In the aftermath of the Philadelphia 76ers‘ Game 2 defeat against the Knicks, Joel Embiid stirred the pot a bit further, providing additional motivation for both teams.
Despite the 76ers trailing 0-2 in the first-round playoff series following Monday’s gripping showdown at Madison Square Garden, the star center exuded confidence, boldly asserting that Philadelphia would stage a comeback to claim victory.
Embiid’s assertion came on the heels of a tumultuous finish in Game 2, highlighted by Donte DiVincenzo’s clutch go-ahead 3-pointer with mere seconds remaining, securing a thrilling 104-101 win for the Knicks.
In his eighth game back from an early February knee surgery, Embiid delivered an impressive performance, tallying 34 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in 39 minutes on the court.
The reigning NBA MVP’s declaration adds to the bravado exhibited by the 76ers, with backup center Paul Reed expressing a preference for facing the second-seeded Knicks over the top-seeded Boston Celtics in the opening round.
Despite Embiid’s commendable individual efforts, shooting woes have plagued the star center, as he currently maintains a shooting percentage of just 39.2% in the series, a notable drop from his 52.9% regular-season average. Moreover, concerns surfaced in Game 1 when Embiid appeared to tweak his surgically repaired left knee, although he has soldiered on, save for a brief absence during Saturday’s contest.
Meanwhile, All-Star point guard Tyrese Maxey has emerged as a beacon of resilience for Philadelphia, leading the team with 33 points in Game 1 and an impressive 35 points in Game 2, despite battling illness during the latter matchup.
With the series shifting to Philadelphia for the next two games, the 76ers have a prime opportunity to rally on their home court, with Game 3 slated for Thursday night and Game 4 scheduled for Sunday afternoon at the Wells Fargo Center.
