In the Sixers’ minds there is still the controversial ending of game 2, lost in the sprint, and all the frustration for the previous defeat is transformed into the energy with which Joel Embiid, a true giant on the pitch, drags his team to the decisive breakthrough in the 3rd quarter. After the long interval, in fact, Philadelphia takes possession of the game also thanks to Tyrese Maxey with 25 points and 7 assists and beats New York despite the resistance offered by Jalen Brunson, taking a 2-1 lead in the series.
In addition to the after-effects of the injury that kept him sidelined for over two months, Embiid was also disturbed by another health problem that hit him in the last week. Looking at him on the field in game 3, however, you wouldn’t think so, because the Sixers center towers over, recording his career high in the playoffs with 50 points, the result of an astonishing 13/19 from the field (5/7 from three). to which he adds 8 rebounds and 4 assists.
The Knicks fail to pull off the coup in game 3 that would give Tom Thibodeau’s boys control of the series, because New York has to surrender in the face of a completely unstoppable Embiid. Brunson, however, is the last of his team to give up and ends his game with 39 points and 13 assists.