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Game 2 Breakdown
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This game had all the makings of a trap game! The Philadelphia 76ers has been playing without Embiid on and off for the entire season.
They know how to play together without Embiid so when he was ruled out for Game 2, I believe it actually made them more dangerous.
The ball was going to move more freely with Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, VJ Edgecombe, and Kelly Oubre taking more shot attempts. As well as the Sixers playing faster without the big fella. And they did just that.
They came out strong with their full court pressure and fast paced offense. The Knicks played their usually style of play with their newfound Karl-Anthony Towns hub-flex offense.
The game was very close going back and forth for the entirety. Especially due to the officiating in the second quarter.
The zebras kept the game close when the Knicks were primed to make run with the Knicks getting their first whistle with three minutes to go in the second quarter.
While, KAT and Ariel Hukporti were both in foul trouble forcing the Knicks to go to small ball lineups with Mitchell Robinson out with an illness.
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The second half was called a lot more even and the game stayed close until the Knicks were able to pull away late in the fourth behind some late game heroics from the Villanova trio of Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart.
This game was definitely for Philadelphia to take and steal, which is what they did without Embiid to the Boston Celtics in the first round. That Game 2 victory was pivotal to their eventual series win.
So it was very important the Knicks were able to pull this one out. Especially, in a game where: they made six less three pointers, shot 26.9 percent from downtown, and were out-rebounded.
What made up for the three-point discrepancy was the absolute domination in the points in the paint where the Knicks outscored the Sixers: 56 to 30.
I do think the Sixers ran out of gas with the heavy minutes their starters played due to their lack of bench depth so they did let the Knicks off the hook because down the stretch they had wide open looks that were most short on the rim.
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The Knicks will have that dilemma to worry about even more so now with the injury that came late in the game where OG Anunoby asked out of the game due to an apparent leg injury.
We now know he has been diagnosed with a right hamstring strain and is listed as day to day on the injury report. The media is saying he is questionable for Game 3 in Philadelphia.
However, it has been reported that there is a level of “optimism” in the Knicks locker room that OG will play in Philadelphia for Game 3 and Game 4. We can all exhale now!
OG Anunoby is the single most important player for our squad as the third option offensively and our most dominant defender. He will need to be healthy and playing if this team wants to continue on and make a deep run.
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Game 2 Knicks Top Performers Recap:
-OG Anunoby: 24 points 5 rebounds 2 assists 4 steals 1 block
-Karl-Anthony Towns: 20 points 10 rebounds 7 assists 1 steal 75 field goal percentage
-Jalen Brunson: 26 points 6 assists 1 rebound 1 steal 1 three-pointer
-Mikal Bridges: 18 points 5 rebounds 2 assists 1 steal 1 block
Breakdown Bites
Most points in first 50 games with any team, NBA Playoff history: Michael Jordan (Bulls, 1814), Elgin Baylor (Lakers, 1675), Luka Doncic (Mavericks, 1546), Allen Iverson (76ers, 1527), Jerry West (Lakers, 1506), JALEN BRUNSON (Knicks, 1476).
Jalen Brunson became the 7th player in NBA history with 25 points per game and 5 assists per game in their first 75 career playoff games.
Karl-Anthony Towns has recorded at least 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in five straight playoff games. The only Knick with a longer single playoff streak is Walt Frazier (6).
Last night’s Sixers-Knicks game featured 25 lead changes, tied for the fourth-most in any postseason game since play-by-play data was first tracked in 1997. MOST in a playoff games since Spurs vs Clippers Game 7 in 2015.
Players in Knicks Franchise History with 20 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists on 75+ field goal percentage in a playoff game: Patrick Ewing and KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS.
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