PHILADELPHIA – Lacking their two greatest gamers and dealing with a 76ers staff sporting throwback 2001 jerseys, the Warriors paid tribute to the early-2000s Warriors by shedding 99-98 and falling beneath .500, albeit in a spirited effort.
VJ Edgecombe gained the sport for the Sixers on a putback, and De’Anthony Melton’s last-second layup on the leak-out was blocked on the buzzer by Tyrese Maxey.
Steph Curry didn’t make the journey as he recovered from a quad damage, and Jimmy Butler was dominated out with knee soreness.
Their absences have been sorely, sorely, sorely felt in a primary quarter that noticed the underside fall out. The Warriors missed 14 consecutive pictures at one level, scoring simply 10 factors. It was the fewest the staff has scored in 1 / 4 in 11 seasons beneath coach Steve Kerr.
It in some way bought even worse late within the second quarter. With 4:33 left within the second quarter, Draymond Inexperienced bought twisted up with Sixers ahead Dominick Barlow.
Inexperienced got here up limping, and went straight to the locker room after the following stoppage. He was later dominated out with a proper foot damage. The Warriors shot 14 of 48 from the sector within the first half, however issues improved throughout the third quarter.
Keyed by Spencer and Buddy Hield, the Warriors outscored the Sixers 32-24 within the quarter, and minimize the deficit to 84-81 halfway by the fourth quarter after happening a 15-0 run.
The Warriors led 98-94 after Spencer buried a 3-pointer to provide him 16 factors, however the Sixers minimize the deficit to at least one level with 36 seconds remaining. On a late possession with 14 seconds to go, Kerr challenged a name {that a} ball went off Gui Santos, and it was profitable. However after a pair unsuccessful inbounds, the Sixers’ Edgecome bought the steal and possession of the ball with 8.2 seconds remaining.
Then Edgecombe put again Maxey’s miss to ship the Warriors again to the locker room as losers.
One of many brightest spots was Melton, who made his season debut after lacking the previous yr with an ACL damage. He put up 14 factors on 5 of 11 capturing in simply 21 minutes. And Moses Moody scored 14 to guide the beginning unit. Maxey poured in 35 for the Sixers.
The Warriors (11-12) will play in Cleveland on Saturday, earlier than concluding the street journey in Chicago on Sunday.
Kuminga and Podziemski wrestle
With each of the celebs out, Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski got the inexperienced mild to take over the offense. Because the staff’s most notable younger gamers, the 2 23-year-olds had a possibility to indicate that they’ll carry a staff with out Curry or Butler.
They each had their moments — Kuminga thrilled with a few dunks — however neither dominated. Kuminga completed minus-16, whereas Podziemski was minus-20. Kuminga completed with 9 factors and Podziemski had six. Neither performed within the fourth quarter.
Athleticism points
The Warriors have determined to hitch their proverbial wagon to a core of gamers of their mid-to-late 30-something year-olds, which suggests the staff will, naturally, be much less athletic than youthful groups.
However even when the older stars don’t play, the Warriors nonetheless play at a pace deficit. That was on full show in Philadelphia. Although the Sixers are removed from essentially the most organized offense, that hardly mattered. Maxey, Edgecombe and the remainder of Philadelphia’s roster repeatedly blew previous their defenders.
Horford returns
Al Horford returned to the rotation after lacking the previous two weeks with numerous accidents. His first recreation again noticed him make his first begin of the season and match up towards former MVP Joel Embiid.
He made his first shot, a 3-pointer from the highest of the arc, however like the remainder of the staff, couldn’t get it happening offense. The three-pointer was his lone basket in 18 minutes as he shot 1 of 8.
Butler damage replace
Butler’s knee damage warranted an MRI, a take a look at that got here again detrimental. The Warriors star missed the sport in Philadelphia after sitting out the complete second half of Tuesday’s matchup towards Oklahoma Metropolis.
He tweaked the ankle within the second quarter Tuesday whereas additionally coping with a decrease physique damage sustained throughout a fall towards New Orleans on Sunday. Butler has began 20 video games this season, averaging 19.5 factors and 5.0 assists per recreation.
Sixers connections
The sport in Philadelphia was a homecoming for almost half of the Warriors roster and a very good chunk of the Golden State teaching employees. Hield and Melton have been teammates in 2023-24, whereas Butler performed for the staff in 2018-19 and Horford spent a single season with the staff.
Longtime assistant coach Ron Adams coached in Philadelphia from 1994 to 1996, whereas Jerry Stackhouse was the No. 3 general choose by the Sixers in 1995.
