Sixers individual player grades from Game 1 home win over Wizards
The Philadelphia 76ers began their 2021 playoff journey on the right foot when they knocked off the Washington Wizards on Sunday 125-118 to take a 1-0 lead in the first-round series. It was a solid win for the Sixers, who have a lot of pressure as the No. 1 seed.
The Sixers received big games out of Tobias Harris in the first half (28 points) and Joel Embiid in the second half (21) to get it done.
With that being said, here are the individual player grades from their series-opening win:
Tobias Harris: A
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Harris was absolutely terrific. Philadelphia was in trouble in the first half as Embiid was stuck in foul trouble, and the rest of the Sixers had a tough time converting any open looks. When the team needed him most, he dropped 28 on 12-for-19 shooting to keep them within a point at halftime. He finished with 37.
Joel Embiid: A-
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After a foul-filled first half in which he only had nine points, the big fella battled in the second half. He had 21 points after halftime and overwhelmed Washington's bigs. In Game 2 on Wednesday, there should be more openings for him to continue to take advantage of the smaller Wizards. https://twitter.com/Ky_Carlin/status/1396846267679100932
Ben Simmons: A-
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Yes, the final stat sheet will read Simmons finishing with six points on 3-for-9 shooting, but he had a playoff career-high 15 assists along with 15 rebounds while providing excellent defense on Bradley Beal. He put the clamps on Beal, holding him to 1-for-6 shooting and 0-for-4 from deep during their individual matchups. The only real blemish was him missing all six of his free throws. https://twitter.com/Ky_Carlin/status/1396876349558730758
Seth Curry: B
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Curry was scoreless at the half, but he was huge in the third quarter. He scored 11 points in the frame, and he did an excellent job of taking advantage of his opportunities. He received love from his brother, Stephen Curry, for the big shooting spark he gave Philadelphia.
Danny Green: B+
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Like Curry, Green did not get going until after halftime, but he knocked down some 3s and finished with 11 points. Philadelphia also benefited from his ability to play defense against Russell Westbrook and Beal. He will be a big piece to this series.
George Hill: A-
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Hill was terrific off Philadelphia's bench, scoring 11 points in 18 minutes while providing solid play on the defensive end. The Sixers are expecting the veteran to continue this strong play throughout the postseason.
Dwight Howard: B+
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Howard did a very good job of filling in for Embiid when he was dealing with his foul trouble. He provided seven points and four rebounds along with solid defense. He also made three free throws which is always a plus from him.
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Once again, Thybulle continues to make a huge impact without scoring. The second-year guard out of Washington missed both of his looks, but his defense against Beal was stellar, and he caught the eye of his teammates after the win.
Shake Milton: C
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Milton had a rough start. He had a turnover and he struggled on defense while being a minus-11 at the half. He redeemed himself with a solid second-half run. He knocked down a 3 and he had five points for the game.
Tyrese Maxey: B-
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Maxey played only 6:41, but he made an impact. He had three points as he drove to the rim and finished an and-1, but he struggled on defense: He finished as a minus-1.
Furkan Korkmaz: D+
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Korkmaz had a rough outing. He missed all three of his looks from deep, and he only played 4:53. He made a play on the defensive end so that is his one positive from Game 1.
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