PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio, AP) — Heading into the weekend, the Sixers are tied for first place in the Eastern Conference. There have been a lot of encouraging signs so far this season.
Off to a 4-0 start for the first time in franchise history, the Magic never had much of a shot, as the Sixers rolled by them in Orlando on Thursday night, 116-92, thanks to 15 three-pointers. It wasn’t even a contest. The Sixers were shooting the lights just out a couple of nights after they were ice cold against Toronto — and that was game they still won.
They are scheduled to play six of their next eight games at Wells Fargo Center, where they’ve won 17 in a row.
The Sixers are much better at spacing the floor because they have more shooting this season, and that was on display New Year's Eve.
"It helps, man, I’ll tell ya, when they go in," Rivers said.
Even Ben Simmons drilled a wide-open three from the right corner, in rhythm. It was his first of the season.
"Joel threw the pass," he said. "He knew I was going to put it up. Those are shots I work on — corner threes — and I felt comfortable taking it, so I knocked it down."
Philadelphia, which entered the game 27th in the NBA in 3-point accuracy, made eight of its first 12 attempts from beyond the arc.
Another takeaway from the last five games is Joel Embiid dominating the way many know he’s capable of. He had 21 points and nine rebounds in three quarters
Embiid has been handling double teams very well. He’s drawing fouls, going to work in the post and, arguably most importantly, it looks like he’s having fun, smiling, even celebrating at times -- just being himself.
Seth Curry added 21 points and five 3-pointers, and Tobias Harris chipped in 20 points, nine rebounds and three 3-pointers for Philadelphia (4-1), which had 38 first-quarter points and 75 by halftime.
The main thing that stood out to their new head coach Doc Rivers is their potential to take their offense to an even higher level.
"I told them that at halftime. I said we’re good, but we still are not where we want to be yet offensively, which is a good sign," he said.
The game in Orlando, with 3,200 in attendance, had the most fans the Sixers have played in front of this season.
Pregame, Rivers said he felt safe in the arena with NBA protocols in place, but he was less impressed by the environment outside.
"Listen, I don’t want to take a shot at any state but — my God — yesterday I was under my bed. I was so scared. There was people walking around like there’s nothing here. I’m surprised."
Only a small number of teams are playing with live fans early in the season.
John Denton of The Associated Press contributed to this report.