Doc Rivers praises Dwight Howard, Sixers bench after win over Mavs
The Philadelphia 76ers have been needing their bench unit to step up and provide a spark after they had been struggling for a few weeks. On Thursday, they were able to get it done in a win over the Dallas Mavericks and they got a big boost from veteran Dwight Howard.
The 17-year veteran had 14 points and eight rebounds in the win and he gave the team a big boost when they needed it. His play allowed Joel Embiid to rest down the stretch and he only needed to play 27:41 in this one.
“He was awesome tonight and he did it against a small lineup, a big lineup,” said coach Doc Rivers. “He dominated the glass, man, when he plays like that and is focused like that, he’s fantastic. This is one of the best games he’s had for us and he’s been good overall, but tonight, I thought he really stood out.”
Howard also turned back the clock a bit when he flew down the lane and he threw down one of his classic old Superman dunks late in the game to really seal the win. That was something not expected this late in his career.
“It feels great to get out there and just play the game that I love at the highest level,” Howard said with a smile. “When I got the chance to come down the lane, I was thinking what Sam Cassell always tells me ‘You one dunking fool Dwight! So you go out there and you dunk every time!’ So that’s what we’ve been working on and it worked tonight.”
Dwight Howard turning back the clock! pic.twitter.com/PKOUtrfdvG
— Harrison Grimm (@Harrison_Grimm) February 26, 2021
The bench unit gave the team a big boost in the offensive department while also continuing the defensive momentum that the Sixers starting unit started the game with.
“I actually thought they turned the game around,” Rivers said. “I thought our first unit defensively was phenomenal but was really sluggish offensively, and then I thought our second unit came in, kept playing defense, and then we got out, and we started scoring and transition. I actually thought their energy changed the game tonight.”
Howard and the bench unit were able to get it done for one night, now the challenge for them is to keep going and play well on Saturday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“I was very happy with how we came out in the second half with our effort and our energy,” Howard stated. “On the defensive end, we did a great job of picking up, forcing Luka to take tough shots. I think Ben did an excellent job of getting into him and pressuring him, and that was great. I think our second unit did an amazing job tonight.”
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
