Before facing the Cavs, the Sixers had only signed one prestigious success this season, on December 25, 2024, against the Celtics. For the rest, when we looked at the 15 victories, we mainly saw teams from the bottom of the table: the Hornets (four times), the Nets (twice), the Jazz, the Blazers, the Wizards…
This is why bringing down Cleveland is important for morale, especially without Joel Embiid. “It feels good, it feels good. The season is not going our way, luck has not been on our side, but now, it feels good”insists Paul George. “We did everything well in this match and we were rewarded. »
However, the winger was not off to a good start in this meeting. When he returned to the locker room, he had only scored 9 points and lost 4 balls…
“At first he was hesitant. He was thinking too much: should I shoot or penetrate?constate Nick Nurse. “In the second half, he started playing. He made some good penetrations, some good passes. It only took him a minute to get into the rhythm of the match. We clearly saw the difference in his confidence. »
-Paul George woke up in the second half
With 21 points at 7/12 shooting in the second half, the former Pacers, Thunder and Clippers will indeed make a difference. Particularly with his winning basket less than five minutes from the end, on the head of Jarrett Allen, at the end of the possession, which did so much good for his team.
“Paul did Paul”rejoices Kelly Oubre Jr., also very good after the break and who finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds. “That’s what we expect of him. He was good and was a good catalyst for us during the game. He did a great job of staying mentally strong during the game, handling the pressure. »
So, is this a benchmark victory for the Sixers? Memorable in any case. “Everyone was on the same page. The ball was moving well, we didn’t get too excited, we remained calm throughout the game, even when they accelerated. This is the style we wanted to play”analyse Kelly Oubre Jr. “I think we have learned a lot in recent matches and recent weeks. »
