Sixers-Knicks Sport 1: Embiid damage updates; NBA playoff bracket, schedule – The Philadelphia Inquirer

Embiid went down with a scare for the second time since coming back from meniscus surgical procedure however led the cost in erasing a double-digit deficit in third quarter. Sport 2 is Monday night time (7:30 p.m., TNT)
The Philadelphia 76ers will tackle the New York Knicks in Sport 1 of their first-round NBA playoff collection. The game will air on each NBC Sports activities Philadelphia and ESPN starting at 6 p.m. Japanese.
Joel Embiid is listed as questionable for tonight’s recreation, but is expected to start. He faces a legacy collection and has never looked more prepared, writes columnist David Murphy.
The Sixers will face former Villanova star Jalen Brunson, who averaged practically 29 factors a recreation main the Knicks’ to the No. 2 seed within the Japanese Convention.
It has been three many years because the Sixers confronted the Knicks within the playoffs. It didn’t go so well for Philly final time.
Listed below are some storylines to watch and our staff predictions for this Sixers-Knicks collection.
Tobias Harris’ tenure with the Sixers is expected to end as soon as their postseason run concludes.
Joel Embiid went to the locker room with 2 minutes, 37 seconds left within the first half after injuring his left knee.
The 76ers heart appeared to land awkwardly and bumped knees with Mitchell Robinson after delivering a nasty dunk in Sport 1 of his crew’s first-round matchup towards the Knicks at Madison Sq. Backyard. He would later return after halftime.
Shake Milton has identified Tyrese Maxey for practically a decade.
So once they had been 76ers teammates, Milton was by no means shocked when Maxey produced dominant scoring performances.
All of Nick Nurse’s earlier playoff teaching expertise got here with OG Anunoby at his aspect. The 2 received an NBA championship collectively in Toronto in 2019, Nurse’s first season as head coach of the Raptors.
However now Nurse is teaching towards Anunoby, and fellow former Raptor Treasured Achiuwa, because the Sixers face the Knicks in his first playoff run in Philly.
Sport 1 of Sixers-Knicks is marketed as a 6 p.m. begin time on ESPN, however play received’t start till a couple of minutes later.
Tip-off for the primary recreation of the collection is formally scheduled for six:23 p.m. as Sport 1 between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns ran over.
In his eighth NBA season, Buddy Hield will lastly expertise his first playoffs.
Following Wednesday’s play-in victory over the Miami Warmth, Hield expressed appreciation for reaching that profession benchmark. That got here after a robust end to the common season, together with seven factors and 6 assists Wednesday to assist gas the Sixers’ second-half turnaround. He has additionally been the NBA’s final ironman this season, enjoying in 86 video games together with Wednesday and the In-Season Match finals.
Ridley Park native Kevin Taddei may need retired his @DidTheSixersWin account on X a lot to the frustration of Sixers followers, however that does not imply he is stopped making the hype movies that grew to become a staple of that account.
Take a look at his newest for the Sixers-Knicks first-round collection, their first postseason assembly since 1989 …
» READ MORE: Twitter account @DidTheSixersWin retires after a decade of documenting the team’s fortunes
— Matt Mullin
Because the No. 7 seed of their first-round collection, which begins at 6 p.m. Saturday at Madison Sq. Backyard, The Sixers would keep away from a nightmare second-round matchup with the top-seed Boston Celtics. However due to accidents to the Milwaukee Bucks’ greatest gamers, the extra seemingly final result has them in line to face an Indiana Pacers squad that defeated them in two of this season’s three conferences within the convention semifinals.
Regardless of that regular-season final result, the Sixers could be favored if Joel Embiid can keep wholesome. The 7-foot-2, 280-pounder is the league’s most dominant participant. And the Sixers could possibly be the East’s most proficient crew exterior of Boston.
When requested Wednesday night time for his preliminary ideas on the Knicks, Tyrese Maxey rattled off these descriptors.
Dirty.
The Sixers’ first-round collection towards the Knicks kicks off Saturday at Madison Sq. Backyard. Presently, their collection is anticipated to be as shut as any — not less than based on oddsmakers. At DraftKings, the Knicks are small favorites to win the collection (-120), whereas the Sixers are even cash (+100).
So what do our consultants assume? They’re equally predicting a detailed collection, with all 5 writers predicting it going not less than six recreation. They’re additionally break up, 3-2, over who they assume wins the collection.
Joel Embiid is listed as questionable on the Sixer’s damage report, however is anticipated to play, according to The Inquirer’s Keith Pompey.
Embiid performed 38 minutes within the Sixers’ win over the Miami Warmth Wednesday, however at occasions appeared bothered by the identical left knee that compelled him off the courtroom for 2 months.
The Knicks received three of this season’s 4 collection conferences towards the Sixers. All-Star level guard Jalen Brunson, a former Villanova standout, averaged 22.3 factors, 7.8 assists, and three.0 rebounds throughout these 4 video games.
Nevertheless, New York will probably be with out All-Star Julius Randle, who opted earlier this month to have season-ending shoulder surgical procedure.
This season has been one other big leap for Jalen Brunson, the crafty-yet-undersized level guard who spent a lot of his childhood residing in Cherry Hill earlier than enjoying at Villanova, the place he grew to become a two-time faculty basketball nationwide champion and Participant of the 12 months.
The 27-year-old has been one of many NBA’s premier success tales, as a first-time All-Star, seemingly All-NBA choice, and legit MVP candidate in his sixth season.
Sport 1: Sixers at Knicks, Saturday, 6 p.m. (NBC Sports activities Philadelphia and ESPN)
Sport 2: Sixers at Knicks, Monday, 7:30 p.m. (NBC Sports activities Philadelphia and TNT)
Sport 3: Sixers vs. Knicks, Thursday, 7:30 p.m. (NBC Sports activities Philadelphia and TNT)
Sport 4: Sixers vs. Knicks, Sunday April 28, 1 p.m. (NBC Sports activities Philadelphia and ABC)
Sport 5: Sixers at Knicks, Tuesday, April 30, TBD (TBD)
Sport 6: Sixers vs. Knicks, Thursday, Might 2, TBD (TBD)
Sport 7: Sixers at Knicks, Saturday, Might 4, TBD (NBC Sports activities Philadelphia and TNT)
– Rob Tornoe
The Sixers are again on NBC Sports activities Philadelphia tonight as they tackle the New York Knicks in Sport 1 of their first-round playoff collection.
Kate Scott, in her third season because the TV voice of the Sixers, will name all of the motion alongside analyst Alaa Abdelnaby.
Regardless of dropping Jimmy Butler to a proper MCL damage, the Miami Warmth defeated the Chicago Bulls 112-91 of their Friday night time play-in recreation. That makes them the ultimate playoff crew within the Japanese Convention, which means they’re going to tackle the Boston Celtics starting Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
Butler is expected to miss several weeks.

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