Joel Embiid, Robert Covington lead Sixers in victory over Clippers
Joel Embiid has game high of 32 points and 16 rebounds.
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LOS ANGELES – Let's just say that JJ Redick had a happy homecoming on a night he struggled shooting the ball.
The 76ers defeated the Los Angeles Clippers, 109-105, on Monday night in Redick's first game back in the Staples Center against his former team.
The victory improved to Sixers to 7-6 and snapped their two-game losing streak. Meanwhile, the Clippers (5-8) extended their losing streak to six games.
This game wasn't decided until the final second, though.
Robert Covington's three-pointer with 33 seconds left gave the Sixers a 103-101 advantage. Ben Simmons added a pair of foul shots to make it a four-point came with 22 seconds remaining. Austin Rivers closed the gap to one point, 105-104, with a three-pointer with 11.9 left.
Covington responded with a pair of foul shots to make it a three-point game with 10.6 seconds left. Then Williams was fouled with 3 seconds left. He made the first foul shot before intentionally missing the second. Covington grabbed the rebound and went on to make a pair of foul shots to give the Sixers the victory.
The Sixers forward finished with 31 points on 9 for 12 shooting. He made all eight of his foul shots.
Joel Embiid finished with game highs of 32 points and 16 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season. Ben Simmons added 22 points and 12 rebounds. It was the rookie point guard's eighth double-double.
Redick finished with 10 points on 3-for-10 shooting. He struggled on three-pointers, making just 1 of 7.
Former Sixer Lou Williams paced the Clippers with 31 points. He scored 16 in the fourth quarter. Blake Griffin added 29 points in the loss.
The game had a heated moment early in the second quarter when Emdiid did what he does – frustrate people.
He apparently got in Willie Reed's head while smiling at the agitated Clippers reserve center on a defensive possession in the second quarter. That came after Reed got in Embiid's face when the Clipper was called for traveling.
On the ensuing possession, Embiid tried to take Reed off the dribble. However, the defender grabbed the Sixers big man around the neck and threw him to the ground. Embiid got up and charged at Reed before they were separated.
The Sixer yelled, "He can't [freaking] stop me" while walking down the court as the referees reviewed the play. Reed was issued a flagrant foul.
The Clippers were without starters Patrick Beverley (sore right knee), Danilo Gallinari (strained left glute) and Milos Teodosic (plantar fascia in left foot). Meanwhile, the Sixers didn't have reserves Jerryd Bayless (bruised left wrist), Markelle Fultz (scapular muscle imbalance and soreness in right shoulder), Nik Stauskas (sprained right ankle) and Jahlil Okafor (upper respiratory infection).