From Ben Simmons’ disappearing act and JJ Redick’s defense to their inability to defend the pick-and-roll and Joel Embiid showing the ill effects of tendinitis in his left knee, everything that could go wrong did Saturday in the Sixers’ 111-102 Game 1 loss at home to the Brooklyn Nets.



It kicked off a day of upsets in the NBA, where three of the four higher-seeded teams dropped the opening game in their series. The Toronto Raptors and Denver Nuggets joined the Sixers as favored teams that now find themselves in a hole. It’s not insurmountable, as the Sixers showed last season when they lost home-court advantage by losing Game 2 of their opening-round series against the Heat, but it places a tremendous sense of urgency to take care of business when the series resumes Monday night.



Here are five takeaways from the surprising loss. Be sure to check out Jackson Frank’s report card, Michael Lee on exposed fears and Rich Hofmann on...