Welcome to the Ref Show — Sixers Squeeze By Nets to Take 3-0 Series Lead
Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid (21) celebrates with De'Anthony Melton (8) after the team's win over the Brooklyn Nets in Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 20, 2023, in New York. The 76ers won 102-97. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Despite the best effort of the referees, the Sixers beat the Brooklyn Nets 102-97 and take a 3-0 series lead.
This was a weird game, to say the least, with multiple ejections and chippy play, but in the end, the 76ers talent won out. Get out the brooms, we are headed for a sweep.
Tyrese Maxey You Are the Man
After Harden’s ejection, the Sixers needed a player to step up, and that player was Tyrese Maxey. Maxey finished the game with 25 points including the game-winning three-point shot. Maxey singlehandedly brought the Sixers back late in the 4th quarter, scoring 10 straight. Whenever he shoots a three it feels like it’s going in, and he had it going from three tonight. Maxey was 5-8 from three and now has the most playoff games with 5 or more threes in Sixers history.
While Maxey still needs to develop as a playmaker, his ability to score has transformed since coming into the NBA. The biggest knock on him coming out of college was his poor three-point shooting. Now, it’s his biggest strength. I have all the confidence that if the Sixers ask him to develop his play making abilities he will be able to do it.
Maxey has been great so far in this Brooklyn series, and they are going to need it to continue in the next few rounds.
Harden Ejected
Late in the 3rd quarter Harden while guarded closely by Royce O’Neal, drove by and hit him with his off arm. It seems like Harden may have hit him in his private parts, but is it a little bit unclear? Harden was then given a flagrant 2 and ejected from the game. This was one of the worst ejections I have ever seen, and just about everyone around the country agreed. Just about every player uses their off-arm to create space when driving, and it should be called a foul. But to eject a player because their off arm may have accidentally made contact with a player’s privates is ridiculous. You know a call is bad when you have Nets fans on social media voicing their displeasure with the call. I do not think Harden will face a suspension off of this ejection.
The officials were overall terrible tonight, mostly in favor of the Nets. With about 4 minutes left in the 4th quarter, the TNT broadcast announced that the Nets had not committed a single foul in the second half. How is that possible? In a game that physical there had to be Nets players committing fouls that were not called. Overall the Sixers won the game so it doesn’t matter, but it is something to keep an eye on for game 4. Especially when their coach Jacque Vaughn cries for calls in post-game press conferences.
Harden was playing very well before he was ejected. He finished the game with 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. He was able to get to and finish at the rim unlike the first two games, and he also had his midrange shot working. After a bad game 2, it was encouraging to see Harden bounce back.
MVP Like Play From Embiid
This was one of Embiid’s lesser playoff games in recent memory. The Nets decided that since they can not stop him, they are going to try and get in his head and out-physical him. While it worked, they still lost the game. Embiid was very lucky that he was not ejected early in the game when he kicked Claxton while he was stepping over him. Both players received technical fouls and they moved on. After a push in the back of Embiid by Claxton, Embiid had to go back to the locker room. He was able to return to the game, but it is something to monitor. Embiid seemed to also tweak his knee when he collided with Cam Johnson, so that is another thing to keep your eye on. Ultimately Embiid stayed in the game, but he really struggled offensively.
While Embiid struggled, this game will be remembered for one moment. The block. With around 14 seconds left, while Spencer Dinwiddie drove to the basket to tie the game, Embiid came down from the nail and rejected the shot to P.J. Tucker. Tucker was fouled and sealed the game at the free-throw line. In the biggest moment, Embiid showed up. At that moment they needed their MVP to be the MVP, and he rose to the moment and made the play. This has been a theme this season, and it could lead to some great things down the road.
