Stat hints 76ers do better when P.J. Tucker doesn't score

Philadelphia 76ers forward P.J. Tucker. Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Odd stat suggests 76ers do better when P.J. Tucker doesn't score

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 3/8/23

One of several additions by the Philadelphia 76ers last offseason, P.J. Tucker joined the team to add toughness and a veteran presence. However, it's his inadequacies that are benefiting the Sixers down the stretch.

On Tuesday night, Tucker failed to record a field goal in 21:34 of playing time. For Tucker, it was the 19th time this season he's finished with a goose egg in the points column, 13 more than the second-most in the league, six by Dallas Mavericks' Reggie Bullock. The silver lining for the Sixers is they're 15-4 when Tucker fails to score.

Most games without a bucket by a starter this season:

19 — PJ Tucker
[gap]
6 — Reggie Bullock

76ers are 15-4 when PJ doesn’t make a shot. pic.twitter.com/rlMb0Dy1Zr
— StatMuse (@statmuse) March 8, 2023

Remarkably, Tucker also has more offensive rebounds (79) than he does shots made this season (78), per StatMuse.

The 37-year-old has been around, and he understands his role most of the time isn't to score, especially with Joel Embiid and James Harden on the floor. Tucker isn't necessarily shooting poorly this year, even at a .426 clip. He is being more selective, averaging a career-low 3.0 field-goal attempts per game. Overall, in 62 games, Tucker is averaging 3.5 points and 4.0 rebounds, playing 25.8 minutes an outing.

While Tucker's offensive futility continues, Embiid continues to make his case for MVP. Embiid posted his league-leading 22nd game of 35 points or more by a center Tuesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, tallying 39 with seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks in a 117-94 win. The 28-year-old leads the NBA in scoring (33.3) and ranks ninth in the league in rebounds (10.1).

Embiid and the Sixers have won three straight heading into Wednesday's action. At 43-22, they remain 1.5 games behind the second-place Boston Celtics (45-21) and four games back of the Milwaukee Bucks (47-18), who lead the Eastern Conference standings.

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