The 76ers are now 1-2 in their four-game winning streak. Game 4 will also be played in Philadelphia on Sunday.
Still feeling the effects of the meniscus injury, Embiid played an incredible game. The 30-year-old midfielder scored as many as 50 points in 40 minutes (8/12 doubles, 5/7 triples, 19/21 penalties), rebounded 8 balls and made 4 assists.
To date, his career high in the playoffs was 40 points. In the regular season a few months ago, J. Embiid scored as many as 70 points.
The “76ers” wizard also set this year’s playoff scoring record. To date, no other player has scored even 40 points.
In addition, J. Embiid became the first player to score 50 points in the playoffs for the Knicks since Michael Jordan, who scored 54 in 1993.
In the first half, the center also got involved in a conflict with Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo, and a few moments later he earned an unsportsmanlike foul for grabbing Mitchell Robinson’s leg.
Neither team led by more than 5 points in the first two quarters of the game, and the Knicks held a narrow 58-55 lead at halftime.
True, the New York team lost an important rotation player M.Robinson in the second half – the midfielder, who is probably the best able to defend against J.Embiid, twisted his ankle painfully, due to which he spent four months without basketball this season.
The 76ers took the lead after a long break. Tyrese Maxey scored 10 quick points, then J. Embiid hit three three-pointers in a row, and the hosts, who organized an 18-6 run, gained a double-digit advantage for the first time – 82-72.
In total, the 76ers hit 9 out of 12 three-pointers in the third quarter, J. Embiid scored 18 points during the half, and the Philadelphia basketball players, who won the quarter 43-27, pulled away 98-85.
In the fourth quarter, the Knicks tried to push Jalen Brunson, who played the best game in the playoffs this year, and with a little more than a minute left, the difference was reduced to 7 points (113:120), but the guests were not able to repeat the miracle that the Knicks did at the end of the second game and had to concede their first defeat in this year’s playoffs.
J. Brunson’s impressive game did not save the New Yorkers either. The defender scored as many as 39 points in 45 minutes (10/20 doubles, 3/7 triples, 10/12 penalties) and made 13 assists.
76ers: Joel Embiid 50 (8/12 doubles, 5/7 triples, 19/21 free, 8 rebounds), Tyrese Maxey 25 (9/21, 7 rebounds), Kelly Oubre 15 (for 7), Cameron Payne 11.
Knicks: Jalen Brunson 39 (13/27, 10/12 free, 13 rebounds), Josh Hart 20 (4/8 treys, 6 rebounds), OG Anunoby 17, Isaiah Hartenstein 14 (7/ 11 double).
