76ers finally ready to put Markelle Fultz on display

Fultz, who was an offensive force in his one season at the University of Washington, hit nine of his 27 shots in four games with the Sixers, averaging 6.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 0.5 steals in 19.0 minutes. “I’m excited to play them”.

The first selection of the 2017 draft shot an airball, had three shots blocked and artfully attacked the lane, flashing glimpses of what has made him both a mystery project and prominent prospect.

The Basketball Gods were in Philadelphia Monday, where Markelle Fultz became the first NBA player since Danny Ainge ironically with 10 points and 8 assists in just 15 minutes in his return for the Philadelphia 76ers. After such a strong reintroduction, fans are going to continue to chant for his name from the stands, and Fultz himself will understandably continue to lobby for more minutes with each passing game, but is that really the best move for the team with the playoffs less than three weeks away? Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray each had 25 points to lead Denver in the victory. Then it finally all came together Monday night.

He’s progressed so well that Brett Brown believes that the rookie point guard is “close”. Despite earning Pro Bowl and Second Team All-Pro nods in 2016, Suh’s tenure in Miami ended when the team released him on March 14, following a season in which he notched career-lows of 12 games played, 47 tackles and three-and-a-half sacks.

Brown’s statement on Fultz quicky defused what could have been a late-season distraction, especially since the 76ers were active at the trade deadline in acquiring Ersan Ilyasova and Marco Belinelli to fill out their rotation. “That’s just how this city is, they gonna show you a lot of love and we’re going to take care of business for them”.

Reggie Jackson scored 20 points to lead the Detroit Pistons to a 112-106 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, to keep their faint playoff hopes alive.

How long it lasts just may depend on the tightlipped No. 1 pick with that shaky shot.

“Billy Lange’s been a star for him, getting him in shape, and the collective efforts of Ned Cohen and Bryan Colangelo and the medical people and his teammates, and so here we are”, said Brown.

Fultz’s return was a surprise for many as his shoulder issues meant he had no immediate return date but Brown revealed the news prior to the game, stating that it was the rookie’s decision to come back. Jerryd Bayless is putting up 7.9 points per game while Ben Simmons averages 16 points, 7.9 rebounds, eight assists plus 1.75 steals per contest.

“They got their defense into the game in the third quarter and we didn’t handle it well”, Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. Almost a minute later, Fultz got on the board by taking a handoff from Joel Embiid and gliding uncontested to the basket for an easy lay-in.

Hornets 137, Knicks 128 (OT): Kemba Walker had 31 points, including 11 in overtime, and Dwight Howard added 23 points to lead Charlotte over visiting NY.