NBA Matchups: May 6

PHI @ NYK | MIN @ SAS

Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks

Team Totals: 76ers 104.3, Knicks 110.8

Injury Report: Joel Embiid (P, ankle)

76ers projected starters: Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Paul George, Kelly Oubre Jr., Joel Embiid

Knicks projected starters: Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns

Offensive Ranks: 76ers 17th (23rd halfcourt), Knicks 4th (7th halfcourt)

Defensive Ranks: 76ers 17th (10th halfcourt), Knicks 10th (14th halfcourt)

Season Series: 2-2

Noteworthy Missed Games: Joel Embiid (2), Kelly Oubre Jr. (2), Paul George (1), Quentin Grimes (1), OG Anunoby (1), Josh Hart (1), Deuce McBride (2)

Nurse quotes: Said they thought it was OK at the start and “it just kind of hit us,” said they didn’t challenge the Knicks in PNR attacks, said they have to clean up giving up so many easy dunks, said the Knicks were physical and they have to stop coughing up the ball, said “it doesn’t matter if it’s six points or 36” to lose Game 1, said he went with hack-a-Mitch because they wanted to slow down the PNR barrage, said Embiid is “probably OK” from getting hit in the stomach.

Brown quotes: Said they have to be better with the fouling, said Hukporti did a solid job to step up without the expectation to play, said they were great at getting back, said they had good screens for Brunson when the 76ers were playing in so much drop, said Mikal had a really good season and it was easy to stick with him to guard Maxey.

Player stats and notes:

*Just an absolute demolition of the 76ers from the Knicks. They dominated paint points 58-32 and controlled the tempo with a 16-3 edge in fast-break points. They also capitalized on their putbacks with an outrageous 2.5 points per play there on 22.2 plays per miss before garbage time (eight O boards, 18 second-chance points for the game). They also just cruised with their PNR game, and the 76ers had a “grand opening, grand closing” zone look during this one. The Knicks are now +135 in their last four games and are doing it on both ends. New York also smashed in the paint at 29-of-37 shooting (78.4%), and their 74.9 TS% is the highest they’ve had in a game all year. It’s also the sixth-highest TS% in a playoff game ever, and they were the first team since the 1987 Lakers to score 135+ points in consecutive playoff games. Last year, the Knicks topped out at a 62.2 TS% in a playoff game, and this year they already have three games way above that (67.0, 70.0, and 74.9). The Philly offense was fine with a 98.5 halfcourt O rating, but no transition really hurt their ceiling. It’s tough to bet against the Knicks when they’re playing like this.

*Joel Embiid didn’t have much going for him besides free throws and went just 1-of-8 on his jumpers. His role was still excellent with his 30% usage rate, and he had six post-up touches in his limited minutes. The 76ers will continue to play out of the two-man game, and I’d expect Embiid to have a much bigger performance than his 14-point dud on Monday.

*Tyrese Maxey needed more shots and only took one in the third quarter. Maxey absolutely should’ve had more shots and scored 11 points on his nine drives on perfect shooting. He had his usual on-ball role and just didn’t get enough usage in this game, and I’d expect Nick Nurse to really lean into Maxey for this game.