PHILADELPHIA — In a much-anticipated return to Philadelphia, Tobias Harris contributed significantly with 18 points and 14 rebounds as the Detroit Pistons secured their first victory of the season, triumphing over the 76ers with a score of 105-95 on Wednesday evening.
Harris, who spent six seasons with the 76ers before joining the Pistons as a free agent during the offseason, witnessed his new team overcome a challenging start to the season, as they had previously lost four consecutive games. In addition to Harris’ performance, Jaden Ivey led the scoring for Detroit with 23 points, followed closely by Cade Cunningham with 22 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. chipping in 16 points.
The 76ers, now at 1-3, faced significant hurdles as they played without their star center Joel Embiid, who is resting due to a knee injury, as well as Paul George, sidelined with a bone bruise in his left knee. Philadelphia found themselves trailing by as many as 21 points during the game’s second half.
Tyrese Maxey stood out for the 76ers, leading the team with 32 points on a shooting performance of 12-for-25. Other contributors included Kelly Oubre Jr., who scored 13 points, and Jared McCain added 12 points to the effort.
One notable takeaway from the game was the Pistons’ improvement in ball movement and execution, capitalizing on Philadelphia’s weakened roster due to multiple injuries. Conversely, the 76ers continue to face challenges offensively in the absence of key players like Embiid and George.
A pivotal moment occurred early in the fourth quarter when the 76ers attempted a comeback with a 9-0 run that reduced their deficit to 87-77. However, the Pistons quickly regained control, responding with a decisive 15-5 run over the next several minutes.
A key statistic from the match was that the Pistons ended an eight-game losing streak against the 76ers, dating back to their last victory on March 31, 2022. Their last win on the road at Wells Fargo Center was even further back, with a convincing 136-106 win on March 4, 2017.
Looking ahead, the Pistons will be hosting the New York Knicks on Friday night, while the 76ers have a matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies scheduled for Saturday night.