All Hart For Knicks In Game 1 Win
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Andrew Rosario
Clutch 3’s For McBride Off The Bench
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
It didn’t matter that the New York Knicks took 3 out of 4 games against the Philadelphia 76ers during the regular season. Sixers center Joel Embiid missed 3 of those games due to injury. When the former MVP did play against the Knicks it resulted in an embarrassing home loss. Philadelphia sneaked by the Miami Heat (105-104) in the Play In tournament game last Wednesday to qualify as the #7 seed when they took on the #2 seed Knicks for the best of 7 in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. From the start, Embiid made it a point to show the Knicks why he is a former player of the year.
Philadelphia, led by Embiid and his 15 points, jumped out to a 34-25 first quarter lead as New York struggled missing 15 of their first 22 shots. “Embiid got going on us pretty good,” said head coach Tom Thibodeau. The New York bench would be a major factor in the outcome of the game.
Bojan Bogdanovic and Miles McBride combined for 9 points cutting the Sixers lead to 2-points 36-34. By the end of the half, McBride finished with 13 points and Bogdanovic with 8 as New York stormed ahead for a 12-point 58-46 halftime lead. Embiid, who missed 43 regular season games with a left knee injury, went down with less than 3 minutes to go in the first half. He threw the ball to himself off the glass and dunked it over Knicks forward OG Anunoby. Embiid landed awkwardly, grabbing his left knee. After several minutes on the floor, he made his way to the locker-room and would return. The injury had an effect on his performance the rest of the way as Embiid missed 5 of 7 second half shot attempts. 6-points coming form the free throw line.
The Knicks would go up by as many as 14-points (65-51) after a Jalen Brunson nails a 3-pointer. jump shot. Philly did not go away and went on a 31-14 run ending the third quarter with an 82-79 lead. Knicks Josh Hart had 9 points going into the final quarter and came up big when the team needed him the most in the fourth.
Hart hit 3, 3 pointers scoring 13 fourth quarter points (22 overall) in the 111-104 win. McBride was just as instrumental as he finished with 21 points connecting on 5 of 7 3-pointers. The Knicks bench outscored the Philly bench 42-7. Sixers guard Tyrese Maxie led all scorers with 33 points. Embiid finished with 29 points but was only 8 of 22 from the floor.
Thibodeau on the performance of McBride. “Every time he’s gotten an opportunity he’s responded well. There’s things that he does that you know will translate. The defense is always going to be there, the hustle is always going to be there and his shooting he’s done an incredible amount of work on his shooting. It shows and credit to him, he’s worked extremely hard. He’s got great versatility because he can guard multiple positions.”
The Knicks look to go up 2 games when they play Monday night. The series then shifts to Philadelphia for games 3 and 4 which begin Thursday night.
