The Philadelphia 76ers found themselves playing catch-up early against the Washington Wizards on Thursday night, something that cost them the game as they took a 119-113 loss, their seventh loss on the road. The star duo of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons admitted the Sixers “relaxed” too much against a beatable opponent, which ultimately spelled their struggles against a motivated and engaged Wizards team.
“We came in too relaxed, didn’t take care of the ball, waited too long down the stretch trying to get the game back,” said Simmons, according to Marc Narducci of The Philadelphia Inquirer, who finished with 17 points and 10 assists, but committed seven turnovers.
“We have to have the mentality where we have to come in focused, no matter who we playing, regardless of the situation.”
At 15-7, the Sixers are holding onto fifth place in the East, but that is hardly where they hope to be by the end of the 2019-20 season after making blockbuster moves in the summer. Embiid admitted his team let go of the rope after taking a 33-25 first quarter lead, only to give up a 40-point quarter to Bradley Beal and the Wizards, who outscored the Sixers by 18 in the second frame — taking a 10-point lead into the half.
“We were up in the first quarter and then we kind of relaxed in the second quarter and they got hot,” said Embiid, who put up 26 points and 21 rebounds, but also coughed up eight turnovers. “Trying to get back in the game, it wasn’t enough.”
Simmons and Embiid combined for 15 of the Sixers' 21 turnovers, an issue that has plagued them on the road. Despite shooting a sparkling 53.2% from the field and 46.4% from deep, the Sixers' nonchalant attitude allowed the Wizards to get back in the game and take control of it, earning them a well-deserved result.
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