Despite Joel Embiid’s return and Paul George’s early spark, the Philadelphia 76ers withered under Jalen Brunson’s relentless scoring as the New York Knicks pushed the hobbled Sixers to the brink of elimination.
The Philadelphia 76ers got Joel Embiid back for Game 3, but that was not enough of a boost to save their season.
In a 108-94 loss to the New York Knicks on Friday night, the Sixers showed flashes early, especially when Paul George caught fire in the first quarter. But by the fourth quarter, Philadelphia looked worn down, disorganized, and out of answers. The New York Knicks outscored the Sixers 23-18 in the final frame, turning a competitive game into a comfortable win and taking a 3-0 lead in the series. Philadelphia scored just 94 points while shooting 43% from the field and 28% from three.
Embiid’s final line of 18 points, six rebounds, five assists, and three blocks does not look disastrous, but the eye test told a harsher story. He shot 7-for-17, missed all four of his threes, and appeared to be favoring his hip after taking contact late in the third quarter. It was clear that the big man was hobbled; he has been playing through pain the entire postseason, but there’s only so much punishment the body can take before it starts breaking down. Embiid has seemingly hit that threshold.
Tyrese Maxey’s box score also looks cleaner than his actual impact. He finished with 17 points and seven assists on 8-for-12 shooting, but the issue was volume and urgency. In a must-win home game, Maxey attempted only 12 shots in 44 minutes. Philadelphia needed him to force the issue more, but instead he seemed too passive and often relied on a hurt Embiid to make something happen in the half court.
George’s night was even more frustrating. He looked ready to carry the Sixers early, scoring 15 points in the first quarter as Philadelphia jumped out to a strong start. Then he vanished completely. George did not score over the final three quarters and finished 6-for-18 from the field, a brutal drop-off for a team already short on reliable late-game shot creation.
The difference was New York’s balance and structure. Jalen Brunson led the way with 33 points and nine assists, repeatedly answering Sixers runs with tough buckets. Mikal Bridges added 23 points on 8-for-14 shooting, including transition plays that helped bury Philadelphia late; the forward has stepped up massively for the playoffs, as his shotmaking has given the Knicks’ offense a new dimension.
But Karl-Anthony Towns’ playmaking may have been the biggest underlying factor. His 8-point, 12-rebound, 7-assist line undersells how much he unlocked New York’s offense. Towns repeatedly punished Philadelphia’s defensive attention by finding shooters and cutters. Towns has been huge as a playmaking hub for New York this series, a skill that is normally overshadowed by his shooting and interior impact.
Philadelphia now has their backs against the wall; the chances of them coming back are practically zero, but that won’t stop the team from adjusting and coming out and being ready to play in Game 4.
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Wes Dixon is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached at dixonwesley286@gmail.com.