Sixers' rookies play well despite loss

ORLANDO - Sixers associate head coach Michael Curry wasn't worried about his team's 88-80 loss to the Houston Rockets yesterday.

Sure, the Sixers would have liked to have won their opener in the Orlando Pro Summer League. But at this stage, Curry is more concerned with getting his players court time than on the outcomes of the games.

"A lot of the young guys competed, they tried to do a lot of the things that we did in practice [during the week leading up to opener]," said Curry, who is coaching this year's summer squad. "We've probably got the most rookies [of any team at the summer league], which is great, so we get these guys a chance to cut their teeth into the league."

Michael Carter-Williams had 26 points, seven rebounds and eight assists and Rodney Williams added 12 points for the Sixers. Former Temple star Khalif Wyatt, who went undrafted 2 weeks ago, had nine points and three assists.

Carter-Williams, the former Syracuse star taken by the Sixers with the No. 11 pick in the draft, started at point guard and shot 8-for-23 from the field and 10-for-11 from the line. He also had nine turnovers.

"I was a little nervous out there, my first game, but [after] a few minutes, I was alright," Carter-Williams said. "It's a long process, and it's a learning experience. I'm just gonna take things from today and try to fix them.

The Sixers take on the Indiana Pacers today at 1 p.m.