The Sixers look just fine without Ben Simmons. And without Tobias Harris and Danny Green, who were unavailable Wednesday night against Chicago.

They simply get elevated performances from a deep bench and the rest of the starting unit, namely Seth Curry, who poured in 22 points on 9-14 shooting and acted as closer for the night, hitting the late shot that cemented the 103-98 victory.

“He has been incredible,” said Joel Embiid of Curry. “His shot-making ability, especially with me struggling all over the floor and just shooting the ball and making the normal shots that I usually make, has been amazing. You go back and since the season started especially the last game obviously and this one, (he’s) making big shot after big shot. That’s what we’re going to need too, especially with the way they defended. Sending doubles every single time I have the ball. So we’re all stepping up. It’s not just about him and it’s the whole team; we’ve got a few guys down but you know everybody’s stepping up, and it’s good.”

Curry shot 5-6 in the second half on Wednesday night, including a 3-4 mark in the fourth quarter. He pulled up for a couple of long twos off Embiid screens, then missed a step-back before rounding a pin down, gathering a tough pass, and knocking down a pull up over Alex Caruso in the paint:

That’s great defense from Caruso, who shoots the gap and gets though Embiid. Just a better shot from Curry with a defender right in his face.

“Just keeping it simple man,” said Curry of his offensive approach, and ensuing success. “Just trying to attack when I have the ball and get off my shot, and if not just trying to move on to the next person. And play simple basketball, like Joel said, he’s doing a good job at commanding double teams, setting good screens, and playmaking. He led our team in assists tonight so it’s just moving the ball and everybody’s helping each other create good offense. We’re down Tobias, obviously Jo and the two guys that create more one-on-one but everybody else is helping each other get good shots.”

In the fourth quarter this year, Seth Curry has scored 21 points on 7-9 shooting. He’s hit five of six free throws and only turned the ball over twice. That’s not a ton of volume, but a good starting point for a team that closed through Embiid and Harris last year and could really use a singular perimeter player to step into that role.

The interesting thing is that he’s been mostly firing off long twos as he rounds those screens and steps into open space:

Other notes:

  • Doc Rivers USED a challenge and WON a challenge. Big block from Embiid to shut it down last night.
  • Georges Niang continues to look like Iowa State Niang. He scored 18 last night on 50% shooting and was 4-8 from three. Excellent Daryl Morey pick up.
  • Embiid is in a shooting slump. 6-18 last night, 41.3% on the year. He finished at 51.3% last year.
  • Matisse Thybulle had three steals, two blocks, and hit a couple of threes. If he can refine that offensive game just a little he will be a fantastic 3 and D player on this team for years to come (he was 35.7% as a rookie and is around 33% from three this year)
  • Shake Milton added seven last night and looks like a much better player this season.
  • Another double figure game for Tyrese Maxey, who shot 50% from the floor.
  • The Sixers’ spacing looks really good out there. They really get into their sets and make those actions count. It’s a pretty linear and effective game they’re playing.
  • They defended DeMar DeRozan by committee last night and nobody had much success stopping him. That’s one of those instances where Ben Simmons would be able to take the assignment and hopefully slow down an opponent, but alas, he is not available.