Sixers zip past Nets 107-86; Philly will face Miami in the play-in tournament
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 14: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers handles the ball in the second quarter against Trendon Watford #9 of the Brooklyn Nets at the Wells Fargo Center on April 14, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO (Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA - Tyrese Maxey scored 26 points for a Philadelphia 76ers team that played without Joel Embiid and earned a spot in the play-in tournament with a 107-86 victory over the Brooklyn Nets with playoff seeding at stake on Sunday.
The 76ers will host Miami on Wednesday night in the NBA play-in tournament. The winner gets the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference. The loser will host either Atlanta or Chicago on Friday to determine the No. 8 seed and who will face No. 1 seed Boston in the first round.
The 76ers expect to have Embiid, the two-time NBA scoring champion, in the lineup for the postseason.
Even with seeding that could have reached as high as fifth in the Eastern Conference at stake, the Sixers rested Embiid as a precaution, the team said. Embiid tweaked his surgically repaired left knee in a game on Friday, the latest injury setback in a career riddled with them.
A year after he was named NBA MVP, Embiid finished the season averaging 34.7 points and 11 rebounds in just 39 games. He had the statistical oddity of scoring more points than minutes played, finishing with 1,353 points in 1,309 minutes.
The 76ers clearly need a healthy — or healthy enough — Embiid in the postseason to give them any shot at winning a round or more in the East. The Sixers finished 31-8 with Embiid this season and 16-27 without him.
"I think that we did battle some adversity," coach Nick Nurse said ahead of the game. "I think the main thing that I would say I’m happy with, I’m pleased with, is that our competitive drive, our spirit, I think has risen the last few months. We’re competing at a level where I think we should all expect our guys to compete at."
All the Eastern Conference games had the same afternoon tipoff time, leaving the playoff picture settled at around the same time. Nurse said he would try to avoid scoreboard watching and "try to keep the focus on the game and the basketball."
With Allen Iverson and Julius Erving in the house, the Sixers shook off a shaky start — they trailed through one quarter — to easily handle the lowly Nets. Even Nets interim coach Kevin Ollie appreciated how good the Sixers could be with Embiid in the lineup.
"It’s going to be fun watching them in the playoffs," he said. "Hopefully, Embiid gets back to 100%."
Of course, full health has been a hallmark of Embiid’s career. He missed the first two seasons of his career after he was the No. 3 pick in the 2014 draft and he has never played more than 68 games in a season.
Embiid said earlier this month that again sitting out from his recent knee injury " took a toll mentally."
"Being depressed. It was not a good one," Embiid said. "Still not where I’m supposed to be, especially mentally."
NET GAINS
Cam Thomas scored 18 points and Noah Clowney had 13 points. The Nets are in the process of finding another coach for next season.