76ers' Nick Nurse still encourages physical play after 'dirty' foul in Game 3 vs. Knicks

PHILADELPHIA — In the wake of winning Game 3 with at least one play labeled “dirty” by the Knicks, Sixers coach Nick Nurse didn't want his team to tone it down. “I think about every time these two teams play each other — regular season or playoffs — it's a rivalry, man,” Nurse said Friday. “It's intense. It's got history. It's physical. Now, it's the playoffs on top of it, right? As far as did I say, 'Hey calm down'? No. I think they were kinda isolated incidents. It seemed like they happened right on top of each other there for a bit. They just happened, but it's physical, man. You never know when there's gonna be a real physical play in that game. It just so happened to be early.” Joel Embiid