NBA — Spencer Dinwiddie thought he snatched overtime at the buzzer, but his 3-point shot was not triggered in time and it was the Sixers who won at the Nets (101-98), thanks to 66 points of the Joel Embiid-James Harden pair!
Fortunately, and even in « back-to-back », Joel Embiid (37 points, 13 rebounds) and James Harden (29 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists) were there to pull their franchise from a nasty trap in New York lands (101-98).
Led almost the entire game, before taking the lead in the last five seconds thanks to free throws from the Embiid/Harden duo, the players of Philadelphia yet suffered to the end. They had to wait for the video to refuse the 3-point equalizer of Spencer Dinwiddie at the buzzer and defeat at the same time Brooklynled by the newcomer Mikal Bridges (23 points, 6 rebonds).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
— For Philadelphia, the straggler match par excellence. Apart from the first three minutes and the last five seconds, the Sixers have never led in this game! However, they are the ones who win on arrival and they can thank Joel Embiid and James Harden, excellent from start to finish to carry the team at arm’s length. Constantly trailing 5-10, without ever managing to reduce it further until the fourth quarter, Doc Rivers’ men nevertheless knew how to score the baskets they needed to not be (too) behind and stay in the shadow of these Nets with a very provided collective.
— Imperial Joel Embiid and James Harden. Overall lonely, the two Sixers superstars went to seek this victory in a hostile environment like adults. “Hostile”, because Harden was playing for the first time in Brooklyn since his transfer a year ago and because has never really been unanimous either, in particular because of his confusion with Kevin Durant or more recently Nic Claxton. Despite this, the Embiid / Harden duo was very aggressive and productive to keep Philly afloat and above all to allow him to snatch victory on the wire – and all in cunning – on free throws.
— Mikal Bridges takes care of his debut. Like Cam Johnson, the now ex-winger of the Suns was playing his first match in his new colors and the new darling of the Barclays Center had a successful first. As for several weeks, he was incisive and aggressive in attack, at mid-range or 3-pointers, to guide the Nets in this part. In defense, he was true to himself, not backing down from any opponent and stealing balls or changing shot trajectories. Just a shame Bridges couldn’t convert his “layup” to restore the advantage to Brooklyn, in the last seconds.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Philadelphia’s strength of character. Of course, the James Harden – Joel Embiid duo was immense and it was certainly the presence of these two players that made the difference in this match, because the Nets could not count on such «
franchise players ». Nevertheless, Doc Rivers’ men also seduced by their ability to “know how to suffer” and not panic when they saw Brooklyn unfold offensively and maintain their ten-point lead. Typically the kind of victory that unites a group, especially when it comes outside and in « back-to-back ».
✅ Joe Harris. A fine trigger for the Nets, the shooter had a good night and finished with 18 points in just 16 minutes, 6/9 behind the arc. Without asking any questions and thanks to the good shooting positions found by his teammates, Harris shot as soon as he had the possibility and his contribution off the bench did a lot of good for Brooklyn to build their lead, throughout along the game.
⛔ Spencer Dinwiddie. Within a tenth, the Nets point guard could have been the hero of the evening, or at least that of the fourth quarter. Except that his 3-point shot was not triggered in time, to the chagrin of the public at Barclays Center who had risen in one man. The symbol of this evening where nothing really went in the direction of Dinwiddie, certainly author of a terrible poster in front of Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris in the last act, but limited to 9 points in 31 minutes (with 6 rebounds and 6 assists), for an ugly 2/10 shooting and 0/4 from a distance.
⛔ Tobias Harris. More than De’Anthony Melton, who was also not comfortable in this meeting (0 point in 14 minutes, at 0/3), the Sixers winger was completely torn: 3 points in 29 minutes , at… 1/9 to shoot. Clearly not confident, he refused several first-line shots or “mismatch” situations, to finally impale himself on the opposing defense after hesitation or come out on a teammate with a snack pass. Really not what is expected of a player paid $ 37 million for the year and who averages 16 points over the season…
THE FOLLOWING
Brooklyn (33-23) : trip to New York for the derby, on the night of Monday to Tuesday (01:30).
Philadelphia (36-19) : reception from Houston, on the night of Monday to Tuesday (01:00).
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