MEMPHIS, Tenn. _ The 76ers Achilles' heel has been losing games they were expected win.
That's why Monday's game here against an undermanned Memphis Grizzlies was so important. The Grizzlies had five players sidelined _ most notably point guard Mike Conley and wing Chandler Parsons _ because of injury or illness.
The Sixers made things interesting, dominating at the start. However, the result was no different than in lackluster losses to the struggling Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers.
This time they lost, 105-101, at FedExForum.
The Sixers (22-21) had their three-game winning streak snapped. They also extended their series losing streak to the Grizzlies to 10 games. Memphis (17-29) also extended its home winning streak to five games.
As they always do, the Sixers made it interesting by blowing a large lead. Dario Saric's technical foul shot with 4 minutes, 27 seconds left in the third quarter gave them a commanding 15-point lead at 76-51.
However, the Tyreke Evans knotted the score at 91 while hitting a 3-pointer over Joel Embid with 7:17 left. Then the Chester native stole the ball from Embiid on the ensuing possession and was fouled at the other end. He converted a foul shot to give Memphis a 92-91 lead with 6:53 remaining.
After the score was tied at 95, the Sixers turned the ball over three consecutive times. In between, Marc Gasol hit a 3-pointer and Evans followed up with a long two to give Memphis a 100-95 lead with 3:42 left.
A 3-pointer by Robert Covington closed the gap to two with 2:01 left. But that's as close as it got. With a chance to knot the score at 100, Embiid missed a pair of foul shots with 1:23 left.
The NBA All-Star Game starter later split a pair of foul shots with 15 seconds left to close the gap to 103-101. After the Sixers stole the ball, Covington air-balled a 3-point attempt with 6.2 seconds left.
But the Sixers were doomed by their 24 turnovers, which led to 39 Grizzlies points.
Embiid finished with 15 points and 14 rebounds. However, he made just 5 of 13 shots and went 5 of 9 from the foul line.
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot had a big hand for the Sixers in the first half. However, he only attempted one shot after intermission, none in the fourth quarter.
The funny thing is that he only got the start at shooting guard because JJ Redick (left leg injury) to Jerryd Bayless (left wrist soreness) were both sidelined.
But Luwawu-Cabarrot more than took advantage of his second straight start and third of the season. The second-year veteran finished with a season-high 20 points. Seventeen came in the first half. He made a career-high six 3-pointers in a career-high eight attempts.
Luwawa-Cabarrot made his first four 3s. He shot an air ball on his fifth attempt. He responded by making his next two. His sixth one gave the Sixers a 65-54 lead with 7:30 remaining in the third quarter.
But the French player wasn't the Sixers' lone 3-point marksman. The visitors made 14 of 31 3-pointers for 45.2 percent from that distance.
Saric made 3 of 4 3-pointers while finishing with 22 points. Robert Covington had his second straight solid long-range shooting performance. The small forward made 4 of 11 en route to 18 points.
T.J. McConnell made 1 of 2 3-pointers and finished with seven points.
Gasol paced the Grizzlies with 19 points, while Evans added 18.
Grizzlies reserve guard Wayne Seldon was ejected late in the third quarter after picking up his second technical foul.
