Quentin Grimes, Sixers thwart Nets’ comeback attempt
Quentin Grimes scored 28 points, as the Philadelphia 76ers notched a 104-97 home victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday afternoon.
Adem Bona chipped in with nine points, 10 rebounds and four blocks for Philadelphia, which continued to play without Tyrese Maxey (finger), Joel Embiid (oblique), and Paul George (suspension), among others. VJ Edgecombe contributed 16 points and seven assists for the Sixers, who had dropped five of their previous seven games. Justin Edwards added 19 points.
Brooklyn lost for the 13th time in 15 games despite erasing a 28-point, second-half deficit. Danny Wolf scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to pace the Nets, who took the court without several key players, including top scorer Michael Porter Jr. (ankle).
Philadelphia led 67-39 with about seven minutes left in the third quarter and held a 21-point lead to start the fourth. However, Brooklyn came roaring back, beginning with 3-pointers from Tyson Etienne and Josh Minott to begin the final period.
E.J. Lidell's 3-pointer with 6:03 left brought Brooklyn's deficit to single digits. With under four minutes remaining, Lidell and Etienne drained 3-pointers to put the visitors up by a point.
The Sixers regrouped down the stretch, though, as Edwards' layup and Grimes' jumper helped Philadelphia go ahead by five. Nolan Traore's 3-pointer with 23.9 seconds left brought the Nets within three before Grimes and Edgecombe combined to make five free throws in the final 20 seconds.
The Sixers led by 10 less than seven minutes into the game and held a 13-point lead after one.
Philadelphia dominated the second quarter, as Edwards' layup in the final minute of the half pushed the lead to 25 for the first time. The Sixers went on to lead 53-31 at intermission.
Brooklyn shot just 26.8 percent from the field in the first half, including 3 of 20 from outside the arc. Fourteen first-half turnovers didn't help matters either.
Things improved for the Nets in the third quarter, as they made 5-of-10 3-pointers in the period. However, they converted only 2-of-10 shots from inside the arc, allowing them to barely chip away at the significant deficit.
Brooklyn trailed by as many as 28 early in the third quarter before getting within 77-56 after three. However, the Nets' 41-point fourth quarter set up the dramatic finish.