The Philadelphia 76ers won a game Friday night against the Chicago Bulls thanks to the greatness of Joel Embiid, but they also received great help from Matisse Thybulle once again. Without the services of Ben Simmons for a second night in a row, Thybulle won the outing and had to face Zach LaVine.
LaVine arrived on the night with an average of 28.5 points and shot 52.0% from the ground and 43.7% from the depth, but Thybulle led an effort that kept him just 9 against 28. This is a key factor in being able to escape with Friday’s win.
“Matisse is like tonight’s secret sauce,” coach Doc Rivers said. “People will look at his line and they won’t see much. He had two points, but it was so huge tonight defensively. When you can avoid Zach Lavine’s double team, the game, which helps his defense all over the ground, it makes it a much better defensive team. “
Thybulle has come in regularly and played a role in shutting down the team’s best player and Friday night has been no different. He made a big impact by winning the Sacramento Kings on Jan. 9 when he shut down De’Aaron Fox and did the same against LaVine.
“The other night I said I had a chance to be the best perimeter defensive player in the league and he proved it tonight,” Embiid said. “Zach is a great player, he has been fantastic all year. I think he should be an All-Star, he deserves it. Looking at the statistical sheet, I see it. 9 of 28, and that’s all Matisse. “
An important part of why Philadelphia was able to stop him was that Thybulle continued to channel him into painting. He used his length and defensive instincts to be able to send LaVine to Embiid who had four frames at night.
“All we were going to do was stuff it, stuff it, Matisse did that,” Rivers said. “I thought his length bothered him a couple of times. LaVine did a tough 3 late, but overall, but in this 3, we told Matisse, make him defeat, use him to make Joel fit, use your length and Joel goes there to be “
LaVine is one of the biggest clashes in the league as a man who can go on the offensive at any time. Given Thybulle’s fantastic defender, it’s understandable that he really wants to stand up for a showdown like this.
“You’ve seen a full display of what he’s capable of,” Tobias Harris said. “We’ve been watching him all year and I think he’s definitely getting up for the biggest clashes with guys who are rolling. He’s everywhere on the ground defensively, he has hands so fast he can get into the boys’ space and to wreak havoc ”.
The Sixers will now prepare to hit the road to face the Toronto Raptors in Tampa on Sunday.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!