Sixers somehow beat the Mavericks 130-125 and completely screw up the Tank Agenda

Well, that’s one way to make the tank harder. The Sixers pulled out a 130-125 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, a victory that does absolutely nothing to help their draft odds and instead just throws a wrench into the whole operation.

Sixers NBA Draft Lottery: How likely are they to keep their first round draft pick?

Look, I get it. Players doing their job and playing well isn’t “bad” and individual performances aren’t the issue here. I would much rather have Quentin Grimes and Jalen Hood-Schifino go crazy in a double-digit loss than actually a win, ya know? These performances are coming at the exact wrong time for an organization that desperately needs to keep its first-round pick.

Grime Time. 🕣

28 PTS | 6 AST | 2 STL@PALottery pic.twitter.com/0or8lmuFO0

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 16, 2025

Grime Time…lol. Shoot me.

Grimes is out here playing like a guy who plans on forcing the Sixers into a tough contract decision, Jalen Hood-Schifino picked the perfect time for the best game of his life, and Guerschon Yabusele reminded everyone that he can be useful if he decides to show up.

Grimes and Hood-Schifino Take Over

Grimes has been relentless defensively, generating turnovers, getting out in transition, and capitalizing at the rim. His ability to bring energy while the rest of the team sleepwalks through games is both refreshing and completely counterproductive to the long-term plan.

And then there’s Hood-Schifino, who caught fire against a Mavericks team that put in just enough effort to not get fined. The kid was stepping into pull-up threes from 30 feet like he took it personally that Dallas dared him to shoot. Is that sustainable? Absolutely not. But for one night, he looked like a legitimate scorer, and that’s all that matters to him.

good day for Hood-Schifino. 🙂‍↕️ pic.twitter.com/DCCmQMVLMK

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 16, 2025

Meanwhile, Yabusele put together a well-rounded effort, mixing in some inside scoring, perimeter shooting, and hustle plays. Will it matter in the grand scheme of things? Probably not. But he at least made the case that he belongs in the rotation—on a team that isn’t supposed to be actively losing.

As Expected, the Sixers play ZERO defense

It was even more of a nightmare today because the Sixers went out against the Mavericks and did what they have done all year: Play zero defense.

There was no rim protection. None. Zero.

The Sixers rolled out a center rotation of Alex Reese and Yabusele, and Dallas took full advantage, scoring 42 of their 68 first-half points in the paint. The strategy was simple: drive to the rim, score, repeat. The Sixers had no resistance inside, but their perimeter defense wasn’t much better, either.

And yet, somehow, the Mavericks still lost…?!

The Sixers spent most of the first half defending like it was optional. They played zone for long stretches—because, well, what else can you do when you don’t have rim protection or capable individual defenders?

It was an unwatchable disaster for two quarters, but give them credit—they actually put forth an effort in the second half, led by Grimes and Yabusele making some key stops. Not exactly inspiring stuff, but it was enough.

Nick Nurse’s “Win Now” Mentality Is a Problem

It’s clear at this point that Nick Nurse is not on board with the bigger picture. Playing to win down the stretch in this game? Come on, man. The tanking effort is already hanging by a thread, and the last thing this team needs is a head coach actively sabotaging it.

Final Thoughts: This Win Hurts More Than It Helps

At this point, it’s hard to find joy in these kinds of games.

The players deserve credit for competing, but the organization’s best interest was to lose, plain and simple. Instead, they walked away with a meaningless W that could make all the difference come draft lottery time.

The Mavericks—who should be better than this—completely laid an egg. They should be embarrassed while the Sixers do what they always do in getting in their own way.

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