MEMPHIS, Tenn. _ The basketball game was a footnote for the 76ers.
The major news on Saturday was their blockbuster trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves for All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler.
Yet the game with the Memphis Grizzlies still had to be played. And the short-handed Sixers lost, 112-106, in overtime. The loss dropped them to 8-6 and snapped their two-game winning streak.
Memphis point guard Mike Conley finished with a game-high 32 points, while Marc Gasol added 18 points and 12 rebounds.
JJ Redick paced the Sixers with 20 points. Ben Simmons had 18 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and six turnovers.
Joel Embiid had his worst shooting night of the season. He was just 4-for-15 from the field, including missing all six of his 3-pointers, while committing six turnovers. He still managed to finish with 14 points and 15 rebounds.
Markelle Fultz added 14 points while reserves T.J. McConnell (16 points) and Furkan Korkmaz (career-high 14) were the other double-double scorers.
The Sixers had only nine available players for the game at the FedEx Forum. The main reason was they agreed to trade Robert Covington, Dario Saric, Jerryd Bayless, and a 2022 second-round pick to the Timberwolves in exchange for Butler and Justin Patton.
The trade will likely be executed Monday. Teams usually have 48 hours to give physicals after trade calls. Trades are normally finalized after the players pass their exams.
As a result, none of the involved players will compete in any games until then.
Sixers reserve forward Wilson Chandler also missed the game because he is not cleared to play on back-to-back nights. The team defeated the Charlotte Hornets at home Friday. Chandler is coming off a left hamstring strain.
So the Sixers started a lineup that included Redick, Landry Shamet, Embiid, Markelle Fultz, and Simmons.
Memphis forward Dillon Brooks suffered a left knee injury in the second quarter and did not return. The Grizzlies improved to 7-5.
