3 biggest takeaways for Sixers following much-needed win over Jazz

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers needed a win in the worst way as they played host to the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night. On the second night of a back-to-back following their 40-point blowout loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday, the Sixers were down four starters, but pulled together for a 106-102 win over a pesky Jazz team.

Tyrese Maxey had 25 points and six assists for Philadelphia while Jabari Walker hopped off the bench and had 22 points and 10 rebounds. Quentin Grimes added 16 points and five rebounds, Adem Bona had 12 and five boards, Tyrese Martin had eight, and Dominick Barlow added seven points.

Here are the three biggest takeaways following the win:

Walker stepping up

After scoring 20 points in garbage time in Tuesday's loss to the Spurs, Walker received first quarter minutes against the Jazz and immediately went to work. He scored seven points in the opening quarter and had 15 points in the first half overall. He knocked down his first four 3-pointers and was able to make a big impact for this group. The Sixers probably don't win this game without his contributions when considering how well the Jazz did play in this game. Walker made a big difference and he did it on a day he described an unfortunate event he had to go through.

Walker explained:

When I saw that one go in, it was rattling around the rim, and I was like, ‘OK, yeah, this is my day today.’ I actually had an unfortunate event today. I just got a new car, and I was driving it for no less than 30 minutes, and I scratched it today, and talking about being in the zone and just wanting to get to the game and continue that, that was an unfortunate event for me. So, mentally, I'm walking in here like my brand new car I just got? I scratched it. So talking to somebody coming in, I told them the story. They're, like, it's gonna get better for you today. And I was like, Alright, OK, I'm in my zone right now. I'm in basketball world. So whatever happened before stays out. So, when I saw the first two go in, I was like, ‘OK, all right, this is a whole new world. I got a chance to redeem myself.’ So, I forgot about what happened earlier today.

I was backing up. I was excited. I was ready to get to the gym, and there was a pole behind me, and honestly, I haven't driven in a while. I've been Ubering everywhere, and Philly is very tight spaces, so it's a learning experience. I'll get it fixed.

Earning a much-needed win

Many will downplay this win. The Jazz are now 18-44 on the season with this loss and are now on a 7-game losing streak as they are in the midst of trying to tank and get the best pick in the upcoming June draft, but Utah plays hard on a nightly basis as coach Will Hardy has gotten them to play well every night. Combine that fact with Philadelphia also missing Joel Embiid, Paul George, Kelly Oubre Jr., and VJ Edgecombe, and the fact that the Sixers entered this contest only half a game up on the Miami Heat and the Orlando Magic for the No. 6 seed in the East, every win matters. Even if it is just the Utah Jazz.

"That’s a hell of a win considering all the guys out," coach Nick Nurse said after the win. "I think any win, this is what I'm talking about, we just got to figure out some way to pick them off. We don't care what they look like. Just pick off a win here and there. So, good job, I think, by a lot of guys stepping up and at least, I think, contributing in some way."

The other Tyrese makes a contribution

The Sixers received a big second half from Tyrese Martin in this one. With Utah hard-charging and taking a lead, the Sixers needed somebody to step up and knock down some shots with Tyrese Maxey resting on the bench. Martin knocked down two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and had eight points after halftime. It was good to see Martin be able to step in and knock down some big shots when considering his early struggles since signing in Philadelphia.

"Well, I mean, (expletive), I ain't make a jump shot since I've been here," Martin laughed after the win. "So, to see definitely one going, I was confident about the next one, for sure. So, they felt good, and we needed it in a timely manner and it went in. So, I was grateful for that."

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: 3 biggest takeaways for Sixers following much-needed win over Jazz