Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) – Isaiah Thomas posted 23 points and
eight assists off the bench as the Phoenix Suns pummeled the Philadelphia
76ers, 122-96.
Thomas was one of eight Suns to reach double figures, as they improved to 3-1
on a six-game road trip. One of those players was Eric Bledsoe, who backed up
his controversial comments from earlier this week with a 13-point, 7-assist
performance.
Bledsoe said in a radio interview leading up to the game that the 76ers would
lose a seven-game series to his alma mater and current No. 1 team in college
basketball, Kentucky. The comments sparked endless debates on social media and
prompted a number of media outlets to weigh in on the subject.
One Las Vegas sportsbook set the spread for the hypothetical game with
Philadelphia as 17-point favorites.
Regardless, the Sixers failed to make Bledsoe eat his words and fell to 0-12
after yet another embarrassing loss. Three more losses and they’ll match the
franchise and NBA record for worst start to a season, set in 1972-73.
Michael Carter-Williams scored 18 points and K.J. McDaniels had 17 off the
bench.
Nerlens Noel fouled Bledsoe hard on the game’s first possession, drawing a
technical foul. The Sixers came out with a lot of energy and led 16-7 at the
first timeout.
Phoenix absorbed the early blow and came out of the huddle on a 10-2 run.
McDaniels hit a 3 and Alexey Shved connected on a pair of them, and the Sixers
led 27-26 after one.
The second quarter belonged to Thomas and Gerald Green, who scored 14 between
them in just over three minutes to begin the period. The Suns used that run to
go back in front.
Thomas and Green combined for 28 points in the first half on 10 shots. The duo
hit a perfect 10-for-10 from the floor, with Thomas also converting all five
of his free throw attempts.
Phoenix won the second by 26 points and led 67-44 at halftime.
The Sixers never threatened in the second half, never getting closer than 21
points.
Game Notes
Nine of Philly’s 12 losses this season have come by double digits … Philly
natives Markieff and Marcus Morris scored 18 and 11, respectively, for the
Suns. Anthony Tolliver, Archie Goodwin and Green all scored 11 off the bench
… The Sixers only shot 4-for-23 from behind the arc, with Shved making 3-
of-5 attempts from deep.
