NEW YORK - "We needed some luck."
With that simple statement Sixers owner Josh Harris acknowledged how star-crossed his franchise considered itself, and how much that sea of misfortune changed Tuesday night.
For three years, injuries beset the better players, most notably the two foot fractures suffered by center Joel Embiid, picked third overall in 2014. Losses mounted; blowouts, as expected, but also last-second, late-game, can-you-believe-it losses. Jahlil Okafor, the No. 3 pick last year, was caught speeding and fighting, and the mismanagement of his rookie season led to the demotion and bizarre resignation of general manager Sam Hinkie.