“F**k Embiid” Chants Erupt At MSG As 76ers’ Futile Efforts To Stop Jalen Brunson & Co. Go In Vain

There were a lot of difference-makers for the New York Knicks tonight, as Philly fans were forced to pray for Joel Embiid. The Cameroonian shot 8-22 from the floor and was seen falling after a backboard lob to himself. The scare came right after the Philadelphia 76ers led the 1st quarter with 9 points, giving the Knicks a clear route to dominate the second. Moreover, if the injury wasn’t already enough, the Knicks fans made sure Embiid never got in his zone.

The MSG arena reverberated with “F**k Embiid” chants, adding layers to the deficit the 76ers faced throughout the final stretch. The instance prominently came when Joel Embiid was seen pacing himself to force a foul and crashed into Jalen Brunson. Apart from all the heat in the arena, Nick Nurse called him a “warrior” as the center decided to play through the pain.

Positioned as questionable before the game, Joel Embiid started the game strong, posting a quick 9 points in 3 minutes. However, his production decreased after being shouldered to the locker room earlier in the game. Philly played a 29-game stretch without Embiid this season, and knew they needed a balanced firework to move past the Knicks. However, the bench failed to do so.

On the other hand, NYK launched an offensive masterclass, outscoring the 76ers 33-12 in the second quarter for a 12 point lead at halftime. However, that was just the beginning of it all.

Joel Embiid and the 76ers came back in the third

The Knicks definitely put a knot in the second, all while allowing the emergence of a new role player: Miles McBride. The guard posted 21 points in the game, posting 13 of them right before the half. With that, the Knicks also outscored the Embiid-less 76ers in transition (18-3).

However, after a brief evaluation, Joel Embiid was back for the third quarter and immediately sparked a 28-4 run. With additional offense from Kyle Lowry (12 points in the third) and Tyrese Maxey, Embiid evened the score with a three-pointer, leading 82-79 before the final stretch.

Superstars from both teams struggled throughout the game. With Embiid’s shooting struggles, Jalen Brunson just 8-26 in 42 minutes. This needed a significant boost from the role players, and the home team came through. Miles hit a lefty lay, before Hart and OG Anunoby combined for four huge three-pointers to keep the Knicks in the game and give them a 7 point lead with a minute left; which is what the 76ers lost by (111-104) despite playing the foul game.

Philly take care of the paint but failed to do so on the perimeter. Moreover, they also failed the rebounding battle and to mark a respectable clip from the three. They will now stay in NY for a Game 2, having to elevate their playbooks before they feel a home court advantage.