throughout the match and he heard the theme of the team "1-2-3 Sixers" after the win.
"I already knew this crowd would be excited," Butler said. "Now that I have them on my side, it's better for me.We all have great fans.You have the most catchy song.I sang it in my head when I came here."
Coach Brett Brown called Butler Thursday.
"I remember one time you were in this building and you scored 50," Brown said. "Do this."
Butler liked the idea.
"Then, when we walked into this morning's little walk, he said:" Do you remember what I said? " Said Butler. "I'm going to," Yep. "Do that." And I was like, "OK." So I came out a little more aggressive. "
The Jazz came back after a difficult first quarter and the teams quarreled in the fourth quarter. Jae Crowder's reverse after Ricky Rubio stole the ball and missed a shot in the air gives Utah a 107-105 lead with a 1:37 win. JJ Redick tied it on a pair of free throws. The Ben Simmons formation gave the 76ers a 109-107 lead.
Butler then hit a rider to lengthen the lead and fired an offensive foul, causing a frenzy among the crowd as the Hall of Fame Allen Iverson stood up to party as a party.
"The atmosphere was amazing," said Embiid.
The 76ers are 29-1 in the last 30 home games of the regular season.
Redick had 16 points and Simmons 10 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Embiid scored 12 of his points in the fourth quarter after playing less than a minute in the third quarter because he committed four fouls.
Donovan Mitchell led the Jazz with 31 points.
"We have competed, but we have to be smarter," said Jazz coach Quin Snyder. "We made mistakes that forced us to think more, they add to a team like this."
After the Jazz made his first basket, Butler scored on an inverted mat to start a 12-0 run. He also nailed a 3-pointer during this sequence while Philadelphia dominated early.
But Utah closed at 54-52 at halftime after Derrick Favors' dunk alley-oop.
Redick and Mike Muscala scored three straight in the beginning of the third quarter. However, the Jazz returned and climbed 81-80 on Mitchell's jumper towards the end of the quarter.
"Until the end, we made some mistakes, but we played with passion," Mitchell said. "Honestly, it's a great team, but we had the game in the bag, with the exception of a few mistakes, I think the game just fainted."
MUTUAL ADMIRATION
Simmons and Butler have already developed chemistry and like to play one with the other.
Simmons on Butler: "He knows how to play the game at a high level, the IQ is very high."
Butler on Simmons: "He sees the parts before they happen, which makes my job easier."
WATCH OF CROWD
Cris Carter, a member of the Professional Football Hall of Fame, and Malcolm Jenkins, a member of the Philadelphia Eagles Safety, were alongside Iverson. Eagles cornerback Jalen Mills sat behind the basket. Iverson rang the ceremony bell and fans roared in anticipation of Butler's first appearance.
TIP-INS
Jazz: After missing eight of his first ten shots, Mitchell made two in a row and made foolishness to the fans behind the basket. … Joe Ingles had 14 points and Favors and Rubio had 13 points each.
76ers: Markelle Fultz made one of two free throws in his first game against the foul line since his clumsy double-clutch attempt in Miami on Monday. He stirred the ball in his hands before throwing it. He finished 2 of 4 of the line. Redick made a blatant foul for kicking Ricky Rubio as he hit the third on the fly.
FOLLOWING
Jazz: In Boston on Saturday night.
76ers: In Charlotte on Saturday night.
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