The Philadelphia 76ers started the past week off strong at home before dropping two games on the road.

Welcome to Run It Back! In this weekly series, we will summarize the week overall and recap each Sixers’ game from the previous week (Sunday to Saturday).

This week was a mixed bag for the Sixers. They started off strong with a commanding 44-point victory hosting the Los Angeles Lakers, but ran into trouble on the back end of the week as the lineup took some hits due to illness and injury.

Philadelphia then lost two on the road in a row, dropping games to the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday and the Boston Celtics on Friday. Despite both games being losses, it was sort of a tale of two games. The Sixers (sans Joel Embiid, out for illness) looked lethargic and just plain bad on Wednesday against the Pelicans on Wednesday. On Friday, however, without Embiid again and without Tyrese Maxey also out due to illness, the hospital Sixers showed up for an absolute battle against the Celtics that came down to the wire. I’m not one to claim moral victories, but it was a damn good effort.

On the horizon for next week, the Sixers get a break until Wednesday, which will hopefully clear up some of those illnesses and injuries. On that front, Kelly Oubre Jr. is expected to make his return next week. The Sixers continue their road trip on Wednesday at the Washington Wizards before returning home to face the Atlanta Hawks in South Philadelphia on Friday.

Missed any of the action this week? No worries, we have you covered.

Los Angeles Lakers at Sixers – Monday, Nov. 27

Result: W, 138-94

Bell Ringer: Joel Embiid

Joel Embiid’s first triple-double of the season helped the hosting Philadelphia 76ers cruise past the Los Angeles Lakers

 with a comfortable 138-94 win.

Thirteen first-half triples led the Sixers to a 68-53 halftime lead over the Lakers. Everyone seemed to be hot from long range. From the usual suspects like Embiid and Tyrese Maxey to some surprising supporting cast members in Marcus Morris, Sr. and Patrick Beverley.

The Lakers were down by double-digits for the entirety of the second half, never able to regain control of the game. It certainly helped the Sixers that Embiid put up his first triple-double of the season (before the end of the third period!).

Philadelphia went on to win comfortably, 138-94 over LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Lakers.

Sixers at New Orleans Pelicans – Wednesday, Nov. 29

Result: L, 124-114

Bell Ringer: Tyrese Maxey

If you missed this one, consider yourself lucky.

The Sixers were without Joel Embiid and without life as they were dismantled by the New Orleans Pelicans 124-114 (but it really wasn’t that close).

Embiid was a late scratch for this one due to illness and boy was he missed to an almost-frightening degree. Marcus Morris, Sr. started in his place. It didn’t go well, and it wasn’t long before the Sixers were down double-digits and Nick Nurse was subbing in Mo Bamba. That was also short-lived after Bamba picked up two quick fouls. In came Paul Reed. And that was all in the a first period in which the Sixers gave up 39 points.

It was a long night. Philadelphia was down by 20 points at the break after 14 turnovers and 42.5 percent field goal shooting plagued their first half.

The Sixers shooting 6-for-10 from long range in the third even couldn’t save them as the Pelicans continued to dominate offensively. Philadelphia never really made a dent in New Orleans’ lead until a quick 11-0 run in the fourth cut the deficit to single digits briefly, but too little too late. The Pels went on to defeat the Sixers 124-114.

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Let me be clear, this was a terrible night for the Sixers, but it was a great night for the Pelicans as well. Zion Williamson was 11-for-11 from the floor in his 33-point performance. The Pels had five players over 15 points. They took advantage of their opportunities and deserved the win as much as the Sixers deserved to lose.

Sixers at Boston Celtics – Friday, Dec. 1

Result: L, 125-119

Bell Ringer: Patrick Beverley

By contrast to Wednesday, Friday night’s game against the Boston Celtics was probably one of the best losses the Sixers have put up in a long time, especially very shorthaded.

The Sixers were without Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey for illness as well as Nico Batum out for a finger injury.

But what a hell of an effort by the Hospital Sixers in Boston Friday night. They gave the Celtics all they could handle before falling 125-119.

Patrick Beverley, Marcus Morris, Sr. and Paul Reed were inserted into the starting lineup. The unit that started this one came out with way more energy than what we saw Wednesday in New Orleans. The first half was far from a defensive clinic, but the Sixers went toe-to-toe with the Celtics, even taking a three-point lead into halftime. Beverley and De’Anthony Melton dropped 16 points each and the Sixers had five players in double figures by halftime.

While both offenses cooled down, the Celtics were able to get back in front, but again it was the Sixers with a late charge to take the lead back. A Jayson Tatum turnover and flagrant foul with seconds left in the third led to Tatum picking up a technical and getting ejected. That gave the Sixers three free points on Covington free throws and the Sixers a two-point lead heading to the final quarter.

The Sixers ran out of gas, Tobias Harris had a brutal run down the stretch and Boston pounced. It was former Sixers Al Horford and Jrue Holiday along with Payton Pritchard that helped put the game away in Boston.

It would’ve been a tremendous win. Alas