Embiid Paces Sixers Over Brooklyn

Photo: Special to the NY Beacon

By Shara Talia Taylor

The Brooklyn Nets started strong and gave an extra push in the end, but fell way behind in the second and third quarters as they lost to the Philadelphia 76ers 121-99 at Barclays Center last Sunday afternoon.

Brooklyn had 15 turnovers and Philadelphia took more shots as they were led by Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. According to Coach Jacque Vaughn Philadelphia capitalized by playing more physical and the Nets needed more work finishing quarters. “Teams are doing different things at the end of the quarter to disrupt you so you have to have a poise about yourself,” he said.

The Nets trailed the 76ers 23-22 at the end of the first quarter, and almost tied the score with a rebound by Cameron Johnson at the buzzer. Brooklyn out-rebounded Philadelphia 16-11 in the quarter. Philadelphia outscored Brooklyn 38-27 in the second quarter alone and 33-22 in the third quarter. Brooklyn tied the score at 44 in the second quarter, but could not regain a lead the remainder of the game. The Nets trailed by as many as 14 with 1:55 remaining in the final quarter, but fell to 76ers’ pressure.

Lonnie Walker IV led the Nets with 26 points, six of which were 3-pointers, the most on the team. He said Coach Vaughn encouraged them to keep pushing when they were down. “Understanding what their strengths and non-strengths are,” he said. “One of their non-strengths is really just that transition defense. So, when we get a rebound, we got to push it. We got to go.”

Walker IV had a powerful dunk over several 76ers at the end of the first quarter.

Teammate Mikal Bridges added 18 points. Bridges was honored by his college team Friday as Villanova retired his team jersey. “It was dope,” he said. “It was real cool. Just an unbelievable night. Had a lot of family and friends there. It was a great night.”

Philadelphia swept Brooklyn in four games in the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs. Coach Vaughn said during pregame the 76ers would present new challenges without P. J. Tucker and James Harden.

“Overall, they are a different team than what we faced in the playoffs just because of Maxey leading the charge makes them entirely different,” Coach Vaughn said.

The Nets lost to the 76ers in preseason. Teams re-worked their roster and changed lineups since then. Maxey was key Sunday. He had 25 points. Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 32 points.

“When you have a dominant big who’s going to command the basketball, get to the free throw line, (and) make you change your defense and the way that Maxey is playing at a high level, his ability to command the basketball, get to his spots, (and) make shots, you see why this is one of the best teams in the league,” Vaughn said.

Philadelphia was runner-up in the Eastern Conference as of Sunday and the Nets in 10th place. Brooklyn was off Monday and faced the Atlanta Hawks Wednesday.