All 76ers

76ers Fans Celebrate Nets’ Game-Winning Shot in South Philly

Not all 76ers fans were disappointed in Saturday's loss.
Justin Grasso|
Feb 22, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton (33) scores the game winning shot past Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) as time expires at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Feb 22, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton (33) scores the game winning shot past Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) as time expires at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

In this story:

Philadelphia 76ersBrooklyn Nets

Heading into Saturday night’s game against the Brooklyn Nets, the Philadelphia 76ers placed 11th in the Eastern Conference and had an opportunity to get 0.5 games behind the Chicago Bulls to take up the final Play-In position next week.

But the Sixers couldn’t defeat the Nets for the second time this month. With another loss against Brooklyn, the Sixers went in the opposite direction. A 20-36 record placed the Sixers in 12th place, and they got there in heartbreak fashion.

Saturday’s action was a near-comeback victory for the Sixers. After trailing by as many as 17 points in the third quarter, the Sixers managed to take a fourth-quarter lead on a few occasions. After the Sixers and the Nets went back and forth in crunch time, the game was knotted at 103 and looked to be headed into overtime.

The Nets attempted a final three-point shot before the buzzer, which was unsuccessful. However, Brooklyn big man Nic Claxton was in position to get a tip-in opportunity. Getting the ball off just in time to count, Claxton hit a game-winning shot to put the Sixers away.

Was it truly heartbreak in Philadelphia? For some, maybe. For others, it was really a victory.

76ers Fans Celebrate the Loss

@sixersgeo: This might very well go down as the Mike Muscala shot 2.0

@Sixerdaily: Your efforts tonight won’t be overlooked demon 🫡

@Will_Rucker3_AD: They’re the same photo. Iykyk. Talk Soon.

At this point in the year, many Sixers fans believe that locking in their Top 6 protected first-round draft selection in the 2025 NBA Draft would be more beneficial than competing for a bottom-two playoff seed.

Since the Sixers continue to roll out their core group, it’s clear they are keeping the hope of making a potential late push alive. However, their opponents continue to find ways to win against the Sixers, and Brooklyn hit them with their seventh loss in a row.

The Sixers are currently in position to keep their pick away from the Oklahoma City Thunder, but it’s close enough that an unfavorable drawing could still snatch it away. Many fans are encouraging the Sixers to increase their odds of keeping the pick so they can draft a Top 6 talent for next year.

More 76ers on SI

Nick Nurse’s Injury Update on Eric Gordon

Sixers Add Lonnie Walker IV to Roster

Former Alabama Basketball Player Reacts to Joining the Sixers

NBA Analyst’s Blunt Take on 76ers’ Playoff Aspirations

Former Sixer Speaks on Recent Paul George Criticism

Published
Justin Grasso
JUSTIN GRASSO

Justin Grasso was a credentialed writer and publisher covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s Philadelphia 76ers On SI Network. Grasso got his start in sports media in 2016 with FantasyPros, working the news desk, providing game-by-game player analysis and updates on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors. By 2017, he joined FanSided’s Philadelphia Eagles site as a staff writer. After spending one season covering the Eagles as a staff writer, Grasso was promoted to become the site’s Co-Editor. For the next two NFL seasons, he covered the Eagles closely before broadening his NFL coverage. For a brief stint, Grasso covered the NFL on a national basis after joining Heavy.com as an NFL news desk writer. In 2019, Grasso joined the 76ers' beat on a part-time basis, stepping into a role with South Jersey’s 97.3 ESPN. Ahead of the 2019-2020 NBA season, he concluded a three-year stint covering the Eagles and joined the Sixers beat full-time. Grasso has covered the 76ers exclusively since then for Sports Illustrated. He is a member of the Pro Basketball Writers Association. Twitter: @JGrasso_ Instagram: @JGrassoMedia Threads: @JGrassoMedia

Share on XFollow @JGrasso_
Home/News