Amidst their longest losing streak since the 2015-16 NBA season, the Philadelphia 76ers traveled to New York to face off against the Knicks. Following a rash of games showing a deplorable lack of effort, the Sixers banded together and looked like a functional basketball team for the first time in weeks. Unfortunately, they ultimately fell short despite their newfound heart, 110-105.
Without Joel Embiid, Guerschon Yabusele, Eric Gordon, and Kyle Lowry—not to mention the season-long loss of Jared McCain—the Sixers continue to try to fight against adversity. That operative word, fight, has varied in intensity in recent weeks, but particularly in the second half of this game, Philadelphia remembered the true meaning of the word.
Kelly Oubre deserves special mention, along with Paul George and Tyrese Maxey, for his effort in this game. Scoring 27 points and keeping the Sixers somewhat within striking distance during the first half, Oubre once again provided the team with whatever it needed, from a scoring punch to a defensive difference-maker and even a rebounder.
Despite Oubre’s first-half provisions, the Sixers found themselves down 16 points after the first half, and the game could have easily gotten out of hand from there. Instead, Philadelphia buckled down, adjusted, and responded with a strong effort in the third quarter, outscoring the Knicks 29-22.
Unfortunately, that effort could not outweigh the team’s continued inability to shoot, which dragged the Sixers out of contention in this game. Philadelphia came into this game as a bottom-five team in the league from beyond the arc in terms of accuracy, shooting at just a 34.3% clip. Tonight, the Sixers shot just 32.4% from three.
Tyrese Maxey, in particular, struggled from range, missing all ten of his shot attempts from deep. Despite his long-range inaccuracies, Maxey proved vital to the team’s second-half efforts, scoring 22 points between the third and fourth quarters.
After the game, Sixers’ HC Nick Nurse discussed Maxey’s play after the game and alluded to a lingering hand issue that could explain the shooting struggles.
“I mean, you know, he’s got a hand problem,” Nurse said. “I would; you guys check with him; that’s part of what’s bothering him… but you got to keep taking the shots that are there and see if you can get it going. But I thought he was awesome tonight.”
Maxey later commented on the supposed injury, specifying that it was his right finger. Regardless, he had no interest in giving it much thought, saying, “It hurts, but I’ll be fine.”
Thankfully, he’ll have a couple days off before having to return to action.
Up next for the Sixers
Philadelphia will head back home and prepare to welcome in the new-look Golden State Warriors, featuring former Sixer Jimmy Butler. The Warriors are 6-1 since the acquisition of Butler.
It’s an extra late East Coast tip-off on Saturday, set for 8:30 p.m. You can catch the game live on ABC, stream through ESPN, or listen live as always at 97.5 FM, the Fanatic.
