PHILADELPHIA _ Things were looking up for the 76ers heading into Wednesday matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Sixers were coming off back-to-back wins for the first time since March, 2015 and they were riding a four-game winning streak at Wells Fargo Center.
However, the Grizzlies benefitted from Joel Embiid's absence in the second extra session and beat the 76ers 104-99 in double overtime at the Center.
The loss denied the Sixers (4-11) two things. They failed to win three consecutive games for the first time since they won four straight in late 2013 and early 2014. The Sixers also failed to defeat Grizzlies (10-5) for the first time since Dec. 26, 2012. Memphis has won eight consecutive meetings since then.
Embiid was unable to play in the double overtime because he already played three minutes more than his 24-minute limit. The team restricts his playing time because he is recovering from foot injuries that cost him and the team two seasons. The rookie center showed his frustration by kicking a bench at the conclusion of the first overtime.
The Grizzlies capitalized. Memphis scored the first two buckets of the second overtime on Jahlil Okafor, who replaced Embiid. Grizzles center Marc Gasol then added two baskets. Memphis had a 99-96 lead with 1:05 left in the second session with those two leading the way.
The Sixers' Jerryd Bayless made a layup cut the lead to 99-98, but Memphis' Mike Conley sealed the win with five foul shots in the final 20.9 seconds.
The Sixers, who were also doomed by 27 turnovers, were led in scoring by Ersan Ilyasova and Robert Covington.
Ilyasova finished with team high of 22 points and 12 rebounds. Covington added 19 points while making 4 of 7 3-pointers. The small forward snapped out of his 3-point shooting slump, going 3-for-27 in the previous five games. Bayless finished with 18 points and six assists in a reserve role.
Embiid finished with 12 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots.
The Grizzlies were paced by Gasol's game-high 27 points, while Conley added 25 points, nine assists and nine rebounds.
Conley, a 10-year veteran, continued to show why the Grizzlies signed him a five-year, $153 million deal to stay with the franchise this summer. He came into the game averaging a career-best 19.2 points. Conley was also shooting career bests from the floor (45.1 percent), on 3-pointers (49.3) and from the foul line (89.2).
'We are paying him for more than just points, assists and defense," Memphis coach Dave Fizdale said before the game. "We are paying for the character of the guy. We are paying for the leadership. We are paying for what he does in our community."
Fizdale stressed that Conley is much more than a basketball player to the franchise.
"So who's more deserving for a contract like that than Mike Conley?" he said.
The Sixers were without shooting guard Gerald Henderson and reserve center Richaun Holmes. Henderson was sidelined with cold and flu-like symptoms. Holmes had gastroenteritis.
