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"Best" and "Worst" awards: Sixers vs. Grizzlies

    by Keith Pompey, The Philadelphia Inquirer
    Published 

This is my look at some of the best and worst performances from the Memphis Grizzlies' 120-115 overtime victory over the 76ers Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center.

Best performance: This goes to Mike Conley. The Memphis point guard finished with a game-high 36 points on 13-for-22 shooting to go with nine assists. The eighth-year veteran scored 14 of the Grizzlies' final 19 points.  He scored 10 straight for the Grizzlies during a stretch in the fourth quarter and into overtime. Eight of those points came in regulation, including his three-pointer at the buzzer to force the extra session.

Worst performance: I had to give this Michael Carter-Williams on night when he finished with 16 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists for his second triple-double of the season and fourth of his career. However, the Sixers point guard struggling with the game on the line. Five of his six turnovers came in the fourth quarter and overtime. During that time, Carter-Williams made just 1 of 6 shot attempts – including going 0-for-3 in the overtime. 

Best defensive performance:  I'm giving this to Nerlens Noel. The Sixers center/power forward didn't do much offensively. However, he did finish with a game-high four steals to go with a team-high two blocked shots.

Best performance in a losing effort:  Tony Wroten gets this by scoring 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting in 19 minutes, 13 minutes off the bench.  He made 2 of 3 three-pointers and had five assists. The Sixers are probably second-guessing themselves for not playing Wroten the final 5:18 of regulation and in overtime.

Worst statistic: This award goes to the Grizzlies making just 2 of 10 three-point attempts in the first half.

Best statistic: I'm giving this to the Grizzlies making 8 of 12 three-pointers in the fourth quarter.

Worst of the Worst:  Some people may say this award should go to the Sixers deciding not to foul Marc Gasol in the closing seconds. However, that play wouldn't have mattered if they didn't blow an 18-point lead with 7:39 left. So to me blowing an 18-point lead was worse than not fouling Gasol in the closing seconds with your team up by three points.

Follow Inquirer 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter @PompeyOnSixers and on Instagram at PompeyOnSixers