PHILADELPHIA _ The biggest pregame story line surrounding the 76ers' game with the Los Angeles Clippers had to do with players' and coaches' availability.
The Sixers were without Joel Embiid (left knee bruise) and Jahlil Okafor (right knee soreness). The Clippers didn't have Chris Paul (left thumb ligament tear) and coach Doc Rivers (illness).
Believe it or not, the Sixers didn't need Embiid or Okafor in a come-from-behind 121-110 victory Tuesday night in front of 17,591 at the Wells Fargo Center.
The Sixers (16-27) extended their home winning streak to six games after battling back from a 19-point third-quarter deficit. This marked their ninth victory in 12 games overall. They also snapped a nine-game series losing streak to the Clippers (30-17).
The Sixers came into the contest with a 2-10 record in games in which Embiid didn't play. They had lost three straight in that situation. Tuesday's victory should serve as boost in confidence. The Sixers also will be without Embiid in Wednesday's matchup in Milwaukee with the Bucks.
However, the absence of Embiid and Okafor provided opportunities for their two other centers, Nerlens Noel and Richaun Holmes.
Noel had a season-high 19 points to go with eight rebounds and three blocks in his first start since last season's finale.
Holmes, a 6-foot-10, 245-pounder scored a career-high 18 points on 8-for-11 shooting in a reserve role. Eleven of the second-year veteran's points came in his first four minutes of action.
The Sixers recalled Holmes from their NBA Development League team on Saturday to play against the Atlanta Hawks.
On Tuesday, reserve Dario Saric (16 points), Robert Covington (14) and Ersan Ilyasova (10) joined the Sixers big men as double-digit scorers.
The Clippers were paced by Jamal Crawford, Austin Rivers and J.J. Redick. Crawford finished with 27 points on 9-for-14 shooting in a reserve role. Redick added 22 points while making 5 of 10 3-pointers. Rivers finished with 20 points.
DeAndre Jordan finished with 10 points and 20 rebounds for the Clippers. However, the center made just 4 of 12 foul shots and heard about it.
Blake Griffin finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds in his return from knee surgery.
The Sixers had a commanding 113-100 lead on T.J. McConnell's layup with 3 minutes, 19 seconds left.
Okafor was scratched right before the game.
He had been dealing with knee soreness throughout the season after having surgery on March 22 to repair the meniscus in his right knee. The injury cost him the final 23 games of his rookie season. A CAT scan on March 8 revealed the tear.
His latest bout with soreness occurred during Saturday's loss to the Hawks.
Embiid hurt his knee on a third-quarter dunk in Friday's victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.
