Sixers leading the league in ‘clutch wins’

PHILADELPHIA >> No one was more surprised than Brett Brown to hear how the Sixers topped the league in the esoteric category of Clutch Wins.

Clutch time is the last five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime and neither team is leading by more than five points.

The Sixers had 28 entering action Wednesday against the Celtics. Or if you prefer, 60.8 percent of their victories are of the clutch variety. The Nuggets are next with 27 clutch wins.

Brown figures part of it is luck.

“We’ve had three different teams,” Brown said referencing the trades that brought starters Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris. “I’m surprised to hear that statistic. We’ll take it. You’re always trying to just put your team in a situation where you can win games, close games to lead the NBA in that category. We’re going to need all that and some when big games like tonight and playoff games happen, when you’re able to close those games out.”

The Sixers were 46-25 before taking on the Celtics, who had won 10 of the last 12 games in the series. Their 28-5 mark in the clutch category entering the evening also headed the league with a .700 winning percentage.

The Celtics arrived at Wells Fargo Center with a 43-28 mark, including a distant 2016 (.556) in the clutch win category.

“I think there’s a comfort level you feel the more you go through it,” Brown said. “Now you have Jimmy Butler part of this year’s team, for the most part, for two-thirds (of the season) you have another closer. You have somebody that’s able to do it and not just Joel (Embiid) in the post or that look I put Ben (Simmons) and JJ (Redick) in at the end of games. I feel like there’s a growth.”

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Celtics guard Terry Rozier called Embiid “lame” in an interview with Kristine Leahy of Fair Game.

Rozier and Embiid have been feuding since the Sixer tweeted about how Rozier tried to punch him but wasn’t tall enough to land one.

Earlier in the week Rozier dumped on a Sixers fan in a tweet that said “Philly ain’t beat us since they had AI dummy.”

Celtics coach Brad Stevens noted how the difference between professionals and college players limited his response to social media pot stirring.

Stevens said he uninstalled Twitter from his phone a few years ago.

“I think ultimately we’re all responsible for what we put out there and what we do,” Stevens said. “But that stuff doesn’t matter. It’s what you do between the lines.”

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Tobias Harris has bounced around to six teams in his NBA career yet still is averaging 20.6 points, including 19.5 with the Sixers.

And yes, it’s hard to believe he hasn’t found a place to stick.

“He’s versatile as a player,” Brown said. “He can switch multiple positions and he is sort of a natural leader. He’s got elegance, he’s got grace. There’s a people skill that supports his talent that enables him to speak and be listened to. He’s got leadership skills all over the place. The exciting thing for me is his better days are down the road. At only 26, he has more to give and grow and we sure hope we see him for a long time.”