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 Then they ran into the Golden State Warriors' secret weapon,
Marreese Speights, and the rest is unfavorable history.
Getting additional playing time because the Warriors' first- and
second-string centers were injured, Speights exploded for 17 of his
career-best 32 points in the second quarter as Golden State built a
33-point halftime lead en route to a 123-80 victory.
The 43-point loss, coupled with Sunday's 123-78 shellacking in Los
Angeles, gave the 76ers the distinction of being just the second
team in NBA history to lose consecutive games by 40 or more points.
The 1993-94 76ers also suffered the indignity.
The 88-point total margin of the two defeats was the third-largest
in NBA history.
"It's hard for everybody because the reality of it is they have put
in so much time, and despite all the turmoil, it's a group that's
been together, stayed together," 76ers coach Brett Brown said after
his team's seventh consecutive loss. "At times, you look up and you
have to keep going and keep on playing with some level of dignity,
and it's hard doing that."
In recording their largest margin of the victory since 2002, the
Warriors (31-21) outscored the 76ers 37-12 in the second period,
with Speights single-handedly accumulating more points than the
visitors.
Philadelphia trailed just 29-21 through one period and was down
33-27 in the third minute of the second quarter before the roof
caved in.
Speights, a former 76er who entered the game with a 5.6-point
scoring average, poured in 13 in a 14-0 Warriors flurry that
produced a 20-point lead.
"I'm happy for him. He deserves this night because he's put in the
time," Warriors coach Mark Jackson said of Speights, who watched
starting center Andrew Bogut and chief backup Jermaine O'Neal more
this season than he has played. "I thought he was fabulous. He
waited for his opportunity and took full advantage of it."
The Warriors extended the lead to 66-33 by halftime and 96-48 late
in the third quarter before coasting home for their second
consecutive home win. They twice led by 49 points early in the
fourth quarter.
"I don't understand what occurred," 76ers small forward Evan Turner
said. "I just think we need to stick together and not turn on the
television or read the paper."
The 76ers complete a four-day, three-game Western swing Wednesday in
Utah against the Jazz.
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Speights doubled his previous season high of 16 points. He hit 12 of
his 15 shots, including his first seven, inspiring the home crowd to
chant, "MVP, MVP," as he approached — and eventually surpassed — a
career-high total of which he was well aware.
"I didn't want to look forward because my career high was 28 and I
didn't want to keep thinking I've got to get 28," the first-year
Warrior said. "I just went out there and the ball kept coming to me,
so I kept getting opportunities to score."
Speights also found time for eight rebounds and a season-best three
blocked shots.
"I've been working hard," he said. "I knew one of these days it was
going to happen."
Warriors All-Star point guard Stephen Curry sank six 3-pointers to
account for a majority of his 23 points. Starting center David Lee
(13 points, 13 rebounds) and power forward Draymond Green (11
points, 11 rebounds) added double-doubles.
In all, six Warriors scored in double figures as the team shot 48.9
percent from the field and made 12 of its 29 3-point attempts.
The 76ers, meanwhile, connected on only two of their 17 3-point
attempts and shot just 36.7 percent overall. They also were
outrebounded 60-38.
Rookie point guard Michael Carter-Williams led the 76ers with 24
points, getting 11 in the fourth quarter. Starting forwards Turner
and Thaddeus Young chipped in 12 points apiece.
NOTES: On Wilt Chamberlain Bobblehead Night, the Warriors matched
their largest margin of victory ever against the 76ers, a mark
initially established when Chamberlain scored 55 points for the
Philadelphia Warriors in a 151-108 thumping of the Syracuse
Nationals on Nov. 9, 1961. ... Before Monday, the Warriors' largest
margin of victory this season was 39 in the first meeting with the
76ers in Philadelphia on Nov. 4. ... The Warriors swept the 76ers
for the first time since the 2007-08 season. ... Philadelphia PG
Michael Carter-Williams, already a two-time Rookie of the Month in
the Eastern Conference, is attempting to become the first player
drafted outside the Top 10 to earn NBA Rookie of the Year honors
since Warriors coach Mark Jackson won the award for the New York
Knicks as the 18th pick in 1987. Carter-Williams was the No. 11
choice last year. ... Warriors SG Klay Thompson played in his 200th
consecutive game, just the 10th player in franchise history to reach
that mark.
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