Sixers Drop Home Opener to Jazz, 99-71

Report From Philadelphia 76ers

Game Recap: Jazz 99, 76ers 71

Snapshot:

The 76ers (0-2) could never get in sync against the Utah Jazz (1-1) on Friday night, falling 99-71 in their home-opener at The Center. Utah, which last season yielded the fewest points per game in the NBA, locked down defensively, as the Sixers managed just 19 field goals on only 63 attempts. The Jazz also forced their hosts into committing 19 turnovers, and out-rebounded the Sixers by 12.

Nik Stauskas, in his first appearance for the Sixers, shared team-high scoring honors with Jerami Grant; both put up 12 points. Jahlil Okafor, who received a loud ovation during pre-game player introductions, deposited 10 points, again finishing in double-figures. He also did so on Wednesday in his debut.

Derrick Favors – in his sixth season out of Georgia Tech – racked up a double-double, with 20 points and 12 rebounds, both individual game-high totals. His frontcourt partner Rudy Gobert, the French native aptly nicknamed the “Stifle Tower,” blocked six shots, and pulled down 11 rebounds.

Top Moment:

Back spasms might have forced Nik Stauskas to wait an extra two days to make his Sixers debut, but once he checked into Friday’s game with 8:03 to go in the first quarter, the second-year pro wasted little time giving the crowd what it wanted. About 90 seconds after subbing in, Stauskas found himself floating alone on the wing. With Nerlens Noel commanding defensive attention down low, and the arena noticing Stauskas was still unguarded, a murmur began to build. The big man then kicked a pass out to the sharpshooter, who snapped the net for a triple on his first career field goal attempt as a Sixer.

Brett Brown Said – On Nik Stauskas’ first appearance with the Sixers

“You feel you want to play him. He’s on a minutes restriction. You want to play him more. You can see what he can do.”

Of Note:

Against a sizeable and rugged Utah front line, the Sixers’ starting bigs ran into a far greater challenge than they did Wednesday against the Boston Celtics. Throughout the evening, Jazz head coach Quin Snyder had forward Derrick Favors and center Rudy Gobert alternate defensive assignments on Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel. The duo combined for 18 points, after teaming up for 40 points at TD Garden.

Noel, in particular, had some tough bounces go against him. He missed his first six shots, ultimately tallying eight points, and going two for 12 from the field. On the other end of the court, Noel fared better, snagging 10 rebounds. He now has collected 22 boards through the first two games of the season.

Jahlil Okafor’s NBA debut in Boston stood out to another former Duke basketball player. Utah head coach Quin Snyder suited up as a point guard for the Blue Devils from 1985 through 1989. Before Friday’s match-up, he gave a complimentary critique of the rookie.

“His footwork is terrific. To me, that’s the foundation literally and figuratively of his whole game,” Snyder said. “He’s able to do things with his feet, his pivoting, with his shot-fakes, all the different things that anchor his skill set. I think that makes him really hard to guard. You can’t speed him up. There’s a poise that he has on the block. It comes from confidence. You look at the guys in the NBA that have that footwork, and that’s like a Carmelo Anthony, a Kobe Bryant. I’m not saying he’s obviously that. Who is? But there’s a poise to his game. Footwork is just such a big thing. It separates guys.”

Appearing in 73 games as a rookie for the Sacramento Kings last season, Nik Stauskas notched double-figures on nine occasions. He reached 12 points in his first outing with the Sixers, starting his night off with a triple, his first of two. Both treys were well-received by the home crowd, which gave Stauskas a strong cheer when he checked in off the bench in the first quarter.

Despite not having suited up for the Sixers prior to Friday, Stauskas already seems to have established a connection with the team’s base.

“Fans on social media have been pretty supportive,” Stauskas . “I know it’s been tough to be supportive because I haven’t really been able to play throughout the pre-season, but they’ve been supportive, and I’m excited to get out there and show them what it’s all about.”

Next Up:

The Sixers conclude a brief two-game homestand on Monday with a 7:00 PM EST pairing with the reigning Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers (2-1). The Cavs are considered the odds on favorite to win this season’s NBA championship. LeBron James was slowed during the pre-season with lingering back soreness. Kevin Love, back from a left shoulder injury that sidelined him for most of the 2015 playoffs, has posted 59 points and 35 rebounds through his first three games. Kyrie Irving will likely be out until January while recovering from the left kneecap fracture he sustained in the first game of the NBA Finals. Cleveland hosted Miami, James’ most recent former team, on Friday, winning 102-92.

I other team news: The Sixers also picked up options on three players Friday afternoon. Click here for more.