SAN ANTONIO _ This was another typical 76ers outing.
When you think they'll win, they sometimes lose. And when you think they'll lose, they sometimes win.
Well, the Sixers showed up at the Alamo City and sprinted away with one thing no one envisioned they would get at the beginning of the season. The Sixers exited the AT&T Center Friday night with an unlikely 97-78 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. It was San Antonio's lowest scoring output of the season.
Before this night, the Sixers (24-21) had a 13-game losing streak to the Spurs in San Antonio. Their last victory here was an 83-77 decision on Jan. 3, 2004. That win snapped what had been 17 straight losses in this city.
Friday's victory marked just their 12th win in 46 series meetings in San Antonio.
It also enabled the Sixers to sweep a season series against the Spurs (32-19) since the 2003-04 season. They defeated San Antonio, 112-106, at Wells Fargo Center, back on Jan. 3. This win also improved the Sixers to 10-3 since Christmas.
This game was won with a balanced attack.
Ben Simmons had a game-high 21 points on 10 for 11 shooting. The point guard also finished with a game-high seven assists to go with five rebounds.
Joel Embiid added 18 points to go with a game-high 14 rebounds. Meanwhile, Dario Saric (15 points), reserve Justin Anderson (12) and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (10) were the Sixers' other double-figure scorers.
LaMarcus Aldridge led the Spurs with 18 points.
Both teams were undermanned on Friday night.
The Spurs were without two-time NBA All-Star Kawhi Leonard (return from injury management), Manu Ginobili (right thigh contusion) and Rudy Gay (right heel bursitis). Meanwhile, the Sixers didn't have JJ Redick (left knee fracture), Jerryd Bayless (sore left wrist) and Markelle Fultz (shooting rehabilitation).
The Sixers dominated early, leading 25-13 after the first quarter. Then build a commanding 25-point lead (80-55) on T.J. McConnell's 3-pointer with 1 minute, 17 seconds left in third quarter.
