Sixers Bell Ringer: Game 27 - Sixers cap off successful back-to-back with win over Pelicans

For a refresher on our Bell Ringer series, take a look back at our first post of the season.

Bell Ringer Standings

Josh Richardson - 5
Tobias Harris - 5
Ben Simmons - 5
Joel Embiid - 5
Matisse Thybulle - 3
Furkan Korkmaz - 1
Al Horford - 1
James Ennis - 1

After the Sixers built an early 16-point lead, they watched as Brandon Ingram (game-high 32 points) and the Pelicans charged back into the game, eventually taking a brief 71-70 lead in the third quarter. However, that would prove to be New Orleans’ only lead of the game, as Philadelphia then went on a 9-0 run to retake control.

Although there were some hairy moments in a final few minutes that, between missed free throws and ill-advised fouls by the Sixers, took about two hours, Philadelphia pulled out the 116-109 victory. The Sixers are now 14-0 at Wells Fargo Center, and with Miami’s 113-110 loss tonight to the Lakers, the only remaining NBA team undefeated at home. The Sixers are fully embracing the Under Armour creed. Let’s fully embrace tonight’s Bell Ringer candidates.

Tobias Harris: 31 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 0 turnovers

Coming into the season, Tobias knew he would be playing a lot more small forward, and worked on how to dominate down low against smaller defenders. The fruits of that labor are on display, as Harris went off for 31 points, the seventh time in his last eight games he scored at least 20 points. Any time he wanted, Tobi could bully his defender before rising up to shoot over him. When it was Brandon Ingram on him, who might have the requisite height, Harris could outmuscle him to create space for himself.

You could see all the attention Harris is drawing at the end of the third quarter when three defenders swarmed him on a drive in the lane and he kicked it out to a wide-open James Ennis for 3. It was a very efficient night for him, going 12-of-20 from the floor and 6-of-7 from the foul line. Without the same sort of fanfare that surrounds the team’s two cornerstone stars, Tobias has emerged as the most potent offensive weapon for the Sixers.

Ben Simmons: 24 points, 3 rebounds, 11 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks, 1 turnover

After catching heat for not attacking 6-foot-1 Kemba Walker on the interior up in Boston, Simmons was not afraid to go right at Kenrich Wiliams, Jrue Holiday, Josh Hart, or whatever non-6-foot-10 guy was trying to keep him from the rim. Ben scored in transition, off post-ups, and making hard off-ball cuts. His 15 field goal attempts were his most since the November 2 game in Portland.

Simmons was vital in the Sixers turning the game back around in third quarter, recording seven points, three assists, two steals, and two blocks in the period. He got up to block a Jrue Holiday attempt at the rim, and later stole the ball from Josh Hart and fed the ball up-court for a James Ennis dunk to once against stretch the lead to double digits. Ben even settled down and made five of his eight free throws when New Orleans went to Hack-a-Ben late in the game. Serviceable! The Sixers need this Ben Simmons, terrific on defense, but also willing to play the role of aggressor offensively.

Joel Embiid: 24 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers

It wasn’t a Godfather 2-like follow-up to Joel’s masterpiece Thursday night, but Embiid put forth a quality effort, playing 31 minutes one night after logging 36 minutes against the Celtics. The face-up jumper was the weapon of choice tonight. I liked how he caught rookie Jaxson Hayes reaching in on the gather for the jump shot, earning an and-one and prompting Joel to whip out the finger guns. Embiid maintained his legs in getting to the foul line 10 times in the fourth quarter, part of his 11-of-14 evening at the charity stripe.

Norvel Pelle: 6 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks, 2 turnovers

On a night the Sixers were a little flat-footed after having played on the night before, Pelle entered the scene as a jolt of electricity. He was the catalyst of the defining sequence in the first half, first sending a Jahlil Okafor shot at the rim out past the 3-point line, leading to a Ben Simmons slam in transition. Then, Norvel erased a dunk attempt by Brandon Ingram, initiating a 3-pointer on the other end for James Ennis (who was also fouled, but missed the free throw). In a flash, a 4-point Sixers lead was up to 9, and the crowd was fully energized.

Pelle later added another block and tipped home a pair of offensive rebounds as part of his 3-of-4 night from the floor. Both Brett Brown and Ben Simmons independently referred to Norvel as Nerlens-esque in post-game interviews, which I regard as the highest of compliments. The five fouls in 12 minutes is something Pelle could cut back on, but Brown seemed to think they came as a result of contesting everything in sight, and didn’t seem concerned. Overall, it was a great job by the two-way player to step up and provide a spark.