In the 2023-24 season, the 76ers are facing challenges due to injuries and trades, making them the underdog against the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference's first round.
During the first five halves of the series, it was clear that the Knicks were the better team. The Sixers needed to keep fighting hard, much like chopping down a tree, to win the series.
Joel Embiid could be described as the main force behind the Sixers' success.
Embiid made four 3-pointers in the third quarter, contributing to a team total of 9 out of 12 successful shots, and scored 18 points of his total 50 points in the game, resulting in a 125-114 win for Game 3.
Embiid scored 50 points with a highly efficient 13 out of 19 shots, including 5 out of 7 from 3-point range and 19 out of 21 from the free-throw line. Additionally, he secured eight rebounds and four assists, setting a new playoff career-high for himself and joining a small group of 76ers players who achieved a similar feat in a playoff game.
Although the Sixers initially trailed by two points at half-time, they quickly turned the situation around in the second half, with Tyrese Maxey scoring five consecutive points. However, strong performances by Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson from the Knicks kept the game competitive.
The series required a series of significant plays before the first win. Embiid's three consecutive 3-pointers and a final one in the third quarter allowed the Sixers to establish a lead.
Embiid and Maxey once again led the Sixers with their performances, while Cameron Payne and Kelly Oubre Jr. provided essential scoring depth. Despite a slow start, Kyle Lowry managed to contribute crucial points in the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Coach Nick Nurse strategically used a defensive lineup to buy time, and once Embiid returned to the court, he made significant plays to extend the Sixers' lead, ensuring their victory.
Despite the Knicks narrowing the gap in the final minutes, a crucial block by Nic Batum prevented them from getting closer, ultimately securing the win for the Sixers.
Josh Hart and OG Anunoby made important 3-pointers for the Knicks, while both teams displayed an excellent performance from the 3-point range, with the Sixers shooting at 48.4% and the Knicks at 43.3%.
Both teams embraced the controversy and physicality at the beginning, with the referees reviewing the game five times in the first half. This was fitting for a series where Game 2 was decided based on a pair of late officiating mistakes.
Lowry was given a Flagrant 1 for hitting the side of Donte DiVincenzo’s head while driving to the basket. Embiid struck Hartenstein below the belt on an offensive foul in the first quarter, and was then called for a Flagrant 1 when he undercut Mitchell Robinson going for a lay-in. Embiid was angry that Robinson didn't get called for a foul after landing on him while shooting a jumper, and confronted DiVincenzo, resulting in the teams needing to be separated.
The big men received early and frequent fouls. Hartenstein and Robinson each had two fouls in the first eight minutes and three each at halftime, leading the Knicks to turn to Precious Achiuwa for the first time in the series. Embiid was very aggressive, but got his third foul in the second quarter for overpowering a limping Robinson. In the first half, Embiid shot 5-for-9 for 17 points and five rebounds; Hartenstein and Robinson were 5-for-8 for 10 points and nine boards.
Robinson left the game in the second quarter due to an aggravated ankle issue and did not return. Hartenstein finished 7-for-11 from the field for 14 points, but only managed four rebounds as the 76ers finally won the rebounding battle by a 36-32 margin.
The 76ers received a significant contribution from Payne on its struggling second unit. He made two 3-pointers early in the second quarter and scored eight points in eight minutes in the first half. This limited Buddy Hield, who only played four minutes and had a total of two points in the two New York games. De’Anthony Melton, who had been limited to 11 games since December due to a spine injury, was cleared to play but did not get any playing time.
The scoring support that had been lacking appeared early in the game. Oubre scored eight points in the first quarter, while Tobias Harris contributed six in the first half. Together, they only scored 31 points in the first two games.
