3 observations after Sixers come back vs. Hornets but fall just short of summer win originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Sixers stormed back into the game but couldn’t secure a first Las Vegas summer league victory on Saturday night.
Despite the Sixers’ comeback effort, the Hornets pulled out a 96-94 win.
Judah Mintz had 24 points, five rebounds and four assists. Dominick Barlow put up 19 points, nine rebounds and three steals.
VJ Edgecombe (left thumb sprain) remained out. The rookie is “progressing in his recovery and will continue his on-court workouts over the next two days,” a Sixers official said.
Now 0-2 in Las Vegas, the Sixers will play the Wizards on Tuesday night. Here are observations on their loss to the Hornets:
Pros and cons from Bona
Adem Bona faced off with rookie Charlotte center Ryan Kalkbrenner and was especially active in his first stint. Overall, Bona brought exceptional energy and effort as usual.
He made a great defensive play early when he smothered Kalkbrenner on the perimeter and ripped the ball from his hands. A minute or so later, Bona leapt high to reject Sion James at the rim.
The 22-year-old was not at all mistake-free, though. He committed three first-quarter turnovers, including a travel in the post and a moving screen. Bona has progressed considerably on offense since becoming a Sixer, but it’s clear he still needs to work on polishing his fundamentals. Regardless of role, it’s always important to be reliable with the basics.
Bona ended the night with eight points, six rebounds, three blocks, two steals and two assists in 21 minutes.
Discovering some offense
Rookie shooting guard Hunter Sallis posted eight points, four rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks in his first summer start. He had multiple shots blocked and has unsurprisingly seemed to be early in the process of adjusting to professional size and physicality.
As a team, the Sixers again had a rough time trying to generate offense early without Edgecombe. They fell behind 12-3 on a Tidjane Salaun and-one layup and trailed by 15 points late in the first quarter.
The Sixers eventually found regular baskets.
Barlow had a bright stretch in the second quarter, converting a couple of put-back buckets and turning a steal into a fast-break slam. Mintz was in the middle of a Sixers run late in the second, nailing a corner three-pointer and hitting a mid-range jumper that cut the Hornets’ lead to 48-38.
Sixers make Hornets sweat
Justin Edwards’ cold shooting persisted. After going 2 for 6 from the floor in the Sixers’ Vegas opener, Edwards missed his first six field goals Saturday.
Even with Edwards misfiring, the Sixers managed to make a serious comeback and competed well. Johni Broome drained two pick-and-pop threes in the third quarter.
Edwards finally got a jumper to drop in the third and also threw down an and-one dunk off of a slick give and go with Bona.
The Sixers sustained their comeback in the fourth quarter and Barlow played a key part. He cut sharply to the hoop and jammed home an alley-oop dunk courtesy of a Broome dish. Barlow’s three gave the Sixers an 80-79 edge.
Charlotte regained the lead on a KJ Simpson jumper with 1:03 left and just about held off the Sixers.
After Liam McNeeley split two free throws with 4.4 seconds to go, Mintz raced up the floor in search of a game-tying hoop. Kalkbrenner denied him, blocking Mintz’s pull-up attempt and ensuring the Hornets didn’t need overtime.
3 observations after Sixers come back vs. Hornets but fall just short of summer win
The Sixers stormed back into the game but couldn’t secure a first Las Vegas summer league victory on Saturday night.
Despite the Sixers’ comeback effort, the Hornets pulled out a 96-94 win.
Judah Mintz had 24 points, five rebounds and four assists. Dominick Barlow put up 19 points, nine rebounds and three steals.
SIGN UP HERE VJ Edgecombe (left thumb sprain) remained out. The rookie is “progressing in his recovery and will continue his on-court workouts over the next two days,” a Sixers official said.
Now 0-2 in Las Vegas, the Sixers will play the Wizards on Tuesday night. Here are observations on their loss to the Hornets:
Pros and cons from Bona
Adem Bona faced off with rookie Charlotte center Ryan Kalkbrenner and was especially active in his first stint. Overall, Bona brought exceptional energy and effort as usual.
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He made a great defensive play early when he smothered Kalkbrenner on the perimeter and ripped the ball from his hands. A minute or so later, Bona leapt high to reject Sion James at the rim.
The 22-year-old was not at all mistake-free, though. He committed three first-quarter turnovers, including a travel in the post and a moving screen. Bona has progressed considerably on offense since becoming a Sixer, but it’s clear he still needs to work on polishing his fundamentals. Regardless of role, it’s always important to be reliable with the basics.
Bona ended the night with eight points, six rebounds, three blocks, two steals and two assists in 21 minutes.
Discovering some offense
Rookie shooting guard Hunter Sallis posted eight points, four rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks in his first summer start. He had multiple shots blocked and has unsurprisingly seemed to be early in the process of adjusting to professional size and physicality.
As a team, the Sixers again had a rough time trying to generate offense early without Edgecombe. They fell behind 12-3 on a Tidjane Salaun and-one layup and trailed by 15 points late in the first quarter.
The Sixers eventually found regular baskets.
Barlow had a bright stretch in the second quarter, converting a couple of put-back buckets and turning a steal into a fast-break slam. Mintz was in the middle of a Sixers run late in the second, nailing a corner three-pointer and hitting a mid-range jumper that cut the Hornets’ lead to 48-38.
Sixers make Hornets sweat
Justin Edwards’ cold shooting persisted. After going 2 for 6 from the floor in the Sixers’ Vegas opener, Edwards missed his first six field goals Saturday.
Even with Edwards misfiring, the Sixers managed to make a serious comeback and competed well. Johni Broome drained two pick-and-pop threes in the third quarter.
Edwards finally got a jumper to drop in the third and also threw down an and-one dunk off of a slick give and go with Bona.
The Sixers sustained their comeback in the fourth quarter and Barlow played a key part. He cut sharply to the hoop and jammed home an alley-oop dunk courtesy of a Broome dish. Barlow’s three gave the Sixers an 80-79 edge.
Charlotte regained the lead on a KJ Simpson jumper with 1:03 left and just about held off the Sixers.
After Liam McNeeley split two free throws with 4.4 seconds to go, Mintz raced up the floor in search of a game-tying hoop. Kalkbrenner denied him, blocking Mintz’s pull-up attempt and ensuring the Hornets didn’t need overtime.
