NEW YORK — It has been a long time since a Philadelphia sports coach ended a closely contested game with a $39 million starter on the bench.
However, that's what happened when forward Tobias Harris sat out the final 4:12 of the Sixers' 105-104 play-in win over the Heat. Harris had nine points, 10 rebounds and missed a three-point shot not long before leaving the game.
Harris played 32 minutes, two less than his average, largely because Nick Nurse found the players he wanted in Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Nico Batum to finish the game. When asked how comfortable he was with that group in a closing role, Nurse said it was a coincidence at first, but added that he feels good about the lineup this week.
“I thought Tobias played so hard that he kind of ran out of energy,” Nurse said. “We had him in for a long time for some matchup reasons and we just couldn’t seem to get him out of there. They had their guy in there, too. And I just felt like man, he really needed a rest and that group managed to play well together. A lot of that is just kind of the feel of what’s going on and I imagine that’s going to stay the same. Even with Kyle (Lowry) it was like, should we put Kyle back in or not? It was a tricky one. And we did and he made a couple great plays.”
In other words, this probably won’t be the last time you see that lineup.
Certainly, Harris started Saturday with the Sixers opening their best-of-7 first-round series with the Knicks, who love to push the tempo and play Maxey-style.
Nurse said his roster has “six, seven guys down the stretch, depending on who we need at both ends of the floor” that he’d feel comfortable finishing games. It sure seems like Harris is No. 6, with Buddy Hield probably seventh.
There have been reports that the Sixers may not keep Harris, as they upset the fans by signing him to a five-year, $180 million contract instead of spending big for Jimmy Butler. Although Harris has the unfortunate distinction of being the highest-paid NBA player not to make an All-Star team, his role changes as quickly as the injury report.
Right now, though, Harris' greatest value is as a defender. He can guard anyone on the court, including bigs, in limited playing time.
Harris also turns 32 in July. On the other hand, he averaged 17.2 points and 6.5 boards in this, his 15th season, which is higher than his career averages of 16.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists.
Harris made a three-pointer on his first shot and he yelled at the Sixers bench when the players stood up and applauded. What happens from here on out – even for a man with Harris’ scoring skills – is a matter of how Nurse feels toward the end of the game.
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Scary moment for Embiid in the first half. With 2:45 left in the half, Embiid threw the ball off the backboard, grabbed it and dunked, only to land awkwardly on his left leg.
Exhausted, Embiid lay on the floor for several minutes before walking off on his own to the locker room.
Embiid scored 18 points and grabbed five rebounds but the Sixers trailed, 58-46, at the intermission. He returned for the second half.
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Another frightening moment for Maxey and the Sixers with 7:34 remaining in the first half, when Knicks guard Josh Hart collided with Maxey after a missed shot, trapping his right foot and causing a knee injury.
Maxey remained in the game but was in significant discomfort for a short time. Maxey is almost as crucial to the Sixers’ success as Embiid.
“His speed is a major worry,” Knicks coach Tom Thibedeau commented on the point guard. “He drives aggressively to the basket. His shooting has really gotten better. When you combine these two factors, it's a lot to handle. We'll have to defend him with our entire team… just like we will with Joel.”
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Knicks superfan Spike Lee made an appearance Saturday at Madison Square Garden,
Among the other VIPs on Celebrity Row were former Knicks John Starks and Larry Johnson, Steve Schirripa of The Sopranos and Blue Bloods, and Juan Soto of the Yankees.
