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.

Trending

Billionaire Michael Jordan’s $20 Million Venture’s Identical Logo to Puma Gets Defended by Dwyane Wade: “I’m Not Even Getting Paid”

May 03, 2024 06:07 AM EDT

Rich Paul: Only Savannah James & Bronny Could Cut LeBron’s 5-Year Plan Short

May 02, 2024 07:10 PM EDT

WNBA’s Sad Policy Begins Haunting Rookie Caitlin Clark in Dallas: “Liberty Were Fined $500K…”

May 03, 2024 04:06 AM EDT

Rumoured Next Coach of the Lakers, JJ Redick Makes A Surprising Comment on LeBron James’ Relationship

May 01, 2024 01:01 AM EDT

Damian Lillard Shuts Down Trade Chatter With 2-words After Bucks’ Premature Playoff Elimination

May 03, 2024 07:31 AM EDT

Get instantly notified of the hottest NBA stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

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.