Embiid (L) Maxey (R) Combine For 69 In Loss
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Shara Talia Taylor
The Philadelphia 76ers were within seconds of winning, but after a few missteps they fell to the New York Knicks in a 104-101 loss for game 2 round 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs at Madison Square Garden Monday night.
It was costly missed shots and rebounds that made the difference at the end of the game. The 76ers believed better rebounding could have improved their game.
“Defensive rebounding,”said Tyrese Maxey was the main thing he wanted to work on before the next game. “They got two offensive rebounds at the end of that game. It would have been tied. If we win the rebounding battle in that game we win the game. And turnovers.”
Philadelphia had 10 total turnovers and four were by Maxey. Maxey, however, led Philadelphia with 35 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds, while battling a cold. “I don’t feel great at all, honestly,” he said. “I took medicine, IV. I did everything they asked me to do. I wasn’t missing the game.”
The 76ers second leading scorer center Joel Embiid had 34 points, 6 assists and led Philadelphia with 10 rebounds. He said he felt great following the game. “Offense, defense, shooting, rebounding,” he said were things he wanted to improve before the next game.
Philadelphia played aggressively to start, but slowed their pace. Although they led 25-18 at the end of the first quarter and 53-49 by halftime, they were outscored by New York 31-28 in the second quarter alone. They trailed off in total rebounds with 16 in the first quarter and 11 in the second quarter. Embiid played 12 minutes in the first quarter and led with eight rebounds, but only played 6:56 minutes in the second quarter and had two total rebounds.
The 76ers were outscored 30-21 in the third quarter alone. Philadelphia was ahead 101-96 in the last 47 seconds of the game following a free throw by Kyle Lowry. He missed his second attempt, New York rebounded and got the ball to Jalen Brunson, who made a 3-pointer. Lowry inbounded the ball to Maxey, but turned the ball over as Josh Hart stole the ball and passed it to Donte DiVincenzo. DiVincenzo missed the shot but Isaiah Hartenstein grabbed the offensive rebound as players scuffled for the ball injuring Lowry in the process, and eventually to DiVincenzo, whose 3-pointer gave the Knicks a 102-101 lead.
It appeared Sixers Coach Nick Nurse tried to call a timeout in the final 27 seconds of the game, when Lowry inbounded. “We don’t get it in quick I call timeout,” Nurse said. “Referee looked right at me and ignored me.”
Philadelphia made their way to the basket after timeout, but a layup by Maxey was blocked by Hartenstein as OG Anunoby grabbed the rebound and was fouled by Tobias Harris. Philadelphia had one last shot after Anunoby hit 2 free throws. Embiid missed a 3-pointer in the last second.
“Keep fighting, don’t give up, I mean it’s the playoffs,” Nicolas Batum said after the game. “At least it’s not the best of two.”
“I think we played better than we did the other night,” said Nurse. “I think we can continue to play even better than that and that’s all we got to focus on.”
Teams next head to Philadelphia for Game 3 Thursday at 7:30pm , with New York’s 2-0 lead.
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