76ers take ‘Scheduled Loss’ in Game 1 against Knicks at MSG
Goforitradio Staff
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After overcoming a 3-1 deficit and defeating the Boston Celtics in Game 7 in the first round of the playoffs on Saturday night, the Philadelphia 76ers traveled to Madison Square Garden to battle the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Monday night.
However, the 76ers played like a tired team. Behind Jalen Brunson, who scored 27 of his game-high 35 in the first half, the Knicks easily defeated Philadelphia 137-98.
New York led by as many as 40 points.
Game 2 is Wednesday night back at MSG.
The Knicks were red-hot on Monday night. They shot 63% from the field, including 51% from deep(19-37). Philadelphia had no answers for anything the Knicks were doing on offense.
OG Anunoby added 18 points, and Karl Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges had 17 points apiece.
Conversely, the 76ers, who were led by Paul George’s 17 points, two of their best players, Joel Embiid(14 points) and Tyrese Maxey(13 points), were a combined 6-20 from the field. Obviously, those two have to be better if Philadelphia wants to take Game 2.
Philadelphia had just about the same number of free throws made(27) as field goals(30).
Bottom Line:
This was, as Doc Rivers used to say, “scheduled loss” for the 76ers. They just came off a tough series against the Celtics and had a quick turnaround, so you’d expect them to struggle, and they did.
Now, they have to adjust. They have to defend better and score better. The NBA is a make-or-miss league, and the Knicks made a lot in Game 1, and the 76ers made a little. Fortunately, the Knicks probably won’t shoot 63% from the field, and fortunately, Embiid and Maxey won’t shoot a combined 6-20 from the field, so there’s hope.
The goal for the 76ers is to go to Philadelphia in Game 3 with the series tied 1-1. That goal is still in reach. Even though the Knicks won by 39 points, it still only counts as one game, so the 76ers, who lost by 32 points twice to Boston in Round 1, have been here before, so we’ll see how they’ll respond in Game 2.
