Georges Niang, Sixers discuss big shooting night in home win over Suns
PHILADELPHIA–The Philadelphia 76ers were able to come away with a 100-88 win over the Phoenix Suns on Monday as they used a big defensive effort as well as the boost Joel Embiid gave them to come away with a much-needed win.
However, they also got a career night from Georges Niang in order to come away with a win.
Niang knocked down seven triples, which tied a career-high for him, and he had 21 points, three shy of his career-high, and was a big reason why Philadelphia was able to close it out. He shot 4-for-6 on triples in the fourth quarter alone in order to help the Sixers put this one away.
“Forget Joel, tonight’s about Georges Niang,” laughed Tobias Harris. “Let me talk about Georges because he had a heck of a night for us. Early in that fourth quarter with that second unit, the game’s about timely shots when you have a lead and a team is trying to make a run.”
There was a stretch in the fourth quarter where the Suns had cut a double-digit deficit down to single digits and it looked like they were going to overcome the Sixers. However, Niang was able to put a stop to all of it.
“I thought Georges time after time throughout the game, especially early in the fourth quarter, was able to make big shots for us to move it from six points to nine, seven to 10, things of that nature which deflates the other team from time to time,” Harris added.
Tobias Harris when asked about Joel Embiid after the win jokingly said: “Man, forget Joel. Tonight’s about Georges Niang!” #Sixers
— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) November 8, 2022
A shooter like Niang thrives off ball movement. When the ball is hopping around like it was on Monday, then he can have success like that. The ball moving for Philadelphia on the offensive end allowed him to get open looks and he took advantage of them.
“I just think we are growing as a team,” said Niang. “When the ball is hopping, I think we are at our best having teams in rotation, driving bad closeouts, and kicking out. Not too many teams want to close, be driven in again, and having to close out. When we do that as a team and the ball is hopping, we look really good.”
Niang put up 10 triples which is exactly the type of number the Sixers want to see from The Minivan. He is an elite 3-point shooter and Philadelphia wants to see him take advantage of the easy looks he was able to come up with on the night.
“They were playing a lot of zone,” said coach Doc Rivers. “They were sagging in a lot and we just told our guys are drawn kick and find Georges, Tobias, just our shooters and I thought Joel did a great job, but everyone did. Georges is gonna shoot the ball. That’s why you have him in there. He’s an aggressive player and you want him to be that.”
The Sixers will now take on the Atlanta Hawks on the road on Thursday.
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