The return to Philadelphia may be painful for Joel Embiid's Sixers. The Pennsylvania franchise missed the opportunity to return home with a victory at Madison Square Garden on Monday. Everything came down to the final moments, on one of the most confusing possessions of the season, concluded by Donte DiVincenzo's killer shot, synonymous with the Knicks' success and a 2-0 advantage in the series. A shot that should never have existed according to the Sixers, who were struggling to lose their temper in the face of the scenario of the last moments and the refereeing in the last seconds.
The “Bang!” Bang! » by Mike Breen resonates all the more like a blow to the head of Joel Embiid and his teammates. For last season's MVP, it's especially the whistles and even more their absence that hurts. On this last action concluded by DiVincenzo, Tyrese Maxey had the ball snatched following a baseline throw-in without the game being stopped. “ Everyone on the floor asked for time out » enrages Embiid. “ Me first, Nico Batum, the coach at the edge of the field… But the referees didn't give it to us, they forgot the time-out. »
Nick Nurse called a time-out
From his bench, Nick Nurse tells his vision of the action, in every way similar to that of his pivot, with cold anger and more. “ We wanted to put the ball in play quickly, but we couldn't. I'm calling for time out. The referee looks me straight in the eye. He ignores me. He walked towards Tyrese, I called time out again. Then the melee began. I guess I have to run out onto the field or do something to make sure I have his attention. I needed this timeout to advance the ball to midcourt. That would have been good. »
The Sixers have reached such frustration that a claim will be filed with the league following the arbitration of the first two games of the series informs ESPN. This protest will, however, have no impact on the scenario of the match, which cannot be replayed.
The official NBA report of the last two minutes had pointed out two errors against Philadelphia during the first meeting. A foul on Tyrese Maxey could have given him an extra free throw at 107-102 with 49 seconds remaining, then a missed deal to Jalen Brunson at 109-104 with 16 seconds remaining. A crucial possession on which the Sixers surprisingly did not try to make a mistake, losing precious seconds.
Joel Embiid announces qualification!
This Monday, Joel Embiid, head bowed in front of the microphones, did not mince his words, placing the responsibility for the defeat on the referees. “ There are a lot of mistakes… It's fucking unacceptable. This defeat is for the league. It's for the NBA. This is for the damn referees. I hate to put the fate of the match on them, but I'm sure when the last two minutes report comes out we'll see what happened. No, it's not Tyrese Maxey's fault, it's not any of us' fault. We fought for what, 47 minutes and 20 seconds for this to happen when we were leading by four points? It is not normal. »
5% chance of qualifying
With two games ahead of them in their lair at the Wells Fargo Center, the Sixers know that they no longer have the right to make mistakes, regardless of external circumstances. The history of the NBA does not plead their case in any case. Teams that lost the first two away games in the first round have only qualified five times in 94 such series in the annals of the NBA, or a 5% chance of qualifying.
But Embiid believes it: “We are going to win this series. We know what we have to do. We did a better job today, and we're going to do it. We are the better team and we will continue to fight.”
