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Why 76ers HC Nick Nurse has wait-and-see approach down 0-3 to Knicks
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- Why 76ers HC Nick Nurse has wait-and-see approach down 0-3 to Knicks
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The Philadelphia 76ers are on the brink of elimination after Friday's 108-94 loss to the New York Knicks in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, sliding to a 3-0 deficit in the series.
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"You get in a situation like this, all you can do is try to get the next one and see what happens," Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said about his team being down 3-0 and and the fact that no NBA team has ever come back from that deficit.
Philadelphia entered Game 3 with Joel Embiid back in the lineup after he missed Game 2 because of right ankle and hip injuries. Embiid finished with 18 points, six rebounds, five assists and limited mobility throughout the night. He shot 7-for-17 from the field and appeared affected physically, especially after taking contact late in the third quarter.
The 76ers started strong, opening on a 9-0 run and building a 12-point first-quarter lead behind Paul George 's hot shooting. George scored 15 points in the opening quarter on 6-for-9 shooting and hit his third three-pointer to put Philadelphia ahead 23-12. However, he failed to score again the rest of the game and finished 6-for-18 overall.
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Kelly Oubre Jr. was one of the few positives for the Sixers, recording a playoff career-high 22 points along with eight rebounds. Tyrese Maxey contributed 17 points and seven assists on 8-for-12 shooting, though his aggressive scoring came too late after another quiet first half.
Once again, New York won the hustle battle, owning the second-chance battle and carrying a 16-0 bench scoring advantage into halftime. They also scored 13 of the game's first 15 second-chance points. Landry Shamet caught fire at the perfect time, finishing with 15 points after entering the game with only 14 total playoff points.
Jalen Brunson continued his outstanding postseason with 33 points and nine assists, while Mikal Bridges added 23 points. Josh Hart chipped in 12 points and 11 rebounds as the Knicks closed the game with a fourth-quarter burst.
OG Anunoby missed the game with a strained right hamstring and remains day-to-day, but New York still moved within one victory of a second straight Eastern Conference finals appearance.
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The 76ers now face elimination in Game 4 on Sunday, trying to avoid the 17th playoff sweep in franchise history.
Related: How Knicks star Jalen Brunson became Mike Brown's Peanuts-style safety blanket
Related: Paul George tips his hat to Knicks' Jalen Brunson after huge Game 3 vs. 76ers
