The Knicks played the first two games of their first-round playoff series, with the 76ers scoring the first nine points and leading by double digits at the half.
Even after coach Tom Thibodeau’s team regained momentum in both games and took a 2-0 lead, Josh Hart said it’s important to get off to a better start in Game 3 on Thursday night in Philadelphia. I understand sex.
“We know they’re going to bring their best shot. We’ve got to take on Punk first,” Hart said Wednesday.
Joel Embiid scored all of the Sixers’ points in a 9-0 burst to open Game 1, and Tyrese Maxey also scored one game later.
“I think we can play better. We have to play 48 minutes,” Thibodeau said. “There’s going to be ups and downs in the game. … The main thing is to find a way to win.”
Thibodeau said everyone was healthy for Game 3 except for Julius Randle, who was returned to the injury report with Mitchell Robinson listed as questionable with “left ankle management.”
In Game 1, he played 30 minutes, including the entire fourth quarter, but in Game 2, he played only 18 minutes.
If Robinson is unable to play Thursday, Precious Achiuwa will see his first action of the series.
Coach Nick Nurse and the Sixers said Maxey was fouled by both Hart and Jalen Brunson late in Game 2, and the referee also denied a timeout during the Knicks’ frenetic finish, Last 2 Minutes reports. I didn’t lament the league’s admission.
“The clock struck midnight, so I moved on,” Nurse told reporters Wednesday.
Maxey said the findings gave the Sixers “peace of mind,” but added, “I have to let it go.”
“That’s the way it is. We’re down 2-0. If we keep thinking about that, we’re going to lose 3-0,” Maxey said.
Thibodeau said of his dissatisfaction with the Sixers’ officiating: … I watch the whole game, not two minutes. ”
Hart joked that no one on the court “harasses the umpires” more than he does, but noted that the Knicks and other teams “were on both sides” of the missed call.
“When you’re in that position, there’s no computer to tell the referee it’s a foul,” Hart said. “At that point, it’s up to the referee’s discretion. So, fortunately for us, they weren’t called for a foul.”
After OG Anunoby made two free throws with 6.1 seconds left in Game 2, the Knicks elected to commit no foul with a three-point lead.
Maxey took the ball and passed it to Embiid, but Embiid’s 3-point shot bounced off the rim as time expired.
“We just have to be careful,” Thibodeau said. “If he was going toward the basket, it could get violent and they could get called for a foul. So there are certain situations.”
Sixers guard De’Anthony Melton has appeared in just two games since Feb. 27 due to a back injury, but said Wednesday he hopes to be available for Game 3.
He is listed as questionable, as is Embiid (knee), who has played three games in a row.
