Wroten a rare bright spot for the Sixers

There are times when Tony Wroten drives toward the basket with the recklessness of a beat-up car speeding through a residential neighborhood.

But on Saturday night, the 76ers backup point guard was as smooth as a high-priced luxury car.

"I thought he played with a controlled speed," Sixers coach Brett Brown said after a 104-92 setback to the Utah Jazz at the Wells Fargo Center. "I thought he could go from to 30 [m.p.h.] to 80 back to 50. He controlled his speed. And when he does that, he plays with a far greater poise, pace and control."

Wroten was a huge positive for a Sixers squad (15-47) that lost its 16th straight game. He made 12 of 15 shots to finish with a career-high 30 points.

"I was not really forcing action and just playing within the team offense," Wroten said.

The 6-foot-6 guard has had his ups and downs after being acquired in an offseason trade with the Memphis Grizzlies. He has averaged 17.7 points over the last seven games after averaging seven points in the three previous ones.

"Eighty-two games is a long season," said Wroten, who is averaging 13.3 points this season. "You've got to continue to play through it and get through it, win or lose."

Nerlens Noel would like to make his Sixers debut in his hometown of Boston on April 4, according to sources. On Sunday, the rookie center posted "4-4-14" on Twitter. The Sixers will play that night against the Boston Celtics.

Noel has been not played this season after undergoing left knee surgery following his lone season at Kentucky. Brown said in October that Noel was unlikely to play this season.

The Sixers play the New York Knicks on Monday at Madison Square Garden.