Apr 9, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Jeff Dowtin Jr. (11) shoots the ball as Washington Wizards guard Colby Jones (1) defends in the first half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Jeff Dowtin Jr.'s career night led the Sixers to a victory over the Washington Wizards, snapping a 12-game losing streak.
Here's what I saw.
- It is significantly underrated that Adem Bona has developed as a rim protector in the context of this team. Being a rookie center is challenging enough. Even if you're playing behind a reliable first line of defense, you still have to anchor that end of the floor with communication and contesting without fouling. It's inherently difficult because you're already trying to protect against allowing the easiest shots in the game. Now, let's think about how that challenge might change when you're doing that job on this team.
The team has had two, maybe three, trustworthy defenders on the perimeter over its last 30-or-so games. They have very little means of stopping dribble penetration from competent players. It's often a parade to the rim, regardless of whether Philadelphia is defending in the halfcourt or in transition. Even with that extra layer of difficulty, Bona has gotten noticeably better at staying disciplined through contact. He's not fouling as rapidly anymore, and he's making more consistent rotations around the rim. Bona will still chase blocks at the expense of good positioning, but he's learning the NBA game in a situation that should be taxing for a young center.
Perhaps his growth will indirectly pay dividends in the short term, too. If the Sixers are fortunate enough to keep their first-round pick in this summer's draft, they may feel inclined to focus their scouting on guards and wings if they feel they've seen enough to trust Bona to be the primary backup next season. Of course, that assumes Joel Embiid will be back (to a level reasonably similar to his best form). Anybody know the answer to that one?
- It was the Sixers who, for once, had a team in rotation throughout the first half. They got the ball inside, collapsing Washington's defense on the interior. Philadelphia used that leverage to spray the ball around the floor, kicking to the corners to facilitate closeouts by an equally inept defense. But the Sixers wisely didn't make it just about that first pass to the corner. They attacked those closeouts to draw the next rotation and then made the next open pass. I won't criticize a bad team for not making shots. I will criticize a bad team for not generating enough open shots. The process was at least watchable in the first half.
- Really cool gesture by Nick Nurse to activate Dowtin for a game back in his hometown NBA market, and good on the guard for making the most of it. Dowtin did his best Quentin Grimes impersonation, going on a personal heater shooting the ball in the third quarter. But he didn't let the adrenaline and personal storyline block out his floor vision. He patiently probed the paint out of ball screens, manufacturing the window to find open teammates at the rim.
I respect Dowtin's level of preparation. He was inactive for a handful of games as the regular season meets the end of his two-way deal. Yet, he was showing teammates where to be on flex screens and where to set up for certain actions. Salute to a floor general.
- The Sixers took 50 threes. Only took until the third-to-last game of a tanking season. Joe Mazzulla nods in approval.
- Bona still has his fair share of warts to iron out, his hands being a notable one. There were passes from teammates that were bobbled out of bounds, and the occasional rebound jarred loose with a strong swipe down.
- Grimes should request to shoot free throws with a hand in his face because Lord knows he can make contested long twos. But the open ones at the foul line are an adventure.
- On the night that Luka Doncic made his return to Dallas and cried to a video tribute on national television, it actually crossed my mind that at least the Sixers didn't do that this season. Nico Harrison, you are on the hot seat.
The Sixers (24-56) will host the Atlanta Hawks (37-42) on Friday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m., Eastern time. You can watch the game on NBC Sports Philadelphia.
