Randle, Lakers beat Sixers to snap 8-game skid
Los Angeles Lakers’ Jordan Clarkson (6) tries to get a shot past Philadelphia 76ers’ Jahlil Okafor (8) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 16, 2016, in Philadelphia. Los Angeles won 100-89. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
PHILADELPHIA — The Los Angeles Lakers took advantage of a timely game against the lowly Philadelphia 76ers.
Julius Randle scored nine of his 25 points in a dominating first quarter and the Lakers snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 100-89 victory Friday night.
Lou Williams added 18 points and D’Angelo Russell and Nick Young had 15 points apiece. They were playing the third game of a seven-game, 12-day trip – their longest of the season.
“It feels great,” Young said. “It’s tough coming in after every loss, putting our heads down.”
Joel Embiid scored 15 points for the 76ers. They have dropped eight straight at home to fall to an NBA-worst 6-20.
“We got jumped from the start,” Philadelphia coach Brett Brown said.
Sevyn Streeter performed the national anthem wearing a “We Matter” jersey. The R&B artist had been scheduled to sing before the 76ers’ home opener in October, but was scratched by the team two minutes before the performance because she was wearing a “We Matter” T-shirt.
Streeter came to center court on Friday in a black jersey with the words “We Matter” above the No. 7. She received applause upon her introduction and cheers when she completed the song.
Los Angeles rebounded after a 107-97 loss at Brooklyn on Wednesday night when they shot 38.5 percent from the field, 22.2 percent from 3-point range and 61.8 percent from the free-throw line. Coach Luke Walton publicly challenged his team after the loss.
“They’re competitors,” Walton said. “They’re sick of losing.”
The Lakers scored the first 13 points against the 76ers, finished the first quarter up 30-18 and led from start to finish on the way to the rout. They blew the game open in the third quarter by tallying 15 of the first 21 points, taking their biggest lead on Young’s drive that made it 68-46 with 5:41 left in the period. The 76ers missed 10 of 12 shots to start the period.
Philadelphia cut the third-quarter deficit to 10 points, 74-64, entering the fourth, and the 76ers got as close as seven, 80-73, on Dario Saric’s 3-pointer with 9:07 remaining. But the Lakers responded with a 10-2 run to go up 90-75 with 6:19 left.
The Lakers won for the first time since Nov. 30.
GETTING DEFENSIVE
Los Angeles held Philadelphia to 36.4 percent from the field, including 19.4 percent from the arc. Walton said the Lakers’ defense was a key to the victory.
“I thought we came out and set our tone defensively early on and had one of our better defensive games,” Walton said. “Better communication and better effort from everybody. We had guys really committed to playing defense tonight.”
THREE’S A CROWD?
Philadelphia had all three of its coveted big men – Embiid, Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel – available together at the same time for the first time.
Embiid, the third pick of the 2014 draft, missed the first two seasons with a foot injury. Noel was picked sixth in 2013 by New Orleans and traded to the 76ers. He returned Monday after recovering from offseason knee surgery only to sprain his ankle and miss Wednesday’s game.
Noel had two points in 8 minutes and aired his frustration afterward.
“I think I’m too good to be playing eight minutes,” he said. “That’s crazy. Need to figure this (stuff) out.”
Okafor, picked third in the 2015 draft, started alongside Embiid for the second time. He had 14 points.
The duo also started in Wednesday’s 123-114 loss to the Raptors and Embiid had his worst game as a pro, tallying a season-low nine points.
Embiid and Okafor didn’t look very comfortable together on the floor again. Both natural centers, Embiid moved to the power forward spot to accommodate Okafor.
“Never from the start to the finish did you feel like you were in any type of rhythm or flow,” Brown said. “It doesn’t surprise me. It saddens me but it doesn’t surprise me.”
