Embiid Gets Late Block as Maxey, 76ers Take 3-0 Lead on Nets

The Philadelphia 76ers defeated Brooklyn 102-97 to take a 3-0 series lead after Joel Embiid, who had been limping the entire game after kicking a Nets player in the groin, blocked a potential game-tying shot with 8.8 seconds left.

Joel Embiid told himself he had to stay on the floor throughout the game, and he may have been fortunate to avoid being sent off for kicking a Nets player in the groin.

He needed to be there for his Philadelphia 76ers even if the Nets kept hitting him or attempting to make him lose his composure.

“The strategy was clear to see. Got to hit him, try to make me frustrated so I could get ejected,” Embiid said. “I didn’t put myself in a situation where I would risk being kicked out because I am an adult, so I just went about my business, and we won.”

largely due to his signature block at the very end.

The 76ers defeated Brooklyn 102-97 on Thursday night to take a 3-0 series lead after Embiid stopped a potential game-tying basket with 8.8 seconds remaining.

Tyrese Maxey hit the game-winning 3-pointer for the 76ers with 44 seconds left, and they can advance 3-0 to the second round with a victory on Saturday in Brooklyn.

Maxey took control of the offense and scored eight straight points, turning a five-point deficit into a 99-96 lead on his 3-pointer. This was after Embiid struggled and James Harden was ejected in the third quarter for another groin shot.

“Tonight, when our ballhandler, our leader went out, take that role in the fourth quarter and help us get into our stuff, help us win the game,” Maxey said.

One free throw was made by Spencer Dinwiddie, who then appeared to be on his way to the basket for a potential game-tying layup before Joel Embiid leapt up and blocked the shot. When the Nets’ next possession came around, P.J. Tucker’s free throw made the score 100-97, but the Nets then turned the ball over.

Maxey led the 76ers in scoring with 25 points, and Harden added 21. Even though Embiid only made 5 of 13 shots, he still managed to grab 10 rebounds and score 14 points.

For the Nets, who have dropped nine consecutive playoff contests and are in danger of being swept for the second consecutive season, Mikal Bridges scored 26 points and Dinwiddie added 20. The score of Cam Johnson was 17.

“I told the group they didn’t give up, they grew up tonight,” Jacque Vaughn, the Nets coach, said.

Embiid checked out in the first quarter and later went to the locker room for treatment. He then started limping repeatedly.

He may have been still playing at that point for the 76ers’ benefit.

The decision not to eject him for kicking his leg up toward Nic Claxton’s groin in the first quarter, when the Nets center stepped over him after he dunked and Embiid fouled him and fell to the floor, was loudly booed by the crowd of Nets supporters. Social media users who weren’t present in the arena questioned why he hadn’t received the same punishment as Golden State’s Draymond Green for stepping on Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis in Game 2 of their series. Following that, the NBA benched Green for Game 3.

In the end, Claxton received a technical foul, and after receiving a second one in the fourth quarter, he was dismissed from the game.

However, in the third quarter when Harden, who was being closely guarded by Royce O’Neale, swung out his arm and struck the swingman, who fell to the court in pain, the decision went against the 76ers.

Tony Brothers, the crew chief, claimed that Embiid’s foul was not a flagrant 2 because of the area of contact, whereas Harden’s was because of direct contact to the groin.

Embiid’s flagrant foul gave the Nets an emotional boost, and they quickly took a 19-11 lead. However, Philadelphia came back to take the lead at the end of the first quarter, 32-28, and continued to hold that lead at 51-40 after Maxey’s 3-pointer with 3:52 left in the half.

However, Bridges got the Nets off to a fast start in the third, and Johnson added 13 points to help the Nets beat the 76ers 35-18 to lead 82-76 going into the fourth.

TIP-INS

76ers: With 15 points, Tobias Harris scored.

Nets: Prior to Milwaukee’s comeback to win that series and ultimately the NBA championship in 2021, Brooklyn’s last playoff victory came in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. … Nets’ losing streak against the Warriors increased to six. the 76ers at home in the playoffs. They have a road record of 4-5, with one victory in 2019 and three in 1984, when they shocked the reigning NBA champions 3-2 in the opening round.

SECRET STAT?

76ers coach When Doc Rivers revealed something that left some in the audience perplexed, he was responding to a query about how the Nets were guarding Harden.

“I don’t want to sound like I’m campaigning, but I am,” Rivers said. “In terms of missed foul calls, James and Joel do top the league. They committed the most fouls, which, incidentally, is not a Sixers statistic. I’m just saying.”

Asked for more details about this stat, Rivers would only reply: “I’ll just say that we are aware of this statistic.”

Reference: www.usnews.com