DETROIT — The Philadelphia 76ers were cruising in the Motor City on Friday as they turned a 9-point halftime deficit into a 12-point lead in the third quarter. The Sixers were running up and down, getting after it defensively, and making the East-leading Detroit Pistons uncomfortable.
Instead, the Pistons got physical, dug deep, and rallied to beat the Sixers 114-105. The win was Detroit’s ninth in a row and Philadelphia dropped to 7-5 on the season. Tyrese Maxey had 31 points and rookie VJ Edgecombe had 18, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the rough and tough Pistons.
After the loss, Edgecombe gave his biggest lesson the Sixers could take from the loss in MoTown.
“Expect players to make shots,” said a somber Edgecombe after the contest. “Don’t underestimate anybody and just play the game, to be honest.”
When Edgecombe says “don’t underestimate anybody”, it’s more so about the lack of defensive work. The Sixers gave up a lot of open 3s which allowed Pistons forward Javonte Green and guard Daniss Jenkins to get going and allow the offense to flow for Detroit. The Sixers were also out-rebounded in the fourth 15-10 which limited Philadelphia’s chances for a comeback.
So, it isn’t like the Sixers underestimated a short-handed Pistons squad. They just didn’t have great rotations.
“They had a lot of looks,” Edgecombe explained. “A lot of super clean looks. Our rotation could’ve been better. Our defensive presence could’ve been better, in general, and like I said, they got a lot of clean looks. Credit to them.”
The Sixers will look to get back at it when they play host to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.