Joel Embiid, Sixers react to escaping Nets after game-tying 3 waved off
NEW YORK–The Philadelphia 76ers held a 101-98 lead over the Brooklyn Nets after James Harden knocked down two free throws with 0.9 seconds left. Joel Embiid had just given Philadelphia the lead with 5.2 ticks left before the Sixers got a stop and Harden followed up with free throws.
Needing a 3-pointer to force overtime, the Nets drew up a play for Spencer Dinwiddie. The Brooklyn guard was wide-open from the logo before launching it up and he hit nothing but net. That tied the game at 101, but the officials then reviewed the play and waved it off saying the ball left his hands after the buzzer sounded.
In the end, the Sixers escaped with a 101-98 after they rallied from 12 points down.
“I heard from our bench that it was not good,” said Embiid after the win. “So I was like thank God because I don’t know what happened on that last pass possession. Especially, 0.9 on the clock and the other team needs a 3, you got to guard the 3-point line. We made a mistake so we got lucky.”
This was a gutsy win for the Sixers after they rallied from 12 points down. They were facing a Nets team that played with a ton of energy from the jump as they received good production from Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Dinwiddie, Joe Harris, and others.
Still, they almost made a big mistake on the Dinwiddie shot that would have wasted it all.
“I was not happy with our defensive execution, but we got away with it,” laughed coach Doc Rivers. “That was a helluva win. We just kinda hung in there all game. They came out with so much energy, made a lot of shots. We missed I don’t know how many wide-open shots because they were double-teaming. Jo had 37 points and that’s what everybody will focus on, I’m focusing on his passing when guys were not making shots and trusting it and just kept doing it.”
Harden was not trying to have this game go to overtime as he was happy the shot was waved off after time expired. He was ready for this one to end.
“I thought it was good,” he laughed. “I’m happy it wasn’t. I wasn’t trying to go into overtime, but they’re fairly new obviously so they’ve got some practices and whatnot to work on, but they got a chance. They’re long, athletic, shoot the 3 well, they got some good pieces.”
