The San Antonio Spurs struggled to contain Philadelphia’s dynamic duo, Tyrese Maxey and Gershon Yabusele, as they fell 111-106 to the 76ers on the road. Despite a strong start by Victor Wembanyama, who scored 26 points, including several big threes, the Spurs’ inability to hit shots from beyond the arc and their turnover struggles ultimately cost them the game.
The key to the 76ers’ success lay in their defensive play, which they employed with a level of physicality that forced the officials to blow the whistle. When the calls didn’t come, San Antonio’s offense struggled to find its rhythm. However, the Spurs did have some bright spots, particularly from rookie Stephon Castle, who led a late push and scored a clutch dunk.
The game was marked by controversy, including an ejection of Joel Embiid in the first half and several officials’ miscalls that went against the Spurs. Despite these issues, Wembanyama played like a superstar, and Jeremy Sochan had a solid overall game, playing with energy from the start.
However, the Spurs will need to find consistency on offense if they hope to compete with top teams like the 76ers. Harrison Barnes and Keldon Johnson combined to shoot 0-for-9 from outside, while Devin Vassell struggled with his shot as well. Chris Paul played a season-high 34 minutes but may have been overused.
The Spurs will look to bounce back on Christmas against the New York Knicks, who offer a stiff test for their young team. With Wembanyama’s emergence, the NBA is eager to showcase him to a national audience, and he’ll need to lead his team to victory in order to do so.
Source: https://www.poundingtherock.com/2024/12/23/24328479/spurs-76ers-final-score-joel-embiid-ejected