Four of the biggest takeaways from the Philadelphia 76ers' win over the Golden State Warriors.
The Philadelphia 76ers (29-21) extended their winning streak to five games on Tuesday night with a 113-94 victory over the Stephen Curry-less Golden State Warriors (27-24).
Here are four of the biggest takeaways from 76ers-Warriors:
1. V.J. Edgecombe Thrived
In a matchup without Joel Embiid, someone in the 76ers' starting five needed to step up. It was Edgecombe, as the rookie phenom finished the night with 25 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and two steals on 11 of 20 shooting in 40 minutes of action. It's worth mentioning he shot the ball quite poorly from three-point range (2 of 7), though.
With speculation swirling about whether or not the Sixers would part with the 20-year-old in a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Edgecombe keeps proving why he should be an untouchable.
2. The Warriors Need Stephen Curry To Win
Golden State simply doesn't have the firepower to emerge victorious against competitive teams without Curry in the mix. He was sidelined due to right patellofemoral pain syndrome.
The Warriors' leading scorers against Philadelphia were Gui Santos and Pat Spencer, who each recorded just 13 points. Behind them, Moses Moody tallied a dozen points, and a handful of players finished with 10 points (De'Anthony Melton, Quinten Post, Al Horford).
3. Andre Drummond, Adem Bona Filled In Nicely For Embiid
Embiid was absent because it was the second night of back-to-back, meaning Drummond and Bona would be called upon much more than usual. They filled in nicely for the seven-time All-Star, as the former concluded the night with 12 points and 12 rebounds on 5 of 11 shooting while the latter put up 11 points and seven rebounds on 83.3% shooting.
Given the way Drummond performed, it may have the 76ers thinking twice about dealing him prior to the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
4. The Other Philadelphia Guards Had Quiet Nights
The 76ers' backcourt is widely regarded as one of the most talented in the NBA. However, Tyrese Maxey, Quentin Grimes, and Jared McCain had rather quiet outings, with none of the three recording 15 or more points.
To find success in Thursday's matchup against the 30-19 Los Angeles Lakers, better play will be needed from this group.
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