The Philadelphia 76ers are nonetheless alive within the 2024 NBA Playoffs. With a victory on Tuesday evening, the Sixers will head again residence with a possibility to take Recreation 6.
Heading into the primary spherical of the 2024 NBA Playoffs, the seventh-seeded Sixers knew their opponent properly. Sadly, they had been conscious of the truth that New York has their quantity this season.
In 4 video games in opposition to the Knicks through the common season, the Sixers took on three losses. Not one of the matchups had been significantly shut.
When the 2 groups met for Recreation 1 at Madison Sq. Backyard final week, the Sixers couldn’t bounce again from a Joel Embiid harm scare. The massive man returned to the motion after heading into halftime early with knee soreness, however the Sixers dropped Recreation 1 with a seven-point loss.
The Sixers practically stole Recreation 2 on the street. Sadly, important errors, together with some botched calls, led the Sixers to break down as an alternative of knotting the sequence at one.
Again at residence with an 0-2 deficit, the Sixers knew they wanted to rise to the event and keep away from staying on the trail of a sweep. With a 50-point outing from the famous person heart, Joel Embiid, the Sixers acquired on the board with a convincing 11-point win.
Sunday’s Recreation 4 provided the Sixers but, one other alternative to even the sequence. Though they had been on their residence court docket, there was a New York invasion in South Philly, and the Knicks utterly took over late within the recreation the Sixers initially had management of early on.
Placing the Sixers away with a five-point victory, the Knicks went again to New York with a 3-1 lead forward of Recreation 5.
With their season on the road, the Sixers got here out trying sharp on Tuesday evening. Whereas Joel Embiid struggled to get his shot going, the Sixers obtained some life from the veteran guard Tyrese Maxey and the ahead Tobias Harris. The 2 starters mixed for 18 of the Sixers’ 26 factors within the first quarter. Philadelphia held a nine-point lead by means of the primary quarter.
The second quarter was a special story. Because the Sixers rolled out their group of reserves, the Knicks instantly took benefit. Flattening 63 % of their pictures, New York outscored the Sixers 32-17. Going into halftime, the Sixers trailed 49-43.
After gaining some momentum late within the first half, the Sixers maintained that power early on at first of the second half. There wouldn’t be a swing, although.
The Knicks didn’t shoot significantly properly within the third quarter, draining simply 37 % of their pictures from the sphere. Nevertheless, they managed to have sufficient to go blow-for-blow with Philadelphia, because the lead modified over 12 occasions. Earlier than coming into the fourth quarter, the Knicks possessed a 70-69 lead.
Neither crew discovered separation at first of the fourth quarter, and that may stay the case all through the ultimate 12 minutes of motion. The Sixers managed to knock down 61 % of their pictures, and prevented the Knicks from taking complete management of the glass.
However Philly’s incapacity to deal with the ball damage their probabilities of getting out in entrance and pulling away as Tyrese Maxey went to work on the offensive finish and put collectively a 17-point quarter. Whereas the Sixers missed a possibility to take cost and seal the deal in regulation, a wholesome three-pointer from Maxey within the closing seconds of the fourth quarter allowed the Sixers to drive extra time.
The Sixers could not be outworked with their season on the road in extra time. After holding the Knicks to simply 30 % from the ground, the Sixers outscored New York 15-9, to tug off a 112-106 victory. Maxey completed the evening with 46 factors and 9 assists in 51 minutes of motion.
The Sixers and the Knicks will meet on Thursday evening on the Wells Fargo Middle for Recreation 6.