76ers earn 1st pre-December win in 3 years
It's not often a team starts a season 1-7 and calls it progress, but there's nothing conventional about the recent history of the Philadelphia 76ers.
After losing 44 straight October/November games over parts of the last four seasons, the 76ers outlasted the Indiana Pacers on Friday, winning 109-105 in overtime.
It's the first pre-December win for Philadelphia since Nov. 22, 2013, as the team began the 2014-15 season with 17 consecutive losses, then matched an NBA record with an 0-18 start in 2015-16.
After blowing a late lead against the Pacers on Wednesday in Indiana, the Sixers blew a five-point lead over the final 25 seconds of regulation on Friday. Paul George, who nailed the OT-forcing jumper late in the fourth quarter two nights prior, sent Friday's game to an extra period with a pair of free throws that came with less than three seconds remaining.
Unlike Wednesday, however, Philly recovered in overtime.
Rookie big man Joel Embiid, who was expected to watch overtime from the bench due to his minutes limit, entered the extra frame with 1:57 remaining and proceeded to rack up five points and two rebounds to seal the victory. The 2014 No. 3 pick finished with 25 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and a block in 26 minutes of action, though he also shot 6-of-18 and committed five turnovers.
#TrustTheProcess.