Sixers finish the sweep of the Brooklyn Nets without Embiid, win Game 4 96-88

Well, that was easy. Expected, but definitely easy. The Sixers completed a 4-0 series sweep of the Brooklyn Nets yesterday, winning Game 4 without Joel Embiid 96-88. 

I have been in the same mindset since the start of this series. The Brooklyn Nets are an unserious basketball team and nothing more than “Record Merchants” that benefitted from the first half of the regular season with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving still on their roster. 

The first two games of the series, the Nets couldn’t figure out how to stop Joel Embiid while also containing the rest of the Sixers team. After two games of double and triple teaming Joel Embiid, in Game 3, they decided to go with the “if you can’t stop him, hurt him” mentality and really, that’s exactly what happened, with the MVP front runner missing Game 4 with a right knee sprain. 

The first half of yesterday’s game had to have given everyone Sixers’ Playoff PTSD.

There was no Embiid on the floor and the offense shot just 16-for-47 from the floor and 2-for-11 from three point range. 

Somehow, the Sixers entered halftime down just eight points and just like in Game 3, that’s when you knew the Brooklyn Nets were in trouble.

The Sixers outscored the Nets 56-40 in the second half of Game 4, including an eight minute stretch in the third quarter where they outscored the Nets 21-4.

Led by Tobias Harris, the Sixers managed to complete the 4-0 sweep of the Brooklyn Nets and will now await the winner of the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics series. 

The @sixers sweep @BrooklynNets, 4-0, in the East first round.

It’s Philadelphia’s first four-game playoff sweep since the 1985 Conference Semis vs. Milwaukee.

— Sixers Stats (@SixersStats) April 22, 2023

Tobias Harris was fantastic yesterday, scoring 25 points on 11-of-19 shooting from the floor, including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc. Harris stepped up and will continue to be the Philadelphia 76ers’ x-factor in the playoffs, even more so with the uncertainty surrounding Embiid. 

TOBIAS HARRIS: 25 PTS | 12 REB

James Harden, who struggled to convert in the paint, finished Game 4 with 17 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds, a steal, and a block. 

Tyrese Maxey, who also struggled from the floor, scored 16 points on 6-of-20 shooting, while grabbing eight rebounds, an assist, and two steals. 

can't leave him open like that.

De’Anthony Melton, who struggled in the first half, came alive in the second, finishing with 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the floor. 

Then of course, you have Paul Reed, who in the absence of Joel Embiid got the start for Game 4, and played fantastic, scoring 10 points to go along with 15 rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block. 

Sixers vs. Nets | 04.22.23

Now, the Sixers will await the winner of the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics series and more importantly have at least a week to ensure that Embiid’s knee is as healthy as possible for the second round of the playoffs. 

Game 4 between the Hawks and Celtics will be later this afternoon in Atlanta.

Boston currently holds a 2-1 series lead. 

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