After a strong showing from the supporting cast and a historic 50-point performance from Joel Embiid in Game 3, can the Sixers keep things rolling to make it 2-2 against the Knicks?
The Sixers did exactly what they needed to in Game 3. To win their first game of the series against the Knicks, the Sixers answered with a 125-114 victory, powered by a host of strong contributions and a playoff career-high statement from Joel Embiid.
After a crushing end to Game 2, this was just the kind of response that was needed to make this a competitive series. And as the early Sunday tip-off of Game 4 approaches, the Sixers will need to focus on replicating some of what they did on Thursday to advance to 2-2.
Embiid, despite playing on one good leg and dealing with Bell’s palsy, was phenomenal. He exploded for a playoff career-high 50 points, and was so efficient (13-of-19 shooting with a 19-of-21 mark from the free throw line) that he recorded the most points scored on 20 or fewer shots in a playoff game in NBA history. And while we can’t expect him to have 50 and a 5-of-7 heat check from three every game, him moving better, getting back to his usual self from mid-range, making sharp passing reads, and forcing his way to the line for a ton of free throw attempts are more convincing signs of what could be coming from him as the series continues.
50 PTS | 8 REBS | 5 3PM
the Emvpiid had South Philly jumpin’.
presented by @cryptocom pic.twitter.com/UxT4Ikvh2w
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) April 26, 2024
Seeing how Embiid feels with his surgically-repaired knee will be something else to monitor. Despite the obvious improved performance in Game 3, he still explained afterwards that his trust in the knee is no different.
“No,” he said when asked if he trusts it more. “I’m just trying to keep pushing. Like I said, I’m not going to quit. If it’s on one leg, I’m still going to go out there and try, but that’s not an excuse. Have to keep playing better, and better, and better. Tonight I got lucky, I made a few shots. Have to find a way to rebound, and I don’t even necessarily care about rebounds, I just have to make sure my man doesn’t get it. Box out my man and take him out of the play. Whatever it takes to win.”
Players stepped up across the roster to help ensure Game 3 ended in victory, though, and they could use more of the same to continue this momentum through Game 4.
After shooting 3-of-10 in the first half, Tyrese Maxey got going in final two quarters to end the game with 25 points and seven assists.
Kelly Oubre Jr. deserves a lot of credit for his defense in this series, especially for how he’s used his size and physicality to bother Jalen Brunson, but Oubre added to that with improved offense in Game 3. He finished with 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting including a pair of threes — the kind of production and downhill threat the Sixers could use again on Sunday.
Kelly Oubre’s defense was a real positive for the Sixers in Game 1.
He finished with 5 steals, 1 block, and did a good job using his size, length and physicality when guarding Jalen Brunson. Plenty of disruptive plays with active hands and good shots contests. pic.twitter.com/BRH4ToV8hc
— Tom West (@TomWestNBA) April 21, 2024
Kyle Lowry keeps doing so many little things well at both ends of the floor, whether he’s moving the ball well, firing from three, or scrapping away on defense. He added nine points, four assists, one steal and one block in Game 3, and added four key points late in the fourth quarter. His IQ and execution at both ends is going to be important for the Sixers in any close game this postseason.
Even though Nicolas Batum only scored four points in Game 3, he still grabbed six rebounds, a pair of assists, one steal and two blocks, including a huge rejection on a Isaiah Hartenstein in the final minute. Batum also spent a decent amount of time guarding Brunson and used his length effectively, despite Brunson’s speed getting the best of him a couple of times.
This was a huge block from Nicolas Batum in the final minute of Game 3. Perfect timing and execution to prevent an easy 2 points and keep it a 3-possession game.
Batum does so much to help even when he isn’t scoring much. pic.twitter.com/79D1oW5Ozh
— Tom West (@TomWestNBA) April 27, 2024
Cam Payne deserves the most credit, though. As the Sixers’ offense struggled more in the first half and Maxey had a cool start, Payne gave the offense a much-needed spark to keep the team going in the second quarter. He scored eight points in as many minutes in the period, firing with confidence from three and shifting into the lane to make use of his floater, too.
Nick Nurse deserves credit for mixing up the rotation (Payne only played 2:34 in Game 1 and sat all of Game 2, while Buddy Hield’s minutes were justifiably cut to just four in Game 3), and Payne deserves credit for majorly stepping up. Payne proved he can contribute in this series and should get another opportunity on Sunday.
One thing to follow in Game 4 will be if we see De’Anthony Melton at all now that he’s available. Understandably, Nurse rode the hot hand in Game 3 as he kept Payne in instead.
“[Payne] was awesome,” Nurse said. “He certainly did a good job. Obviously, we were searching just a little bit for some kind of spark off the bench. Certainly had that in our thoughts to maybe go with Cam [Payne] first, and then still have [De’Anthony] Melt[on] in the back of our minds there a couple times too. But, Cam got going so he kind of soaked up those minutes.”
11 points on 4-of-7 shooting (including 3 triples), 3 assists and 2 blocks in 15 minutes for Cam Payne in Game 3.
Payne kept the offense going in the 2nd quarter and brought great energy all game. Really showed he can contribute in this series. pic.twitter.com/JkItJU1wQg
— Tom West (@TomWestNBA) April 27, 2024
For Game 4, the main concern for the Sixers is containing Brunson more like they did in Game 1 and 2. After shooting just 29.1 percent over the first two games to average 23 points, he had by far his best showing with 39 points on 13-of-27 shooting (3-of-7 from three) with 13 assists in Game 3.
Whether it was Oubre, Maxey or Batum, the Sixers still played some quality defense on Brunson in Game 3. Some of the Knicks star’s success was down to using his excellent footwork and touch off the bounce to hit contested floaters and mid-range pull-ups, along with shifty screen rejections and high screens to give him some extra room to get driving downhill. He had to work hard for quite a lot of his points, though. There are a few defenders and looks the Sixers can throw at Brunson, so it’ll be intriguing to see how both sides counter on Sunday.
There’s also the matter of waiting (or praying) for Josh Hart to cool down from three. He has to at some point… right? After shooting only 31 percent from three in the regular season and making an average of one three-pointer per game, he’s shooting 52.2 percent from deep in this series and has made four triples in every game. Of course, role players go off all the time in the playoffs. These random shooting outbursts happen — even if this Hart streak is a particularly outrageous outburst. But if that shooting normalizes, it sure would be helpful for the Sixers.
I’m not expecting the Sixers to have another 43-point quarter with 75 percent three-point shooting like they did in Game 3. They put on an absolute shot-making clinic and went 9-of-12 from three in the period. However, it will be interesting to see if the Knicks can better handle the Sixers’ combination of Maxey’s penetration, Embiid’s gravity, and their surrounding shooters.
Specifically, their use of Double Drag that they ran so frequently to get rolling in Game 3, using stagger screens from Lowry and Embiid to create a variety of good results. From Maxey getting open for pull-up threes, to Embiid finding space on short rolls, to Lowry relocating for open shots.
The Sixers’ frequent use of Double Drag in Game 3 really did work brilliantly.
The stagger screen comes from Lowry + Embiid here. OG goes over and trails, Hartenstein comes high to cut off Maxey’s lane, Brunson picks up Embiid in space, and Lowry drifts into an open corner 3. pic.twitter.com/PgDeZv1NNs
— Tom West (@TomWestNBA) April 27, 2024
As crushing as things felt from a Sixers perspective at the end of Game 2, this series has come alive again and has been full of thrilling basketball. It’s time to see if Embiid can keep thriving through injury, Maxey can keep cooking, the supporting cast can keep stepping up, and Nick Nurse has enough tricks up his sleeve to make this a 2-2 series.
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers
When: 1:00 p.m. ET
Where: The Center, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: ABC
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers
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