Maxey’s Heroics and Embiid’s Late Block Propel 76ers to 3-0 Lead Against Nets
Working hard during the entire match and possibly fortunate to avoid being removed from the game for a groin kick on a Nets player, Joel Embiid reminded himself that he needed to remain on the court.
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Regardless of the Nets attempting to provoke him or disrupt his composure, it was crucial for him to remain present and focused for his team, the Philadelphia 76ers.
“You could see what the game plan was. Got to hit him, try to make me frustrated so I could get ejected,” Embiid said. “So, I’m too mature to put myself in a position where I’m going to be ejected, so I just went about my business and we got the win.”
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The 76ers defeated Brooklyn 102-97 on Thursday night to grab a 3-0 series lead after Embiid blocked a potential game-tying shot with 8.8 seconds left.
Maxey took control of the offense and scored eight straight points, turning a five-point deficit into a 99-96 advantage on his 3-pointer. Embiid was not playing like his typical dominant self and James Harden had been sent to the bench 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.
Prior to Embiid leaping up and blocking it, Spencer Dinwiddie appeared to have a path to the rim for a game-tying layup after making one free throw. The Nets turned the ball over on their ensuing possession after P.J. Tucker scored a free throw to put the score 100-97.
For the 76ers, Maxey scored 25 points while Harden added 21. Despite only making 5 of his 13 shots, Embiid managed to score 14 points and grab 10 rebounds.
For the Nets, who have dropped nine straight postseason games and are in danger of being swept for the second consecutive season, Mikal Bridges scored 26 points and Dinwiddie added 20. 17 points were scored by Cam Johnson.
“I told the group they didn’t give up, they grew up tonight,” Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said.
After checking out in the first quarter, Embiid went to the locker room for treatment. Later, he started limping often.
The fact that he was still playing at that time may have been fortunate for the 76ers.
The decision not to send him off for kicking his leg up toward Nic Claxton’s groin in the first quarter, when the Nets center hopped over him after he dunked and Embiid fouled him and fell to the floor, drew loud jeers from the crowd of supporters for the Nets. 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 defended by Royce O’Neale, flung out his arm and struck the swingman, who dropped to the court in pain, the decision went against the 76ers.
Harden’s penalty was a flagrant 2, according to crew chief Tony Brothers, whereas Embiid’s wasn’t due to the location of contact.
Embiid’s flagrant foul gave the Nets an emotional boost, and they quickly took a 19-11 lead. However, Philadelphia came back to lead 32-28 after one and 51-40 after Maxey’s 3-pointer with 3:52 remaining in the first half. The lead was 11 at the half.
However, Bridges gave the Nets an early lead in the third, and Johnson added 13 points as the Nets outscored the 76ers 35-18 to take an 82-76 advantage into the fourth.
TIP-INS
Tobias Harris led the 76ers with 15 points.
Brooklyn’s previous postseason victory came in Game 5 of the 2021 Eastern Conference Semifinals, which Milwaukee ultimately won and the NBA Championship. The Nets’ playoff record against the 76ers at home is now 0-6. They have a road record of 4-5, with one victory in 2019 and three in 1984, the year in which they shocked the reigning NBA champs 3-2.
SECRET STAT?
When asked about how the Nets were guarding Harden, 76ers coach Doc Rivers disclosed something that caused some perplexed faces in the audience.
“I don’t want to sound like I’m campaigning, but I am,” Rivers said. “James and Joel do lead the league in missed calls, as far as fouls. They got fouled the most, and that’s not a Sixers stat by the way. I’m just saying.”
When pressed for additional information regarding this statistic, Rivers would only respond, “I will just say that it’s a stat that we know that it’s there.”
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