Sixers Bell Ringer Season Standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 23.5
VJ Edgecombe – 16
Joel Embiid – 14.5
Paul George – 10
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 5
Justin Edwards – 4
Dominick Barlow – 3
Andre Drummond – 3
Quentin Grimes – 3
Jared McCain – 3
MarJon Beauchamp – 2
Adem Bona – 1
Porter Martone – 1
Cam Payne – 1
Jabari Walker – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1
The Sixers returned home for an all-important Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Friday night vs. the New York Knicks. The Sixers come into
this one staring at a 2-0 series deficit, after a heartbreaking loss down the stretch of Game 2 on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. Joel Embiid, who was absent from the lineup on Wednesday due to ankle and hip injuries, returned to the lineup for tonight’s game as the Sixers looked to avoid going into a 3-0 series hole. Knicks star wing OG Anunoby, who has been fantastic in this postseason on both ends of the floor, was out for this one as he suffered a hamstring strain in the closing minutes of Game 2. Reminder that teams that go down 3-0 in a series are 0-160 in NBA history. All hands-on deck for the Sixers as they looked to keep their hopes of a deep postseason run alive.
The Sixers got off to a hot start, jumping out to a 9-0 lead to start the game. The energy in the building was palpable. Paul George poured in 15 first-quarter points to pace the Sixers. The Knicks called an early timeout as the Sixers got back-to-back monster slams from VJ Edgecombe midway through the fourth quarter. New York closed the quarter well to get the deficit to 31-27 at the close of the first.
All the hard work the Sixers did to get a lead in the first quarter was undone in the second as the Knicks dominated the second quarter. New York pummeled the Sixers on the glass including pulling down 10 offensive rebounds in the first half. The Knicks won the period 33-21 to take a 60-52 lead into the halftime break.
The Sixers couldn’t make up any ground in the third quarter. They generated a ton of open looks in the third quarter but missed the mark on a large sum of them. The Knicks got to the foul line at will and knocked down timely threes. The Knicks led 85-76 after three quarters. The Sixers had one quarter to try and save their season.
The Sixers continued to miss open look after open look in the fourth and the Knicks continued to stay the court and knock down shots when they could create good looks. Same story as the fourth quarter of Game 2. The Knicks would go on to win the game and take a commanding 3-0 series lead.
Time for Bell Ringer.
Kelly Oubre: 22 points, 8 rebounds, 7-for-15 from the field
Oubre has played very well in this series despite constant criticism from the fan base. He has been one of the few Sixers that has showed up in a manner that was required for the Sixers to have a chance in this series. Oubre’s cutting has been his best attribute as he has played extremely well off the gravity of the Sixers’ stars.
