Despite not having the dominance of Joel Embiid or the grittiness of T.J. McConnell for last night’s matchup against Boston, the second of a back-to-back, the Sixers did a decent job of making it a game. They did lose by 11, but you could argue they played better than their first meeting back in October, which they lost by 10.

Ben Simmons, fresh off the Hack-a-Simmons fest Wednesday night, had another good game, scoring 15 points to go along with seven assists, six rebounds, and five steals. He also had a sick reverse putback dunk in the fourth quarter:

Dario Saric led the way with 18 points and 10 rebounds, and JJ Redick scored 17.

The Sixers continue to run the Eastern Conference gauntlet Saturday at home against the Detroit Pistons. That will begin a three-game homestand that also includes Phoenix and the LA Lakers.

As for McConnell’s left shoulder, he has a sprained AC joint and tests came back negative for any structural damage. He wants to play Saturday night, but the team did not give a timetable on his return. Jacob Pullen was activated for last night’s game, but did not log any minutes.

The Roundup:

But first, a shipping update on some of your holiday products from the Crossing Broad store.

The Eagles continue to prepare for Sunday night’s game out west against the Seattle Seahawks. Linebacker Joe Walker did not practice, while Derek Barnett and Jason Kelce were both limited.

The Seahawks’ “Legion of Boom” defense has been banged up throughout the season, and they’ll be without Cliff Avril, Richard Sherman, and Kam Chancellor for the game. However, they’ve still been one of the best defenses in the league, but LeGarrette Blount doesn’t see anything special with them:

“We’ll play them just like we play everybody else,” he said when asked how the Birds offense is preparing for Seattle’s D. “They’re not anything special or anything different from any other team.”

As for his own running game, Blount has been able to hold off Jay Ajayi from taking his spot as the lead back, with his snaps staying essentially the same since the acquisition of Ajayi.

The team is also preparing for an extended stay out west to focus on football instead of enjoying Los Angeles for the second time this season.

Malcolm Jenkins has been one of the faces of social justice in the NFL for the past two seasons, especially known for raising his fist in the air during the National Anthem. But on Sunday night, he won’t be demonstrating:

“I don’t anticipate demonstrating this week simply because I felt like when I started demonstrating, my whole motivation was to draw awareness to disenfranchised people, communities of color, injustices around the country, our criminal justice system,” Jenkins said by his locker on Thursday.

“And obviously through this year and talking with the league and what they’ve kind of proposed, I feel like has presented a bigger and better platform to continue to raise that awareness and continue to fluctuate positive change. Not only with the money that they’ve put up, because I think that’s probably the least important part of the deal, but with the resources and platform that they proposed to build.”

After the whole John Boruk tweet saga on Wednesday, it was back to talking about the Flyers on the ice. The team sent forward Danick Martel back to the Phantoms, which means forward Jordan Weal will be back in the lineup, and he hopes he can start fresh:

“I think he needs to hit the restart button a little bit and have a fresh start,” coach Dave Hakstol said about Weal, who was scratched in the previous two games, “and that’s exactly what this opportunity should provide for him. As I’ve said before, his work ethic, his passion, none of that is lacking – nor has it ever been.

“It’s a little bit of a restart for him so he can get back in the lineup and just have that fresh feel and fresh start.”

The 5-foot-10, 179-pound Weal has appeared off his game after getting hit in the head by Winnipeg’s 6-5, 260-pound Dustin Byfuglien on Nov. 16. Weal missed the next game, and he was unproductive and was used sparingly in the next three contests.

Meanwhile, Phil believes Dave Hakstol should be fired, but also wants to see change in the team’s front office as well.

One game in college hoops for the Philly teams last night, as Temple breezed by South Carolina at Madison Square Garden, 76-60. Sophomores Quinton Rose and Damion Moore led the way for the Owls. Rose paced all scorers with 24 points and Moore put up 20 points and a career-high 10 rebounds for a double-double. The Owls will be back in action Sunday as they take on George Washington.

Later today, Towson takes on La Salle at 2:30 in Belfast, Northern Ireland on CBSSN. Saturday, Drexel hosts Rider, and No. 4 Villanova takes on St. Joe’s in the “Holy War” on ESPN2.

In other sports news, the Cowboys defeated the Redskins 38-14 on Thursday Night Football, which means the clinching of the NFC East will have to wait a couple more days.

The San Francisco Giants met with Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton Thursday night, with the approval from the Marlins. Could a trade be on the way?

For the first time since February, Tiger Woods graced a golf course. He shot 3 under for a first round 69 (nice) and is three shots off the lead in the Hero World Challenge. He tees off at 11:43 today alongside Henrik Stenson.

The Tennessee coaching job is still open. After NC State head coach Dave Doeren declined, the Vols reportedly met with Washington State head coach Mike Leach yesterday. However, a deal is not yet imminent.

But Texas A&M may have their guy very soon. It might be Jimbo Fisher.

In the news, a 4.1 magnitude earthquake centered in Dover shook most of the region.

Howard Eskin was nominated for Deadspin’s Worst Tweet, read by Daniel Radcliffe:

The King didn’t like it:

A mini William Penn is back on top of the new Comcast Technology Center. The Eagles are definitely winning the Super Bowl now.

Comedian Bill Burr explains his Philly rant at a show over 10 years ago.

Martin Shkreli might have to forfeit his ultra rare Wu-Tang Clan album.