Coming off back-to-back losses earlier in the week, the Philadelphia 76ers took the court Friday looking to get back on track. Next up on the schedule was a meeting with Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans.
Despite a lackluster showing in the first half, the Sixers managed to make things interesting following halftime. They were within striking distance in the final minutes, but weren't able to complete the comeback. New Orleans ended up securing a 103-95 loss, giving the Sixers their third straight defeat.
With the Sixers dealing with so many injuries, guys have had to step up on take on bigger roles. Among those doing so is big man Paul Reed. He's constantly been in and out of the starting lineup since Joel Embiid got sidelined with a knee injury.
As one of the bigger and more athletic options the Sixers have, Nick Nurse tasked Reed with guarding Zion Williamson for stretches. After the game, the young center shared his thoughts on having to match up with the two-time All-Star. "We all know that he is strong left. He’s strong left, so really just taking away his left hand and everybody making sure we are helping. That’s, kind of, our approach," he said.
The former No. 1 pick ended up doing a little bit of everything for New Orleans in this matchup. In 34 minutes of action, Williamson had 23 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and three blocks.
Reed came off the bench in this matchup, but was still one of the main standouts in this matchup. He finished with a double-double, notching 17 points and 11 rebounds. Reed also flashed his ability to stretch the floor, connecting on two of his four attempts from beyond the arc.
Filling the void of Embiid has not been easy, but Reed has done everything he can to man the center position in his absence. The Sixers will be back in action on Sunday night, taking on the New York Knicks.
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