Sixers Fall to 0-11 With Home Loss to Boston

By Doug Ammon, Sixers.com

Coming off an arduous three-game tilt against three of the Western Conference’s top teams, the Sixers were thankful to play Wednesday’s game against the Celtics in the comfort of their own arena. Unfortunately, the team couldn’t capture its first victory of the season, falling 101-90.

Philadelphia kept it close throughout the majority of the game but fell behind by double digits midway through the fourth quarter and never recovered. The league’s youngest team at an average of just 23.3 years old, the Sixers have experienced inevitable growing pains as head coach Brett Brown works to develop his players.

MCW And Noel Make First Start

Tonight’s game was a year in the making for Sixers fans but a lifetime in the making for Michael Carter-Williams and Nerlens Noel. The two young faces of the Sixers’ franchise have been playing together since their high school days on the AAU circuit with BABC (Boston Amateur Basketball Club).

It was fitting that the two made their first start together against the Celtics because the city of Boston was where the pair started their journey. Bigger, stronger, and faster than in their formative years, the two played well against the Celtics. Carter-Williams finished with 11 points, six rebounds, and five assists, and Nerlens Noel notched 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block.

Moving forward, the fellow 2013 first-round selections are projected to start at point guard and power forward, respectively.

Wroten’s New Role

With Carter-Williams stepping into the starting lineup, Tony Wroten came off the bench for the first time this season. The 21-year-old combo guard has filled in for the reigning Rookie of the Year admirably, and was leading the team in scoring at 19.1 points per game coming into the game.

Like he has done all season, Wroten attacked the rim with ferocity, finishing the game with 21 points and seven assists, both of which were team highs. Thirteen of his 19 shot attempts came inside the restricted area.

Before the game, Coach Brown hinted the possibility of Wroten and Carter-Williams playing extended minutes together on the floor, which the crowd got a glimpse of tonight. The two logged 32 and 28 minutes, respectively, and were together on the floor for 20 minutes total.

Moment of the Game: Tony Wroten from WAY deep

With the Sixers down eight with only seconds left in the third quarter, Tony Wroten collected an inbound pass and the Sixers baseline. With a blur, he was at half court. A quick crossover left a defender in the dust, and Wroten tossed up a 38-foot heave and buried it as time expired. The shot brought Philadelphia within five going into the fourth quarter.

Next Up

The Sixers will return to action on Friday, November 21at 7:00 PM (EST) when they host the Phoenix Suns .The Suns are (7-5) and coming off an 88-86 win against the Detroit Pistons.