By Josh Liddick, Sports Talk Philly Staff
It seems that no matter what the Philadelphia 76ers can accomplish during the game throughout, the opposing team finds ways to close out games and steal victories from the Sixers.
The Sixers traveled to Phoenix to face the Suns on Friday night, and the result wasn't what it seemed like it was going to be. In the first half, it was Philadelphia's game, the second half started that way, until Phoenix used a 31-9 run to their advantage and take the win vs. the lowly Sixers.
The one-two tandem of Eric Bledsoe and Devin Booker was the difference maker on the night, because they were nearly impossible to control throughout.
Heck, even bench player T.J. Warren had the third most points on the night for the Suns, so it goes to show just the kind of night the players in Philly were in for.
Brett Brown had the Sixers in a position to take the win cleanly without any kind of flashiness, just good, clean basketball.
28 minutes played, Joel Embiid was the star once again just like every other game that he is fortunate enough to participate in. 27 points, seven rebounds and two blocks were the statline for the rookie center, as whenever he played his heart out, the team around him did as well.
The Suns shot better percentage wise (53.2%) compared to the Sixers (50.6%), and turnovers and missed opportunities were the main reasons why the Sixers were unable to finish the job against another mediocre team, comparable to themselves. Sergio Rodriguez' 21 points, and Ro-Co's 16 were gifts of positivity for the Sixers, but in the grand scheme of things, it wouldn't have made a difference either way.
Besides the Sixers play in the first half, there is always another half of basketball to play, and it just went to show that the Suns were the better team on this given night.
Dario Saric and Ersan Ilyasova got the three ball moving especially towards the end of the game, but before the Sixers tried to mount a comeback, they pretty much realized that it was a pretty lofty goal.
Phoenix ran a smart, consistent, dominant second half and it proved to be the achilles' heel for Brown and his Sixers squad. The Suns won a big home game, 123-116.
The Sixers will play a day removed from Christmas on Monday, as they travel to Sacramento to take on the Kings at 10:30 p.m. ET.
