By Brian Seltzer, sixers.com
MIAMI, FL – The 76ers’ exhibition finale might not have counted for anything in the standings, but it certainly provided an encouraging springboard heading into the regular season.
On Friday, the organization’s top two rookies shined, another promising young prospect returned to action, and, on top of all that, there was a winning outcome.
Joel Embiid and Dario Saric combined for 37 points and 16 rebounds, as the Sixers delivered a 113-110 come-from-behind victory over the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena.
“I think we’ve had a good week of practice, had spirited practices,” said Brett Brown, whose team last played on Saturday. The Sixers trailed Miami by eight points at the half.
“I thought at the start of the game our defense and our fouling was a C-minus, and I thought each period got a little better. I thought we walked down that second half, and had a really good defensive effort.
“I thought to end the preseason playing good defense…only having 15 turnovers, something we talked about all week, is a good way to end preseason.”
Embiid and Saric each set personal pre-season scoring highs with 18 (8-16 fg) and 19 points (8-14 fg), respectively.
In addition to their efforts, Friday brought with it another welcomed development. Jahlil Okafor, listed as “doubtful” one day earlier, was upgraded to “questionable” for the game following morning shootaround.
The second-year center registered four points (1-1 fg, 2-4 ft) and one rebound in his first appearance in nearly eight months.
“I felt good,” said Okafor, who looked the part. He moved aggressively and smoothly on both ends of the court.
“I really got going so I wanted to continue to play. I have the people on the medical staff to keep me disciplined to let me know what the big picture is.”
Entering Friday’s tilt, Okafor had last been at the Sixers’ disposal on February 28th, during a stop in Orlando. The next day, he started to feel pain in his right knee. Within weeks, Okafor’s rookie campaign was over, due to an right meniscus operation.
“I thought he was good defensively,” said Brown. “I thought he sat in his stance and moved his feet. I thought he did a great job of fronting the post.”
Brown first brought Okafor in off the bench with seven minutes, 44 seconds to go in the opening quarter. Two minutes later, he drew a foul on Miami’s massive Hassan Whiteside, and subsequently went 1-for-2 from the free throw line.
On the Sixers’ next trip down the floor, Okafor spun to the interior for a lay-up, his lone field goal versus the Heat. The possession after that, he again generated contact, and again split his free throws, giving him four points in a row.
Okafor checked out with just over four minutes remaining in the first quarter, then came back at the outset of the second. He logged four more minutes before reaching his eight-minute max.
“The scoring piece to my game is like riding a bicycle,” he said. “I know I can score the ball, so it was good to get back out there and be out there with my teammates.”
“I tried to talk to coach to see if I could get a few more minutes, but he was like, ‘have your lawyer call my lawyer,’” Okafor joked.
As much as Friday represented a solid first step for Okafor, it also served as another reminder of the progress that his fellow five-man, Joel Embiid, has made. The 22-year old achieved a personal-best in points for a second straight outing, doing most of his damage inside the lane.
With Okafor back in the fold, Brown was able to manage Embiid’s 20-minute playing time budget so that the Kansas product was available to help close out a competitive affair. Embiid subbed in with four minutes, 26 seconds left, and, despite fouling out two minutes later, produced two key rebounds and an insurance lay-up that enabled the Sixers to keep Miami at bay.
“[Friday] was a great opportunity for us to sub it, and learn how to use it,” said Brown, “and integrate Jahlil into that rotation coming in for Joel.”
Jerami Grant supplied two pivotal free throws in the final seconds, finishing with a pre-season high tying 17 points. He went 9-for-12 from the line.
Sergio Rodriguez got the Sixers going in the third quarter, and netted 13 points (5-10 fg, 2-4 3fg) via an efficient shooting effort. He handed out four assists in his second consecutive starting assignment.
Just because Okafor came back Friday didn’t mean the Sixers got through the game clean on the injury front. Robert Covington sustained a right ankle sprain in the first half, and was shut down at intermission.
Prior to tip-off, the Sixers provided a series of updates on several players.
Jerryd Bayless, sidelined since training camp, was diagnosed with a ligament injury in his left wrist. For now, the point guard doesn’t plan to have surgery.
Nerlens Noel, meanwhile, will need to go under the knife at some point in the near future. Following the Sixers’ exhibition opener, he reported pain in his left groin. In the days that followed, the third-year center’s left knee became sore. He has an inflamed plica that will require a procedure.
As for Ben Simmons, Brown said Friday that, in respect to the early stages of the number one pick’s right foot rehab, “everything is on track.”
“It’s only been two weeks since the surgery,” said Brown, “and I feel like over time – a short period of time – we can be better prepared to give a statement that will map out his future.”
Simmons recently had the sutures removed from his foot. His recovery program is being overseen by Sixers Director of Performance Research & Development David Martin, and newly-hired Director of Physiotherapy and Clinical Diagnostics Scott Epsley.
