Knicks drop game 3 as Embiid scores 50 points

Another tough battle unfolded as the Knicks clashed against the Sixers in Game 3, resulting in a 114-125 loss for New York. Despite a much better performance by Jalen Brunson, who notched an impressive 39 points and dished out 13 assists, alongside Josh Hart‘s solid contribution of 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists, the Sixers managed to overcome a 2-0 series deficit to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Joel Embiid had a standout performance for Philly, scoring an impressive 50 points. However, he was involved in a controversial foul during the first quarter that resulted in Mitchell Robinson injuring his ankle.

As OG Anunoby sent a pass beneath the hoop to Robinson, Embiid, who was collapsed beside him, reached out and grabbed Robinson’s ankle as he was going up for the dunk, dragging him down. Robinson fell on his injured ankle as a result of the incident and was forced to leave the arena at halftime wearing a protective walking boot.

The officials conducted a review of the play, ultimately ruling it as a flagrant one foul against Embiid instead of a flagrant two, which would have led to his ejection from the game.  Donte DiVincenzo labeled the play as “dirty,” while Isaiah Hatenstein criticized it, describing it as “not a basketball play.”

The Knicks initially held a slight lead, up 18-15 with just over four minutes remaining in the first quarter before the flagrant foul happened. With all this, they maintained a narrow 58-55 advantage at halftime. However, news of Robinson’s injury seemed to shake the team’s momentum, leading to a disappointing third quarter where they were outscored 43-27.

Despite dominating in the paint with a 54-38 advantage, the Knicks struggled to draw fouls, only managing 19 free throw attempts compared to the Sixers’ 33. Embiid alone had 21 free throw attempts.

Jalen Brunson delivered his best performance of the series, improving his shooting to 13-27 after struggling in the first two games. Additionally, the Knicks’ bench once again outscored the Sixers’ bench, showcasing the team’s depth and resilience.

Tyrese Maxey led the charge for the Sixers with 25 points, while Kelly Oubre Jr. added 15 points and Cameron Payne contributed 11 off the bench. With the series now tied, the Sixers have the opportunity to shift the momentum in their favor in the upcoming game.

Up-next: Game four between the Knicks and the Sixers is scheduled for Sunday at 1:00 pm