The Sixers’ latest blowout loss, Jalen Brunson goes for blood, and more from 137-98 Game 1 dismantling
The 'Nova Knicks were in full swing, with Brunson scoring 35 points and Mikal Bridges and Jalen Hart playing their own part in the Game 1 win.
Sixers coach Nick Nurse had seen enough. The substitutions started as his team trailed, 93-64, with 6 minutes, 3 seconds remaining in the third quarter. First Joel Embiid was pulled, then Tyrese Maxey sat, and Paul George followed.
When the clock finally hit zero, the Sixers had suffered a 137-98 defeat to the New York Knicks in Game 1 of their second-round series on Monday at Madison Square Garden. Their stars spent almost half the night sidelined as both teams emptied their benches early.
Embiid finished with 14 points on 3-of-11 shooting. Maxey wasn’t much better with 13 points on 3-for-9 shooting. George was the rare bright spot, posting 17 points and knocking down four three-pointers. Rookie VJ Edgecombe started hot but finished with 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting.
» READ MORE: All the Sixers need to fix is everything after a brutal Game 1 blowout loss to the Knicks
The Sixers were dismantled in the second and third quarters as Jalen Brunson went scorched earth. Brunson posted 27 points in the first half — including 13 in the second quarter — and finished with 35 on 12-of-18 shooting. His Knicks outscored the Sixers, 41-26, in the second quarter and won the third, 35-27.
The Sixers’ offense wasn’t putrid in the second. They shot 10-for-22 from the field despite struggling from deep (2 of 9). But their stars struggled, making it impossible to keep pace with a well-rested Knicks team. The Sixers expended a good deal of energy to overcome a three-games-to-one deficit against the Boston Celtics and earn Saturday’s Game 7 victory.
The toll that it took on the Sixers’ defense was obvious as Brunson, OG Anunoby (18 points), Mikal Bridges (17 points), and Karl-Anthony Towns (17 points) all had efficient nights.
The Sixers will need to turn the page quickly to prepare for Wednesday’s Game 2 in New York (7 p.m., ESPN). Here are a few things we learned from the decisive loss.
Maxey and Embiid must get going early
Knicks coach Mike Brown complimented Maxey and Embiid before Game 1, explaining that he considered them one of the best duos in basketball. He contended that Maxey’s speed and skill and Embiid’s size and skill were tough for any team to match. What he failed to mention was the Knicks are one of the few teams that can square up with that duo, and they did on Monday.
Brunson and Towns attacked off the dribble and put pressure on the Sixers’ defense, forcing their stars to respond. This was a rare night when Maxey and Embiid didn’t have an answer.
Embiid made an effort early. He looked poised for a big night after he scored eight points in the first quarter, including a stint when he forced Towns to pick up two fouls and head to the bench. Embiid started to slow down, however. He couldn’t finish at the rim and even took a shot to the midsection. He spent 17 days away from the team after an appendectomy and only returned to the team on April 26.
Maxey’s quiet night was more of a function of the Knicks’ defense making life tough for him. Maxey only took nine shots as the Knicks blitzed him on screen and rolls and forced the ball out of his hands.
They’ll both need to get going sooner in Game 2 or they could be in another precarious situation against a hotter and healthier team.
The Sixers have been here before
The Sixers were blown off the court in Game 1 of their second-round series against the Knicks. Well, they’ve been here before. After fighting for playoff positioning down the stretch and beating the Orlando Magic in the Play-In Tournament, the Sixers showed up spent for their first-round series against the Celtics. As a result, they were trounced 123-91 to open their series in Boston.
» READ MORE: Sixers lose big to the Knicks in Game 1; Jalen Brunson goes off
History repeated itself on Monday. The Sixers came back to win their series against the Celtics with a dramatic Game 7 victory, then blinked and were back on the court against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. It was clear that they didn’t have the necessary legs to knock down shots or match the Knicks’ torrid pace.
What the Sixers have a chance to change here is how quickly they recover from the loss. Whether they can take what they learned in that first series and adapt a little quicker here against the Knicks is yet to be seen. But it will define the series.
Brunson out for blood
Perhaps Brunson could smell blood in the water.
The Sixers had only one day to get to New York before tipoff against the Knicks.
The Knicks, meanwhile, closed out the Atlanta Hawks in six games and had been off their feet since April 30. They entered their Monday night meeting with the Sixers on three days of rest, and Brunson attacked the Sixers from the jump. He scored 14 points in the first quarter and finished with 11 straight points to close the half with 27 points.
There were concerns entering the series about Brunson’s defense after the Hawks placed the guard in pick-and-roll sets and took advantage of him. Brunson flipped the page, instead hunting Embiid and taking advantage of the Sixers’ drop coverage.
Brunson didn’t need to do much more after halftime on this night. With his team up 30 points midway through the third quarter, the Sixers appeared to wave the white flag. Embiid, Maxey and George all went to the bench. Brunson also sat once the period ended.
