WASHINGTON — The Philadelphia 76ers don’t have much to play for at this stage of the season. They entered Wednesday’s contest with the Washington Wizards riding a 12-game losing streak and are just playing out the string in a disappointing 2024-25 season.
However, these guys are NBA athletes. They are professionals. They take a lot of pride in their game and a performance like Wednesday was a big example for a guy like Jeff Dowtin Jr. who produced a career-high 30 points in a 122-103 win over the Wizards. The win snapped the losing streak and it helped Philadelphia earn its first win since March 16 in Dallas.
Dowtin had a four-minute stretch in the third when he had 11 points on 4-for-4 shooting including three triples. He gave the Sixers the jolt they needed and to do it in front of friends and family–he went to high school in Washington, D.C.–made this performance that much sweeter.
“It means a lot I had a lot of family out there, so definitely glad to play in front of them,” Dowtin said after the win. I think it’s one of the first times I ever played a professional game in front of them being at home so it’s big. Definitely a lot of emotional out there.”
Playing on a two-way deal, the Sixers have had to sit Dowtin in most games and make him inactive in order to preserve his game availability for later in the season so they can get to the finish line. That’s just the nature of two-way deals which makes it a challenge for him. He had not played since March 26 before Wednesday.
“It’s a big challenge, but I think the biggest thing is having a routine throughout the whole season,” Dowtin explained. “So I think that’s been major for me. Whether I’m playing or not playing, keep the same workout regimen, stay in it, condition.”
Luckily for Dowtin, the Sixers have a player development staff dedicated to players like him to keep him ready for when the time calls.
“The player development staff has done a phenomenal job with me this year,” he finished. “Just working me out, staying ready, staying poised, being aggressive, having a lot of confidence. The type of workouts that we do throughout the year has prepared me for games even when I have to sit out weeks or days, whatever. So credit to them and I was just able to stay ready.”
Dowtin has one game left for his eligibility so he will play either on Friday against the Atlanta Hawks or the season finale against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday.