76ers 139, Wizards 134 (OT)
Q. Obviously you had a really good game. What was your approach, especially at the beginning of the game going up against Embiid?
ALEX SARR: I think same as every game, trying to just let the game flow, start by getting easy ones and then move out a little bit, and just trying to be mindful of him when I'm on defense. He likes to draw a lot of fouls, so I tried to be ready for that.
Q. What do you think you guys can draw, even though it was a loss, from being in such a close game and being in those time-and-score moments?
ALEX SARR: I think just the overtime experience. The late clock or how to manage a lead. We were up 10 with four minutes to go; we could have managed it better. Maybe we played not to lose instead of trying to win at the end of the game, so we've just got to fix that.
Q. What kind of challenge does a guy like Joel Embiid pose physically just because of his size?
ALEX SARR: Yeah, he's big. He moves pretty well. He's someone you've got to do your work early with and meet him early.
Q. Does it feel like you have a safety blanket in a way with Marvin Bagley coming off the bench for you, especially in a matchup like this where it's really tough to play against Joel Embiid, Bagley comes in and gives you great minutes?
ALEX SARR: Yeah, Marvin has been doing that from even before I got here. He's been playing great, and he had a very good night tonight, so I'm very used to that.
Q. Another game for you where you're particularly aggressive inside. What's your mentality when you see teams switch against you and now you have a smaller guy on you? What's changed about that mentality?
ALEX SARR: I think just when you see a small guy trying to dig in and either get a pass and try to finish or get fouled most of the time, so it's probably that.
Q. How much discipline does it take for you after a game like this to remain focused on the process rather than result?
ALEX SARR: Yeah, I think you just watch film. It's a long season. We have a game in two days, so we've just got to rinse, practice tomorrow, and get to the next game.
Q. For those of us who have never played this competitive a sport with this much emotion, how tough is it to keep the proper focus and not let the loss -- to do what you need to do to get better?
ALEX SARR: Yeah, I feel like it's all exciting. We was in a very close game. We obviously wish it went the other way, but it's all stuff we've got to learn from. Everybody knows that. I feel like we have to -- everybody has the right mindset, just attacking every day and attacking practice, games, no matter what happened the last game.
Q. When it comes to your passing ability, it seems like it's taken an even bigger leap than what we saw from you last year. How are you assessing when and where to make these passes to give yourselves and guys the guys you're making a pass to the best advantage?
ALEX SARR: Yeah, I think just having the ball more in like the elbow flash area. I can see the court from there and make decisions, make passes, and I've just got to hit the open guy. Sometimes it's like just a hand-off, and a teammate makes a play or has a great shot.
Q. How much of it is conversations with Bub, Kyshawn, CJ or Khris just when you're working in that pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop action with them and they get you that pass in that flash area? Are you having those conversations with them about what you're seeing and how they're going to cut off of you and where they're going to go as well?
ALEX SARR: Yeah, we do have those conversations mid-game, depending on how they're guarding. Like Khris will come up to me and tell me something I can do when I'm hitting him the ball or if it's Bub or Kyshawn. So yeah, just having those conversations and making sure we're on the same page and just get rolling.
Q. From a defensive mindset, I know you take a lot of pride in your rim protection and shot altering. It seemed like that was on heavy display tonight, especially with the way you were affecting shots down the stretch. Where does the balance of going for the shot block or the shot alter versus a guy -- like just being okay with a guy who might get a dunk on you, knowing that your job is to protect the rim and protect the paint?
ALEX SARR: Yeah, I think you've got to go every time. Me, that's what I have to do is go every time no matter if I get dunked on or -- but the mindset is I've got to block the shot every time that I can, and if I block it, great; if I don't, I probably alter it and change the way he's going to shoot it, and that's going to be a good outcome for us.
Q. Can you walk us through what happened on that last inbounds from Khris to you? What is that supposed to look like?
ALEX SARR: I can't say what it was exactly supposed to look like, but yeah, we just tried to run it, but Grimes just came in and stole the ball, basically. He just made a good play and intercepted it.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports