Joel Embiid, Sixers Credit PJ Tucker for Setting Tone vs. Wizards

Joel Embiid and the Sixers credit PJ Tucker for having a major impact on the game against the Wizards on Sunday.

Coming off of a tight comeback win against the Portland Trail Blazers, the Philadelphia 76ers worked to get off to a quick start against the Washington Wizards on Sunday. Sixers veteran forward PJ Tucker looked to set a tone on the defensive end early on.

“I think that's why we took a big lead going in,” Sixers forward Georges Niang said regarding Tucker’s game. “He wasn't letting his guy get any touches. Then when he'd switch off on other guys, he wasn't letting them get into a rhythm and kind of set the tone.”

In two of three matchups against the Wizards this year, Washington came out on top victorious. A lot of their success could be attributed to the play of their veteran big man, Kristaps Porzingis. 

In two of three matchups, Porzingis scored at least 30 points. In the December 27 outing, he had 24 points but still had a big impact, as he was a plus-14 in a five-point win over the Sixers.

On Sunday, Tucker was tasked with keeping Porzingis in check with his physicality.

“[PJ] is just physical,” said Sixers head coach Doc Rivers. “He gets up into his body. You almost have to because [Porzingis] is so long. The few times that he caught him and the guys were off, he tried, and it’s too late. He just turns and shoots, so that’s what PJ does. He can get up under you, and he has great hands.”

“When you’re playing against someone like a seven-four, or whatever he is, you gotta pressure and gotta be physical,” Sixers center Joel Embiid added. “You got to make him draw, or he’s just gonna shoot over you, and there's nothing you can do about it. So I thought [PJ] eliminated the scratches and pushed him out when needed to, and then when he got the ball, he was all over him, and he really didn't have any chance to try to get a shot off.”

Spending 25 minutes on the floor Sunday night, Porzingis struggled to have the same offensive impact against the Sixers. Putting up 15 shots from the field, the big man drained just 27 percent of his attempts. He finished the game with just nine points.

By preventing Porzingis and the rest of the Wizards from getting into a rhythm from the jump, the Sixers avoided another steep deficit.

“They were missing a bunch of shots early, and we were missing a bunch of shots early, but it kind of set the tone defensively that we were gonna be aggressive and not let them get into this stuff, which we've had a tendency the last four games against some, where we've kind of let them dictate the pace of play, get up and run and feel comfortable,” Niang continued. “That's when games get tight.”

During the first half of play, the Sixers led by as many as 14 points. While they were only out in front by five points at halftime, a solid third-quarter showing helped the Sixers establish an 81-69 going into the fourth quarter. 

Then in the final 12 minutes, Tucker and the rest of Philly’s starting lineup, minus James Harden, got an early night off.

The Sixers put Washington away 112-93. With that win, the Sixers advance to 45-22 on the year. 

Justin Grasso covers the Philadelphia 76ers for All76ers, a Sports Illustrated channel. You can follow him for live updates on Twitter: @JGrasso_.