Noah Clowney’s physicality was put to the test in 117-95 preseason loss to 76ers

PHILADELPHIA — Noah Clowney‘s NBA acquisition continued connected Wednesday against a stocky, carnal Philadelphia 76ers frontcourt brace of Andre Drummond and Frenchman Guerschon Yabusele.

Clowney played connected the lankier broadside passim his rookie play but spent the offseason packing connected muscle. The 6-9 forward, who started astatine halfway successful the Nets’ 117-95 preseason loss, enactment connected astir 10 pounds implicit the summertime and present weighs astir 230 pounds.

Joel Embiid (250-pounds) did not suit up for the 76ers connected Wednesday, but antiaircraft matchups against Drummond (280 pounds) and Yabusele (260 pounds) were inactive challenging tests for the 20-year-old, who was playing retired of presumption against stronger, much experienced players.

There were immoderate disfigured moments. Drummond bullied him nether the basket successful the game’s opening minutes, scored and celebrated with the “too small” gesture. Clowney was successful cleanable presumption during the play, but Drummond had grown antheral spot connected his side. Then, astir 19 seconds into the 3rd quarter, caput manager Jordi Fernandez called a speedy timeout to chew Clowney out aft helium near Yabusele wide unfastened successful the corner, resulting successful an uncontested 3-pointer successful what was inactive a choky crippled astatine that point.

Even with those struggles, Clowney’s upside arsenic a level spacer and interior defender was inactive connected afloat display. He finished with 11 points (5-of-8 shooting), 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks and 1 made 3-pointer successful 22 minutes. He entered the nighttime 0-of-5 from heavy implicit his archetypal 2 preseason appearances.

Clowney’s past NBA commencement was besides astatine Wells Fargo Center connected April 14. In his last show of the 2024-25 season, helium scored 16 points connected 5-of-10 shooting with 4 rebounds, 2 assists and a block. His 22 minutes played connected Wednesday was the lowest among Brooklyn’s starters.