The Philadelphia 76ers were able to overcome a miserable first half of basketball to beat the Nets 96-84, earning a 2-0 series lead heading into Game 3 in Brooklyn on Thursday night. 

The first two quarters tonight were downright horrible and outside of Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris, the Sixers were playing some pretty uninspiring basketball. They started the game 0-for-5 from three point range after a franchise record-setting performance on Saturday when they connected on after a 21-of-43 from beyond the arc.

Still, the Sixers managed to enter the half only down five points and from there, you knew the Nets were in trouble.

The second half started with Rivers calling a timeout just a minute into the third quarter. Whatever happened during that timeout, the Sixers responded quickly, turning things around while holding the Nets to just 14 points in the frame, which was a 10 point swing to lead by five points heading into the fourth.

Tyrese Maxey led the way for the Sixers with 33 points on 13-of-23 shooting from the floor, while hitting 6-of-13 shots from beyond the arc. 

TYRESE MAXEY: 33 PTS / 3 REB / 6-13 3FG

Originally tweeted by The Liberty Line (@LibertyLinePHL) on April 18, 2023.

Tobias Harris scored 20 points with 12 rebounds two assists, and a block, while Joel Embiid scored 20 points with 19 rebounds, seven assists, a steal, and three blocks. 

JOEL EMBIID: 20 PTS / 19 REB / 7 AST / 3 BLK

Originally tweeted by Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) on April 18, 2023.

As for the rest of the Sixers, let’s just say they didn’t really show up like they did in Game 1 on Saturday.

James Harden shot a miserable 3-of-13 from the floor while PJ Tucker was held scoreless.

Even with Tucker scoreless, he generated six second chance points. As a team, the Sixers outscored the Nets 18-0 in second chance points on the night.

McDaniels and Niang were also held scoreless, while Paul Reed and De’Anthony Melton combined for 15 points, five rebounds, a steal, and two blocks off the bench. 

Sixers Box Score 

• Maxey 33 PTS / 3 REB / 6-13 3FG
• Embiid 20 PTS / 19 REB / 7 AST / 3 BLK
• Harris 20 PTS / 12 REB / 2 AST
• Harden 8 PTS / 7 AST / 4 STL
• Melton 9 PTS / 2 REB / 2 BLK
• Reed 6 PTS / 3 REB / 1 BLK

Doc Rivers switched to a zone-heavy defense in the second half and it definitely paid off for the Sixers as they held the Brooklyn Nets to just 35 total points over the final two quarters. 

The Nets stuck to the same game plan they went with in their double-digit loss in Game 1, which I said a few times over the last few days that it was (and still is) a bad strategy if they want to win a game this series. 

Embiid worked masterfully out of double and triple teams tonight and his teammates made Brooklyn pay yet again, while turning things on both offensively and defensively late in the game to guide the Sixers to a 2-0 series lead.

Originally tweeted by The Liberty Line (@LibertyLinePHL) on April 18, 2023.

Why Jacque Vaughn continues to focus Brooklyns defense on Joel Embiid while the rest of the Sixers are open is mind boggling. Even with Harden struggling tonight, that didn’t work. I will be shocked if we see the same in Game 3 on Thursday night. 

Fun Stat: The Brooklyn Nets have now lost six straight playoff games to the 76ers.

Bankroll Philly – LIVE on Thursday Night

Speaking of Thursday night, come out to Bankroll Philly for the game. I’ll be there with Sean Brace and company broadcasting LIVE. 

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