The anticipated matchup was Round 2 of Joel Embiid vs. DeMarcus Cousins.
When Embiid was ruled out with a left knee contusion on Monday, the rest of his teammates collectively countered the Kings’ big man.
Cousins posted a colossal double-double with 46 points (20 of 22 from the line), 15 rebounds and five assists in 33 minutes before fouling out with 58.5 seconds to play. After he scored 18 points in the first quarter alone, he looked well on his way to leading the Kings to a victory.
The Sixers fought back in the third, though, with 42 points, nearly matching their first-half total (48) to overcome a 16-point deficit and ultimately earn a 122-119 win at the Wells Fargo Center.
In the third, they did it with a balanced effort across the roster, led by 12 points from Robert Covington. The Sixers took a five-point lead with five players in double-digits heading into the fourth.
It has been said free throws win games, and Cousins sought to prove just that in the final quarter. He scored 16 points and shot 8 for 10 from the line in nine minutes before fouling out (see 10 observations).
NBA
The Kings made it a one-point game when Matt Barnes stole a Dario Saric pass and then hit a trey with 5.7 seconds to go. Gerald Henderson pushed the lead back to three off free throws. The Kings had one more chance to send the game into overtime, but Arron Afflalo missed a wide-open three at the buzzer.
With the victory over the Kings (19-29), the Sixers (18-29) concluded January with 10 victories during the month, matching their overall win total from last season.
Inside the box score
• Covington led the Sixers with 23 points (4 for 11 from three) and 10 rebounds.
• T.J. McConnell finished just shy of a double-double (nine points, 11 assists).
• Saric had a solid 17 points, six assists and five rebounds off the bench.
• For the centers, Jahlil Okafor scored 15 points with four rebounds in 22 minutes as a starter. Nerlens Noel had 12 points in the second unit.
• Henderson added 15 points (7 for 8 from the line) off the bench.
• Willie Cauley-Stein and Barnes combined for 33 points off the Kings’ bench.
• Ty Lawson dished 11 assists for the Kings.
• Cousins’ 20 free throws and 22 attempts are the most by a Sixers opponent this season.
Okafor starts
Okafor got the start in place of Embiid after sitting out the last four games. This was only the second time he has played in the past eight contests.
“I can't be any more complimentary of a player,” Sixers head coach Brett Brown said pregame. “I don't remember young or old, somebody that has still embraced the team, still found a way to hold his head high and continue to work. ... He's a great person that still maintains that balance of being competitive and wanting what's good for Jahlil Okafor and still being a hell of a teammate.”
Noel logged 24:30 minutes off the bench. Richaun Holmes, who played 22 minutes against the Bulls, was a DNP.
Embiid to remain in Philly
Embiid will not join the Sixers for at least the first two contests of the team's upcoming four-game road trip.
“There isn't anything odd going on,” Brown said (see story). “It's just we feel it's best for him to get him where he needs to be and keep him behind. The resources that we have here and the rest that he can get while he's here, nobody needs to feel like there's a conspiracy theory here. There's isn't.”
Up next
The Sixers will leave for Dallas on Tuesday to play the Mavericks (17-30) on Wednesday. They finish a back-to-back against the Spurs (36-11) in San Antonio Thursday.