Big Ben soars in Philly victory

THE Philadelphia 76ers might now be learning how to win after blowing a big lead, having done it in back-to-back games.

Dario Saric tied a season high with 27 points and the Sixers beat the Phoenix Suns 123-110 after blowing an 18point lead in one quarter.

“It’s on our back all of the time that we can’t win at the end of a game. The last two games we showed up in the fourth quarter how we need to play. How we are tough at the end of the game,” Saric said.

Joel Embiid added 22 points and nine rebounds, and Ben Simmons had 11 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter to help Philadelphia win for the third time in four games.

Embiid hurt his right hand going for an inbounds pass late in the game, but stayed in until 41 seconds remained. He had X-rays after the game and was told he might have a sprain.

Devin Booker scored 28 of his 32 points in the second half for the Suns and T.J. Warren had 28.

The Sixers came close to dropping their seventh game this season in which they have led by 11 points or more. But J.J. Redick made a threepointer with 1:31 to play for an insurmountable 119-108 lead.

Philadelphia led by 11 at Denver in the fourth quarter on Saturday and had to hang on for a five-point win.

“We’re getting better at closing out games and knowing what we need to do,” Simmons said. AP