WASHINGTON _ Times are hard for the 76ers in D.C.
Wednesday's 123-106 loss to the Washington Wizards extended the Sixers' skid in the nation's capital to nine games.
The Sixers' last win in Washington came on Nov. 1, 2013. That marked the second game of The Process. The Sixers won the first three games en route to finishing that season with 19 wins. The franchise has come a long way since those days, having advanced to the second round of last season's playoffs.
The expectations are even higher for a Sixers squad with three star players in Joel Embiid, Jimmy Butler, and Ben Simmons, and the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference.
Yet, they still can't beat the Wizards on their home floor.
But Wednesday's setback was surprising.
Washington (17-25) is without three starters. All-Star point guard John Wall underwent season-ending heel surgery, center Dwight Howard is sidelined following spinal surgery, and power forward Markieff Morris is out with neck and back issues.
The Sixers had flat-out dominated the undermanned Wizards, 132-115, a night earlier in at the Wells Fargo Center.
But it was a different story in Washington despite Embiid's game highs of 35 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks.
The Sixers were a step slow in just about everything they did. They also struggled from the field, shooting 29.6 percent (8 for 27) on 3-pointers. The Sixers also had 24 turnovers, with Embiid and Simmons committing seven apiece. And Philly was doomed by its bench. The Wizards had a 51-12 advantage in bench points.
The Sixers especially had a tough time defending starters Bradley Beal and Trevor Ariza and reserve Otto Porter.
Beal, an All-Star shooting guard, finished with 34 points while making six of 11 3-pointers one night after scoring 28 points. Meanwhile, Porter and Ariza both had drastic improvements over Tuesday night.
Porter had 23 points on 8-for-15 shooting. The swingman had 11 points on just 4-for-10 shooting on Tuesday. Meanwhile, small forward Ariza had 17 points after scoring just two on 1-for-7 shooting the previous night.
Butler had 23 points and nine rebounds, while Simmons finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Landry Shamet had just five points after producing a game- and career-high 29 points on Tuesday. The reserve shooting guard briefly left the game in the fourth quarter after being poked in the eye.
The Sixers were without JJ Redick for the second straight game due to lower-back tightness.
