3 observations after Sixers grind out foul-filled summer league win

3 observations after Sixers grind out foul-filled summer league win originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers survived a foul-filled summer league game Tuesday evening.

On a night in which they shot 40 for 44 at the free throw line (90.9 percent) as a team, the Sixers ground out a 92-90 win over the Timberwolves and improved to 2-1 in the Las Vegas summer league.

Fittingly, the final stretch was stuffed with fouls, including an offensive foul by Minnesota’s Rob Dillingham on Judah Mintz that (debatably) stood after a T-Wolves challenge. Jeff Dowtin Jr. split a pair of free throws to leave the door open for Minnesota, but Daishen Nix fumbled a Dillingham pass and the Timberwolves couldn’t get a shot off before the final buzzer.

Sixers rookie Jared McCain scored 21 points on 5-for-16 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds. Nix and Leonard Miller posted 22 points apiece.

Next up for the Sixers is a matchup with the Spurs on Friday night at 8:30 p.m. ET. Here are observations on their second Vegas victory:

Monstrous free throw volume

Entering Tuesday, Rick Council IV’s 11.5 free throw attempts per game led all players in Las Vegas. He took six more in the first quarter vs. Minnesota and made each one.

As a team, the Sixers went 14 for 14 at the free throw line over the first 7 minutes and 10 seconds. They ended up draining their first 22 foul shots of the game.

The officials blew tons and tons of whistles for each side, granting minimal leeway for any sort of contact. That sure did not make for an especially fluid or fan-friendly contest … but plenty of players got in-game free throw reps.

With a 4-for-4 evening at the foul line, Adem Bona moved to 11 for 11 in summer league overall. For a rookie who made 57.3 percent of his foul shots as a UCLA freshman and 69.6 percent as a sophomore, his free throws have looked very good.

Outside of foul shots, both teams struggled to score efficiently or generate offensive rhythm. The Sixers were 34.8 percent from the floor and 4 for 26 (15.4 percent) from three-point range.

McCain’s confidence intact

McCain missed his first two field goals, but he knocked down a long…

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Author : NBC Sports Philadelphia

Publish date : 2024-07-17 03:05:11

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