Sixers Bell Ringer: Fourth-quarter run lifts Sixers to sixth straight win

Note: There is no traditional recap post for this game.

Sixers Bell Ringer Season Standings:

Joel Embiid - 17
Ben Simmons - 7
Tobias Harris - 7
Shake Milton - 4
Matisse Thybulle - 2
Tyrese Maxey - 1
Dakota Mathias - 1

After a slow start where neither team could buy a bucket, the Knicks pulled ahead late in the second quarter, and maintained a single-digit lead for most of the second half. The Sixers finally broke through, however, going on a 12-2 push midway through the fourth quarter, capped by a Seth Curry 3 with five minutes remaining to recapture the lead at 90-89. Then, with the game tied at 92, Tobias Harris scored on consecutive possessions to put the Sixers firmly in the driver’s seat to close out what ended as a 99-96 Philadelphia victory. Riding a now-six-game winning streak, Doc Rivers’ club will be right back at it tomorrow night against Milwaukee. First, though, we have to select our Bell Ringer.

Tobias Harris: 30 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 0 turnovers

Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

Tobias seemed jacked up to go up against Julius Randle and the Knicks Tuesday night. Randle had secured one of those final All-Star spots out of the Eastern Conference, which Harris clearly though rightfully belonged to him. Early in the game, Tobi was the rare Sixer who could hit an outside shot, knocking down his first four treys on the night. He also played solid defense on Randle in the second half, helping hold the Knicks’ All-Star to 2-of-10 shooting after halftime. What people will remember most about Tobias’ night, though, was his shifting into 2008 Brad Lidge mode and becoming the closer. Harris scored eight points inside the final five minutes of the game, including those back-to-back buckets to put the Sixers ahead for good. I haven’t seen Tobias as fired up on a basketball court as when he was yelling “I’m an All-Star” after putting the Sixers up by four.

Ben Simmons: 16 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 turnovers

Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images

Ben’s offensive output (8-of-14 from the field for 16 points) looks solid if not spectacular, but I thought he was attacking the basket about as aggressively as we’ve seen him and easily could have drawn a handful of fouls on plays where the refs’ whistles remained silent. He and Seth had a nice two-man game working where Curry would receive the dribble-handoff and instantly come off Ben’s screen, resulting in three or four buckets for Seth. Defensively, it was a stock-less night for Simmons, but he was flying around the court, breaking up a couple Knicks fast breaks and playing strong perimeter defense. Ben is now 13-0 lifetime against the Knicks.

Seth Curry: 20 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover

Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

After a quiet first half, Seth came alive in the third quarter, hitting three 3s and scoring 14 points in the period to help prevent the Knicks from pulling too far ahead. Curry was showing off the diversity in his offensive game, converting on a hi-speed scoop shot, a high-arcing floaters in the lane, and a running banker. His biggest shot came in the fourth, however, the 28-foot bomb that gave the Sixers their first lead since very early in the second quarter. Some of the best shooters in the world were struggling from the MTN DEW Zone last week in the 3-point contest, and Seth is out here knocking down that shot at a critical moment of a highly-competitive game.

Dwight Howard: 11 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1 turnover

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Howard’s recent play continues to be an absolute delight to watch. He is a constant boulder of energy, securing boards and getting his putback points around the rim. Dwight even knocked down a 19-foot jumper in the first quarter when no one else could hit a shot. But Howard put his stamp on this win in the fourth quarter when he blocks Julius Randle through the hardwood down into the Flyers’ ice rink. “That’s for my boy, Tobi!” I imagined Dwight thinking.