Sixers Threes Bury Brooklyn

 

Philadelphia – A game high 30 points by Guard/Forward Mikal Bridges wasn’t enough for a win as the Brooklyn Nets faced a 121-101 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 round 1 of the Eastern Conference series of the NBA playoffs.

More team effort was needed, especially in the second half of the game.  Brooklyn started the game competitive and matched Philadelphia shot for shot, but turnovers and the lack of shots and rebounds plagued the Nets throughout the rest of the game as shooting decreased in the second half.

“You have to shoot the ball, you can’t turn it over, and you got to get the rebound,” said Nets Coach Jacque Vaughn.

Vaughn said Brooklyn needed to take more 3-point shots. They made 13 of 29 total 3-pointers while Philadelphia made 21 of 43.

Philadelphia scored 31 points from 20 forced turnovers, which Bridges attributed to their defense. “A couple of my turnovers I was trying to find somebody, but I got stuck,” he said.

Bridges led Brooklyn with 11 points in the first quarter and 12 points in the second quarter. He only made one of one attempted field goals in the third quarter. It was time for other players to step up. Philadelphia played aggressively and had what Brooklyn lacked, multiple players who shot well.

“These guys are physical,” said Forward Cam Johnson about taking a hard hit early in the game.  “They’re strong so I knew he was going to try just kind of give me a shoulder so I just took it.“ The charge leveraged a small advantage for the Nets, but it was short lived.

“It’s hard to beat a team when they shoot 19 more times than you and make 21 threes and with 14 offensive rebounds, it just makes it a lot harder,” Johnson said.

The Nets only had five offensive rebounds in the game. Johnson added 18 total points. Bridges was Brooklyn’s only player to score over 20 points while three of Philadelphia players scored over 20 points.

Center Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 26 points. Guard James Harden scored 23 points including seven 3-pointers and led Philadelphia with 13 assists. Forward Tobias Harris added 21 points for Philadelphia.

The scoring gapped increased each quarter. Nets trailed by five at the end of the first quarter; by nine at halftime; by 12 at the end of the first quarter and by 20 at the end of the game.

Johnson felt the team can improve their defense by preventing Philadelphia from shooting where they feel comfortable. Bridges felt they could rebound better, and Vaughn thought multiple efforts in rebounding, shooting and stopping turnovers would make a difference. The Nets play Game 2 in Philadelphia tonight and return to Brooklyn for Game 3 Thursday and game 4 Sunday.