PHILADELPHIA _ No Jimmy Butler, No Mike Muscala. No victory.
The Brooklyn Nets defeated the short-handed 76ers, 127-124, Wednesday night at the Wells Fargo Center.
The loss dropped the Sixers to 19-10 overall and marked just their second home loss in 16 games. They also trail the 11-18 Nets, 2-1, in the season series.
Butler missed the game with the groin strain he suffered in Monday's 116-102 home victory over the Detroit Pistons. Meanwhile, Muscala, a reserve post player, was out with an upper respiratory infection.
The Sixers could have used Butler's ability to take over games and Muscala's shooting, especially in the second half. Brooklyn battled back from a seven-point deficit (69-62) with 7 minutes, 52 seconds remaining in the third quarter. They went to take a 13-point cushion (92-79) with 1:11 left in the quarter.
The Sixers pulled within three points (127-124) on Amir Johnson's put-back with four seconds left.
Philly was unable to get the ball back in the closing seconds.
Spencer Dinwiddle had a lot to do with the upset.
Brooklyn's reserve point guard scored 27 of his 39 points after intermission.
Embiid paced the Sixers with 33 points and 17 rebounds for his NBA-leading 25th double-double of the season. Ben Simmons finished with 22 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Furkan Korkmaz added 18 points on 8-for-14 shooting while starting in place of Butler.
Shamet scored all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter.
With Butler out, Embiid didn't have to assume the role as the stretch five and position himself in the perimeter at the start of the game. Instead, the 7-foot-2, 270-pounder dominated the low post. He had 23 points on 10-for-15 shooting and grabbed 13 rebounds in 19 minutes, 3 seconds of action in the first half. Those first-half rebounds tied a floor record by Dikembe Mutombo.
Embiid's lone 3-point attempt in the first half came with 28 seconds before intermission. That pulled the Sixers within 57-56.
The problem for the home squad is that Embiid was basically a bystander and Dinwiddle heated up in the third quarter.
He scored 15 of his points in the third quarter. All of his points came during a decisive 22-9 run that gave the Nets a 92-79 advantage with 1:11 left in the quarter.
Embiid scored his only points of the quarter on a three-point play with 52 seconds left.
The Sixers outscored the Nets, 40-33, in the fourth quarter, but were unable to pull out the victory.
Sixers coach Brett Brown didn't give a timeline for Butler's return.
"I don't know how soon he's going to play," Brown said. "He's out tonight. I don't know what that means in relation to longevity."
