Sixers refuse to pin blowout loss to Pistons on lack of centers

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The Sixers weren’t interested in pointing to their lack of centers for the root of their problems against the Pistons on Saturday night.

Down Joel Embiid for the season and Jahlil Okafor (right knee soreness) for the game, they were left piecing together the five spot with reserve Richaun Holmes as a starter and Sixer-for-two-days Justin Harper as a backup. 

When the Pistons strolled to a 136-106 victory, it would have been easy to chalk it up to a shorthanded effort. That wasn't the case, though, after four Pistons scored over 20 points, including 47 between starting guards Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Reggie Jackson.

"I don't really think that (lack of five men) had anything to do with it. They didn't feel us on defense at all," Holmes said. "They were way too comfortable, had way too much of a rhythm and that's something we can't do."

The Sixers gave up a season-high 136 points to the Pistons, who entered the game averaging 101.5 points. The Pistons also shot a season-best 56.8 percent from the field after averaging 45.2 percent. The Sixers were tied 48 apiece with 4:19 to go in the second quarter and were outscored, 19-4, by the end of the half. The Pistons reached 30 points in every quarter. 

"It's just embarrassing getting beat like that, especially on our home floor," Nik Stauskas said. 

In the frontcourt, Marcus Morris scored 22 points while Tobias Harris added 20 points with nine rebounds off the bench. That doesn't include dominating big man Andre Drummond, who posted 14 points, 14 rebounds, four steals, three blocks and two dimes.

"I want to give credit to the Detroit Pistons because they played unbelievably good, unbelievably fast," Dario Saric said. "That kind of game they played today, I think they can beat everybody in the league so easy."

The Pistons' guards made it look effortless to knock down shots. Caldwell-Pope scored 26 points off 9 for 11 shooting. Jackson was close behind with 21 points off making 9 of 14 attempts.  

"Reggie's always putting pressure on the defense, he's always in attack mode," Stauskas said. "KCP (3 for 5 from three) is one of the best three-point shooters in the league in my opinion and he did a good job of knocking down open shots and contested shots."

Drummond pointed to the Pistons' energy and defense as the foundation of their win. The Sixers had beat the Pistons without Embiid this season, so he didn't expect an easy route just because of the absences in the middle. Holmes finished with 13 points and two rebounds in 24 minutes (he left the game with hamstring tightness and returned); Harper scored nine points with five rebounds in 23 minutes. 

"Granted they lost two of their bigs … Holmes is still a great big," Drummond said. "He played a great game tonight. He can hold his own. So it doesn't matter who's on the floor. We're NBA players."

The Sixers aren't getting Embiid back this season. Okafor will be re-evaluated for Monday's game against the Bucks. Without the certainty of who will be healthy to play center, the Sixers have to make it work with who they have available. 

"I give [the Pistons] credit. I don't want to not say that because they're a well-coached team," Brett Brown said. "When you have nine guys and you have two guys that haven't been here for longer than a week (Anderson and Harper), you struggle regardless. 

"I think that the center position, specifically, it certainly didn't help us not having Jahlil or others. I feel like [they're] just a really good team that's getting ready to go play in the playoffs against a team with nine guys in a back-to-back situation. Perfect storm to the environment I think you saw."

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