Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Covington turns up defense to stop Hornets in home win
The “3-andD” approach fit Philadelphia’s Robert Covington perfectly.
Covington hit a key 3-pointer down the stretch and made Charlotte star Kemba Walker work hard for every point, helping the 76ers defeat the Hornets 105103 on Saturday night.
Joel Embiid had 27 points and 14 rebounds and J.J. Redick also hit a key 3-pointer late.
The game was tied at 99 after Walker’s 3-pointer with 3:04 left. Redick put the 76ers ahead 102-99 with 2:03 left by nailing a 3 from the left wing. Walker answered with a layup to pull Charlotte within one, but Covington drained a 3-pointer from the right wing five seconds later to make it 105-101.
Covington finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds. He also chased the speedy and talented Walker all over the court.
Walker scored 37 points but needed 31 shots, finishing 11-for-31 from the field.
Philadelphia coach Brett Brown credited Covington.
“Covington’s best game of the year,” Brown said. “He ended up being our bellringer. He had that big 3 to really seal the game. He was very good tonight.”
Embiid also was his usual good self despite being gametime decision after injuring his left ankle in practice on Friday. But the Philadelphia big man didn’t favor his ankle at all while recording his sixth double-double in as many games to start the season. “I’m good,” he said. Ben Simmons contributed 14 points and 12 rebounds for Philadelphia, which evened its record at 3-3.
The Philadelphia point guard credited Covington.
“Covington’s amazing game on Kemba made it tough for him to score,” he said.
Walker entered second behind Steph Curry in 3-point attempts (64) and 3-pointers made (29) but went just 3-for15 from the arc on Saturday. The two-time All-Star had 30 points, hitting 11 of 18 from the field, in Friday’s 135-106 win over Chicago.
Hornets coach James Borrego acknowledged that the back-to-back situation likely affected Walker.
“Sometimes those shots don’t fall with tired legs,” he said.
Overall, though, Borrego liked his team’s performance.
“Great effort, especially defensively,” he said. “I’m really proud how they battled.”
Following Covington’s 3-pointer, the Hornets missed all four of their fieldgoal attempts from that point, with Walker’s two free throws with 2.6 seconds left accounting for their final points.
Neither team led by more than six points in a tightly contested second half. The 76ers erased an 85-83 deficit to start the fourth by scoring six straight to open the period and take an 89-85 lead with 10:50 left. Second-year guard Markelle Fultz electrified the crowd with a one-handed fastbreak dunk during the spurt.
Fultz also drew cheers with a first-half spinning layup and a third-quarter baseline jumper.