How it ended
How it ended
With failed expectations. It’s impossible to fault the Bucks for the injuries to both Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo, with the latter missing the entire postseason. Regardless, in this unapologetic world, results are all that matter, and the Bucks failed to live up to the championship-level expectations that were placed on them after the Lillard trade.
Lillard himself certainly raised some questions in regards to his long-term fit with the Bucks, as the soon-to-be 34-year-old didn’t sport the volume, nor shooting efficiency, of years' past. Whether Lillard’s subpar season was just a minor hiccup or a sign of issues to come remains to be seen. But it’s difficult to envision him reaching the same level he did during his last year in Portland, when he averaged 32.2 points per game.
Further mucking up Milwaukee’s future is the health of Khris Middleton. The team’s third star played just 55 games, managing 27 minutes per contest, which isn’t likely to get much better as he enters his age-33 season next year.
The collective regressive health of Milwaukee’s star trio, and the hiring of Rivers — who isn’t known for bringing players together — has suddenly morphed the Bucks, who won the title just three years ago, into a team of constant concern, which stands in stark contrast to how they were perceived going into this season.
Of course, a full season with a full bill of health for all three dramatically changes the outlook of this franchise. But that seems overly optimistic at this stage.
Biggest offseason need
The same as it’s been for the past two summers: youth. This Bucks team is old, and its three youngsters — MarJon Beauchamp, Andre Jackson Jr. and A.J. Green — are viewed more as complementary players than foundational pieces, complicating matters for a franchise that wishes to prolong its competitive window.
Organizational direction
The first impression of Antetokounmpo's pairing with Lillard was the wrong one. Turns out trading Jrue Holiday for Lillard was a steep defensive downgrade, and an ill fit on both ends of the court cost Griffin, a first-year coach, his job. The midseason hiring of Rivers did little to resolve chemistry concerns, and an ill-timed injury to Antetokounmpo made matters worse.
However much optimism you might have in Milwaukee's ability to retool around Antetokounmpo and Lillard, there are limits to what the Bucks can do. Brook Lopez, Lillard and Middleton will enter next season at 36, 34 and 33 years old, respectively. The Bucks have minimum contracts or middling trade chips to spend on defensive upgrades. Their top priority, though, is ensuring neither Antetokounmpo nor Lillard requests a trade before both stars get a chance to improve their two-man game over the summer. — Ben Rohrbach
Projected draft picks (pre-lottery)
Nos. 23, 33
Like the Suns, Milwaukee will have to make their first-round selection, given that they didn’t have one last year. They can trade the player after making the selection, but given their need of getting younger, this wouldn’t be advisable.
Draft focus
The Bucks have the luxury of simply adding pieces around Antetokounmpo and Lillard. Four-year college players who can be plugged in right away are Kansas' Kevin McCullar Jr. and Marquette's Tyler Kolek. Both players were the top scoring options for their respective teams and can contribute right away to an established team. Antetokounmpo and 7-4 Purdue star Zach Edey would also be a fun duo to watch in the paint. — Krysten Peek
Key free agent
Malik Beasley (UFA)
Salary-cap breakdown
The Bucks are paying over $151 million next season for just four players in Antetokounmpo, Lillard, Middleton and Lopez. Add roughly $22 million for Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton, and it’s looking like the franchise will be deep into the tax and above the first apron, restricting its upgrade options.
The team is unquestionably in it to win it, so it stands to reason it'll offer Beasley the best deal it can, which is 120% of his current $2.7 million salary. However, teams can easily beat that, so it remains to be seen if the sharpshooter returns.
Next season’s goal
A proper bounce-back. This season ended in absolute catastrophe, and the Bucks need to be mindful of the fact that Antetokounmpo could lose patience on a less-competitive team, putting extra emphasis on overall improvement.
What can move the fantasy needle
The Bucks need to take the summer off to get healthy. Middleton missed 27 games during the regular season, but the late-season injuries to Antetokounmpo (calf) and Lillard (Achilles) were the final nails in the coffin. Given Milwaukee's lack of draft picks and cap space heading into next season, it should be prepping Jackson and Beauchamp for more minutes, a crucial step in their development. The Bucks got run out of the gym against the Pacers, and they'll need the duo's athleticism to pick up the pace and defend better if they want to remain a contender in the East. — Dan Titus
Philadelphia 76ers 2024 NBA offseason preview: Prepare for plenty of change
2023-24 season: 47-35
Highlight of the season: Every single pre-injury Joel Embiid performance, particularly his 70-point game against the San Antonio Spurs on Jan. 22.
How it ended
With a sense of sadness. The Sixers came into this season as the human manifestation of rock and roll. Embiid was scoring over a point per minute, Tyrese Maxey was breaking out, and newly hired head coach Nick Nurse installed a refreshingly nuanced offensive system that allowed players more freedom than they’d ever experienced under former coach Doc Rivers. They won 29 of their first 42 games and were cruising toward a strong finish and an emphatic playoff run.
But since we can’t have nice things, Embiid went down with a knee injury and the season with him. The team nosedived in February and March, winning just 11 games during that stretch and finding themselves in the play-in tournament. Embiid did return late in the season, and the Sixers ran off eight straight wins to finish the year, but it was never really the same Embiid as before. He dragged around his leg like post-prime Tim Duncan, losing a ton of defensive flexibility and impact, which Knicks guard Jalen Brunson was able to exploit in the first round of the playoffs. Embiid also dealt with a mild case of Bell's palsy.
It was a crushing blow to Sixers and NBA fans everywhere, given how fun, enthusiastic and overpowering the team looked initially. Even a midseason acquisition of elite shooter Buddy Hield didn’t change the picture.
Now focus changes to the offseason, where the Sixers have positioned themselves to make a lot of potential changes. Maxey, who will undoubtedly demand a max contract, carries a low cap hold of just $13 million, which allows general manager Daryl Morey to make a max-salary offer to a free agent, or to trade for someone into actual cap space.
This summer will be a season of change for the Sixers, but hopefully it will also mark the beginning of a healthier Embiid. Should the franchise secure a quality star to put next to him and Maxey, the hope is this will help the former MVP center take a backseat during the regular season to be healthy for the playoffs.
Donte DiVincenzo (No. 0) of the New York Knicks blocks 76ers center Joel Embiid's shot during the first half of Game 6 of their Eastern Conference first-round series at the Wells Fargo Center on May 2, 2024, in Philadelphia. The 76ers were eliminated from the playoffs. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) Biggest offseason need
A reliable complementary star who can space the floor, defend and playmake some. Essentially, this describes Paul George, whom the Sixers are likely to place a call with. Is it fair to say of any team that its biggest need is Paul George? Perhaps not, but this is where we are.
Organizational direction
Who is there to blame? Or worse, is there actually anyone to blame? Rivers is gone, so are Ben Simmons and James Harden. One supposes the reigning MVP can take the lion’s share, but he played gamely on a bad leg and was still effective enough. Tobias Harris is a free agent, and Philly has cap space, but it seems like the two sides will go their separate ways this summer. Could the 76ers be eyeing George? Or another high-octane wing to play alongside Embiid and Maxey? It’s hard to say going another year without making at the least the conference finals is a success. Or that optimism is the prevailing sentiment headed into the summer.
But how much better can Embiid get? And if so, can he stay healthy long enough to be optimal during the spring? The vibes are never immaculate here, but there’s no easy answer aside from the almost $60 million in cap space Morey will have to play with over the summer. — Vincent Goodwill
Projected draft picks (pre-lottery)
Nos. 16 and 41
Given that the Sixers will try to optimize cap space, having a player on a rookie contract for the foreseeable future isn’t a bad card to stash. In a perfect world, the Sixers draft someone they can stash a year — meaning no cap hit on the player until he actually arrives in Philadelphia — who will come help them when they’re in need of depth.
Draft focus
The 76ers could look to add some size or a backup for Joel Embiid or another dynamic guard. In the first round, Philadelphia could look to add one of the best guards in the Big East in Providence's Devin Carter, or the best defending guard in the ACC, Ryan Dunn of Virginia. In the second round, forward Osasere Ighodaro of Marquette or forward Harrison Ingram of North Carolina could add some size and defensive versatility. — Krysten Peek
Salary-cap breakdown
Maxey’s original draft slot (21st in 2020) provides tremendous leeway in keeping his aforementioned cap hold small, settling in at around $13 million. With just Embiid and Paul Reed under contract for next season, the Sixers could wipe their slate clean and build a whole new roster if they so choose.
More realistically, given the not-so-hot free agency market, they'll try to identify a star, such as George, and follow up such a signing by re-signing Maxey, as they’re able to go above the cap to retain their own player. This will arguably be the biggest summer of Morey’s career.
Key free agents
Tyrese Maxey (RFA)
Tobias Harris (UFA)
Buddy Hield (UFA)
De’Anthony Melton (UFA)
Kyle Lowry (UFA)
Next season’s goal
Fielding a team that allows Embiid to stay healthy for longer, while minimizing his responsibilities. Scoring in the mid-30s while also being the defensive anchor is simply asking for too much.
What can move the fantasy needle
Finally, Harris is out of there. After one of the worst max deals in recent memory, the Sixers have considerable financial flexibility this offseason. Retaining Maxey is of the utmost priority, and it'll be interesting to see how Morey and GM Elton Brand elect to build around their two stars — knowing that recent iterations have flamed out, especially with Embiid off the floor. — Dan Titus
Nuggets-Timberwolves preview: Nikola Jokić, Anthony Edwards and the ultimate chess match
The Western Conference’s second-seeded Denver Nuggets (57-25) will face the third-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves (56-26) in the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs. This is a rematch of a first-round series from last season, when Denver defeated Minnesota in five games on its way to the championship.
How the Nuggets got here
The defending champions cruised a little too much in the penultimate game of the regular season, losing to Victor Wembanyama's 22-win San Antonio Spurs, which is how they landed the No. 2 seed and not the top spot in the Western Conference. And that is why they find themselves on the same side of the second-round bracket as the Timberwolves, a team they have called their "toughest series" of last year's title run.
The Los Angeles Lakers were no cakewalk in the first round this year, either. LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Co. led every game at the half and four by double digits. Denver's patented execution and inevitability still sealed the series in five games. For as much as the Lakers made the Nuggets work, holding them well below their season scoring average, Denver's playoff defense did the same to L.A.
It helps to have a starting lineup that played more meaningful possessions together than any other five-man unit in the NBA during the regular season and the first five games of the first round. Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr. and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope outscored the Lakers by 11.2 points per 100 possessions across a majority of a high-paced series, according to Cleaning the Glass.
It also helps to have Jokić, the soon-to-be three-time MVP, who averaged 28.2 points (on 59.1% shooting from the field), 16.2 rebounds and 9.8 assists per game in the opening round, even though Davis — the self-proclaimed "best defensive player in the league" — was lurking on the other side of the basketball.
The Nuggets did not escape the first round unscathed. Murray went against the wishes of Denver's medical staff to play through a left calf strain — and hit his second game-winner of the series — in Game 5. Caldwell-Pope also played through a left ankle sprain on the same night. Both are worth monitoring.
Anthony Edwards rose to the occasion in Round 1, defeating Kevin Durant and the Suns. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) How the Timberwolves got here
Similarly, Minnesota stumbled against the Phoenix Suns on the final day of the regular season, which is why the Timberwolves did not finish with the same record as the Nuggets and why they do not have home-court advantage in this series. (The Wolves owned the division record tiebreaker against Denver.)
Minnesota exposed Phoenix in a first-round sweep. The Suns' regular-season performance against the Timberwolves led (ahem) many to believe Phoenix's offensive firepower — specifically the shotmaking of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal — would force a somewhat offensively challenged team (Minnesota's 114.6 points per 100 possessions rated 17th during the season) to succumb on that end.
Not so, since the Timberwolves have yielded the league's best offensive rating of the opening round (123.2 points per 100 possessions). That is thanks in large part to Phoenix's porous defense and in larger part to Anthony Edwards, who is realizing his superstar powers before our eyes. He averaged 31 points (on 51/44/84 shooting splits), 8 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game in the series — all better than his season averages. More than that, Edwards ripped the torch from Durant's hands and smiled doing it.
Edwards also teamed up with Jaden McDaniels to contain the Suns' explosiveness on the wing. They were backed by soon-to-be four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, who denied everything else. Minnesota's league-best defense — 2.2 points per 100 possessions better than anyone else in the regular season — translated to the playoffs in ways that made you appreciate Karl-Anthony Towns all the more.
Head to head
Denver and Minnesota tied the regular-season series, 2-2. Towns missed the final three meetings with a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee, Gobert missed one of Minnesota's two losses, and Murray missed one of Denver's two losses, so drawing any grand conclusions from the regular season is a fool's errand.
Denver scored fewer than 100 points in only eight games this season, and the Timberwolves delivered two of those defensive performances, including the Nuggets' third-lowest scoring total (89) of the year. For the record, Denver finished 0-8 when it did not reach 100 points and 7-17 when it did not reach 110.
Jokić was tremendous against Minnesota all season, averaging a 33-12-4 on 58/40/70 shooting splits. Gobert's defense was the only other constant, at least in the three games he played. Edwards' inconsistency yielded 26 points (on 48/23/82 shooting splits), 4.5 assists and 4 rebounds per game.
Who will win the battle of the big men? (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) Matchup to watch
Nikola Jokić vs. Rudy Gobert
Gobert, the game's most decorated defensive player, matched up opposite Jokić, the game's most dominant offensive player, far less often than you might imagine this season. Probably because Jokić was just as great against Gobert (31 points on 13-for-21 shooting in 11 minutes, according to the NBA's tracking data) as he is against everyone, and Minnesota head coach Chris Finch preferred to leverage Gobert's help instead.
Wolves forward Kyle Anderson actually spent the most time on Jokić during the regular season, largely because Towns, who drew the assignment in last year's playoff series, was not available. Anderson could not hold Jokić in check, but the Nuggets scored only 99.4 points per 100 possessions in the 13 minutes they were matched up. And that is the point of freeing Gobert to protect the rim against everyone else.
The same was true once the Wolves committed to defending Jokić with Towns in last year's playoff series. Over 26 minutes, Towns held Jokić to 35 points on 32 shots, and the Nuggets scored 113.8 points per 100 possessions. Neither of those numbers jumps off the charts, but it is enough to give Minnesota a chance, so long as Edwards can carry the offense to a degree that it can keep pace with an absolute juggernaut.
Then again, Jokić has a way of figuring his way out of any box, and Towns can only contain anyone for so long. How often does Jokić bring Gobert into the action, attack him directly or find windows the 7-foot-1 Frenchman cannot clean in help defense? This real-time decision-making makes Jokić so fun to watch. An equally talented defender who counters his every chess move makes the match that much more thrilling.
Biggest X-factor
Aaron Gordon's shooting
Gordon's ability to space the floor could disrupt everything Minnesota wants to do. Gobert will dare him to shoot, choosing to protect the paint from lobs to Gordon, drives by Murray or cuts from anyone else. Even if Gordon can make Gobert think about his perimeter shooting, it might be enough to open some gaps in Minnesota's defensive armor — or make the Wolves rethink their strategy against Jokić entirely.
Gordon's shooting, which had crept close to league average from distance, took a step back this season, when he shot 29% on 1.9 3-pointers a game (his fewest attempts since his second season in the league). He was just 2-for-7 from deep and 3-for-11 from outside the restricted area in four games against the Timberwolves. His best game against Minnesota came when both Towns and Gobert were sidelined.
If Towns' 7-foot, 248-pound frame can keep Jokić from backing into advantageous offensive position and Gobert can contain Gordon to the dunker's spot, the Wolves would be pretty pleased to put the series in the hands of Murray and Porter. Easier said than done, particularly as it pertains to Jokić — and even if done, there is no guarantee Murray and Porter do not deliver. That is the problem the Nuggets present.
Prediction
Nuggets in 7
Wavering on who to pick in this series is the ultimate respect to the Timberwolves. Edwards, McDaniels and Gobert are that special defensively; Edwards is that close to making the league his own. But this is Denver, the best executing team we have seen since the peak Golden State Warriors. The Nuggets scored 162.5 points per 100 possessions — almost a guaranteed bucket — in three clutch situations against the Lakers. As good as Minnesota's defense is, Denver's offense might be a tad better.
And when in doubt, go with the team that boasts the best player. It is Jokić. It could be Edwards.
Series odds
Denver Nuggets (-190)
Minnesota Timberwolves (+155)Series schedule (all times Eastern)
Game 1: Sat., May 4 @ Denver (TBD)
Game 2: Mon., May 6 @ Denver (TBD)
Game 3: Fri., May 10 @ Minnesota (TBD)
Game 4: Sun., May 12 @ Minnesota (TBD)
*Game 5: Tue., May 14 @ Denver (TBD)
*Game 6: Thu., May 16 @ Minnesota (TBD)
*Game 7: Sun., May 19 @ Denver (TBD)*if necessary
The NBA Loser Lineup: Joel Embiid, 76ers fall short yet again — will his fantasy outlook change next season?
Welcome to "The Loser Lineup," where we delve into what teams eliminated from playoff contention must do to elevate their fantasy basketball game. As the dust settles on this season's disappointments, it's time for these teams to strategize, rebuild and reinvigorate their rosters for a shot at redemption next season. Join us as we explore the pivotal moves and player evaluations that could change the fantasy landscape by next year.
This story will continuously be updated as each NBA team heads for Cancún and we add them to the Loser Lineup.
Philadelphia 76ers
What will move the fantasy needle for 6ers? Finally, Tobias Harris will be out of there. After one of the worst max deals in recent memory, the Sixers will have considerable financial flexibility this offseason. Locking up Tyrese Maxey is of the utmost priority, and it'll be interesting to see how Daryl Morey and Elton Brand elect to build around their two stars — knowing that the recent iterations have flamed out, especially with Joel Embiid off the floor.
It’s not all on the front office though. Embiid, a perennial MVP candidate, hasn’t been able to stay healthy and I expect his availability issues to move him down a few spots on draft boards next year.
Joel EmbiidC - PHI - #212023 - 2024 SEASON34.7Pts11Reb1.2Stl1.7Blk33:34MinDecreasing the demand on his top-three usage rate could help on the health front — and in turn, force Philly to be less dependent on their big man. Given Maxey’s trajectory, he’s overdue for more touches.
Back to the front office. Will they lure another star? Or, seek out multi-faceted role players to address the team's lack of athleticism, playmaking and shot creation? If not, these issues will continue to fester for this underachieving squad.
Milwaukee Bucks
Pour one out for the Bucks because that wasn’t close to Milwaukee’s Best. After getting out to a 30-13 start, things didn’t improve once HC Adrian Griffin was removed. The Bucks finished the regular season 17-19 with a first-round exit under Doc Rivers.
Injuries played a factor, but the lack of continuity impacted their play. Taking the summer off to get healthy is key, with Khris Middleton missing 27 games during the regular season and Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and Damian Lillard (Achilles) missing several games in an opening-round loss to the Pacers.
2023 - 2024 SEASONPlayer Pts Reb Ast Blk Min 
K. MiddletonMIL - SF15.1 4.7 5.3 0.3 27:02 
G. AntetokounmpoMIL - PF30.4 11.5 6.5 1.1 35:10 
D. LillardMIL - PG24.3 4.4 7 0.2 35:20 It helps that most of their core players are under contract going into next season, but they’ll need to accelerate the development of Andre Jackson Jr. and Marjon Beauchamp. Between the injuries, being cash-strapped and lacking draft picks, the Bucks will be penny-pinching for depth if they want to remain contenders in the Eastern Conference.
Miami Heat
Heat Culture suffered a setback after last season's Finals appearance. Tyler Herro missed 34 games this season, plus newly acquired Terry Rozier (neck) and Jimmy Butler (knee) weren't available in the playoffs.
2023 - 2024 SEASONPlayer Pts Reb Ast Blk 
J. ButlerMIA - SF20.8 5.3 5 0.3 
B. AdebayoMIA - C19.3 10.4 3.9 0.9 
T. HerroMIA - SG20.8 5.3 4.5 0.1 
T. RozierMIA - PG19.8 4 5.6 0.3 Since Rozier, Butler, Bam Adebayo and Herro take up most of the team's cap space, it'll be hard to make any needle-worthy moves that don't include at least one of them. Trading away Herro and Duncan Robinson's $19M per year contract makes sense financially, but it will also open up more opportunities for standout rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Another late-round sleeper to watch for is Nikola Jović. Post all-star break, he started 24 games and amassed 14.7 points with 8.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.7 threes and 1.0 steals per 75 possessions. If he can inch closer to 30 minutes a night, that's a decent fantasy profile worth investing in.
Los Angeles Lakers
The obvious move for this team to get back in order next season is to bring LeBron James back. He's still playing at an elite level, and his success raises the floor for others. Fantasy managers can feel comfortable selecting James in the third round next year.
LeBron JamesSF - LAL - #232023 - 2024 SEASON25.7Pts7.3Reb8.3Ast0.5Blk35:16MinAnd while Anthony Davis and D'Angelo Russell had their best fantasy campaigns in years, I'd explore including Russell or Austin Reaves in a trade package to bring in a true point guard who can reduce the demand on a soon-to-be 40-year-old LBJ.
The other glaring change that needs to be made is moving on from Darvin Ham as the head coach of this team. His inability to make in-game adjustments and frequent tweaks to the rotations wore thin, and it's clear that this team needs another leader in the locker room.
New Orleans Pelicans
The Pels have a ton of fantasy upside, as four players ranked inside the top 100 in nine-category leagues this season. Zion Williamson just missed the cut at 103. While the current roster won 49 games and nabbed the eighth seed in the West, a first-round sweep all but guarantees that change is coming. Given the ascension of Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones becoming one of the best defenders in the league, we could be looking at a scenario with Zion or Brandon Ingram getting traded.
2023 - 2024 SEASON22.9Pts20.85.8Reb5.15Ast5.70.7Blk0.631:32Min32:52Their salaries plus CJ McCollum's take up a significant portion of New Orleans' cap space, so moving one of them would give the Pelicans more flexibility in addressing some needs in the frontcourt and the second unit.
Of course, if Zion or BI are moved, it will make waves in fantasy, so let's wait and see how this plays out.
Phoenix Suns
A first-round sweep, let alone exit, is grounds for dismissal for one of the Big Three. Devin Booker is their franchise player, so that leaves one of Bradley Beal or Kevin Durant. And since Bradley Beal has a no-trade clause (yuck), the Suns should be on the horn exploring trade options for KD.
Phoenix re-signed Grayson Allen, but there are far more holes to fill, and moving KD could net more role players or draft capital for the future. If this happens, Booker could creep into late-first-round draft status by next season.
Keep it locked here as more teams get eliminated from the NBA Playoffs, and the Loser Lineup roster is filled out ...
NBA playoffs: Knicks advance past Sixers as Jalen Brunson does something not seen since Michael Jordan
The New York Knicks advanced past the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, and they can primarily thank another signature performance from Jalen Brunson.
The All-Star point guard led his team to a 118-115 win in Game 6, ending a contentious series with a 41-point performance. It was Brunson's third straight 40-plus-point game and fourth straight with at least 37 points. No player had done the latter in the playoffs since Michael Jordan in 1993.
New York will now face the Indiana Pacers, who put away the Milwaukee Bucks earlier Thursday, in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Game 1 is scheduled for Monday at 7:30 p.m. in Madison Square Garden (TNT).
Jalen BrunsonPG - NY - #115/2/2024 V. PHI41Pts3Reb12Ast0Stl43:36MinPutting away the Sixers looked like a much easier task than expected in the first quarter, when the Knicks rocketed out to a 22-point lead, but the Sixers came back and took a lead into halftime. The Knicks later took back control with a nine-point lead late in the fourth quarter, only for the Sixers to again tie it with 35 seconds left.
Cue Josh Hart:
Hart's clutch 3-pointer gave the Knicks the lead and a subsequent basket from Joel Embiid still left the Sixers needing to foul. Donte DiVincenzo and Brunson made four more free throws from there to keep the game out of reach and end the series.
To summarize, it was a very good game for Villanova players.
It was a big game as well from Joel Embiid, who had 39 points on 12-of-25 shooting with 13 rebounds, two assists and five turnovers. He fouled out in the final minute.
If you had told Sixers fans that Embiid dropped 39 while the bench combined for 42 points, they would probably ask you the time for Game 7. Unfortunately, scoreless outings by Tobias Harris and Kyle Lowry left them too much work to make up against a more cohesive Knicks team.
The Sixers had the momentum, but the Knicks had Jalen Brunson. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) With rotation member Bojan Bogdanovic out for the season with a wrist and foot injuries, the Knicks leaned heavily on their starters to take them across the finish line. Brunson, Hart, DiVincenzo and OG Anunoby all played at least 43 minutes, with DiVincenzo staying on the court the entire game. Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride were the only bench players to see the floor, scoring a combined five points.
That strategy might have left New York gassed for a Game 7, but it paid off.
It was a fitting end for one of the first round's most eventful series. The Knicks took Games 1 and 2, but only won the latter because of a frantic sequence in which the NBA admitted New York committed multiple fouls to force a turnover. It took a 50-point performance by Embiid for the Sixers to avoid a 3-0 hole, only for Brunson to respond with a 47-point performance in Game 4. Then came a career night from Tyrese Maxey to stave off elimination.
It was a hostile, dramatic series, and the Knicks should be happy it's over.
3 observations after Sixers' season ends with wild Game 6 loss to Knicks
3 observations after Sixers' season ends with wild Game 6 loss to Knicks originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The clock struck midnight on the Sixers' season Thursday at Wells Fargo Center.
In an absolutely wild, late-night, back-and-forth game, the Sixers fell to a 118-115 Game 6 loss to the Knicks.
Buddy Hield (20 points) was not close on a long, desperate game-tying attempt in the final seconds.
Joel Embiid posted 39 points and 13 rebounds. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 41 points and 12 assists.
For the Sixers, Embiid is under contract and Tyrese Maxey is eligible for a five-year max contract. Beyond that, the team is essentially a blank slate this summer.
Here are observations on the Sixers' Game 6 defeat:
Sixers’ start a nightmare
Brunson kicked off the scoring with a fadeaway jumper late in the shot clock over Tobias Harris.
Donte DiVincenzo drained a second-chance three-pointer, Isaiah Hartenstein hit a push shot, and the Knicks started very hot. They opened 6 for 8 from the field and went up 17-4 after Maxey fouled Brunson on a long-range jumper and New York’s star guard made all three of his foul shots.
Brunson was characteristically composed and savvy to begin the game. He clearly was not discouraged at all by the sour, stunning finish for the Knicks on Tuesday night in their Game 5 overtime loss.
Embiid got the Sixers on the board with a face-up jumper over Hartenstein. He committed a bad early turnover when he threw a skip pass into the third row, but Embiid was otherwise on his game offensively. He scored the Sixers’ first nine points, made his first three field goals, and drew Hartenstein’s second foul at the 6:22 mark of the first quarter.
Maxey’s Game 5 magic wasn’t present at the start of Game 6. He shot 1 for 5 from the floor in the first quarter and turned the ball over on a poorly executed pick-and-pop with Embiid. The 23-year-old tried to immediately answer a DiVincenzo three, but his jumper was wide left. The Knicks’ lead ballooned to 28-9 on a driving OG Anunoby layup and Sixers head coach Nick Nurse burned his second timeout of the first period.
The Knicks played a stellar first quarter, but the Sixers were decisively inferior in terms of hustle and focus. New York grabbed nine offensive boards in the first period and had just one turnover. The Sixers’ deficit grew as large as 22 points.
Hield as ready as it gets
Hield sure followed through with Nurse’s request to stay ready.
After playing in 84 regular-season games, Hield struggled in his first career playoff action. He shot 1 for 7 from the field over Games 1 through 3 and his lone basket was a layup. The 31-year-old sharpshooter was out of Nurse’s rotation for Games 4 and 5.
Hield’s all about spending hours on the court, putting up shots and preparing behind the scenes, which evidently made him well-suited to step up in Game 6. Still, an elimination game is very different than a long workout with assistant coach Rico Hines and Sixers player development staffers. With Nurse searching for shooting or anything that would change the complexion of the game, Hield showed some initial rust. He fumbled a pass early in the second quarter and then failed to generate a look as the shot clock expired, turning the ball over.
However, Hield sunk his first shot, drilling a top-of-the-key jumper. He then did it again, swishing a catch-and-shoot three off an Embiid kick-out dish.
Hield was off and running from there. He canned a trio of threes late in the second, hear “Bud-dy, Bud-dy!” chants at the foul line, and played a giant role in the Sixers wiping out their deficit. The Knicks looked as rattled as they had all series. Anunoby even missed an uncontested dunk.
Unlike Nurse, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau maintained a seven-man rotation. Hield poured in 17 first-half points, Nicolas Batum added 10, and the Sixers held a 30-0 bench scoring advantage at intermission.
Brunson, Knicks a shade better amid the chaos
The Sixers benefited from the Knicks inevitably cooling off, but they also raised their defensive intensity after the first quarter.
They weren’t flawless at all, but the Sixers scrambled around, closed out hard, and played with obvious desperation as they dug out of their early hole.
Embiid made two threes in the first minute of the second half. The scrappy Knicks predictably responded well, though. Josh Hart’s and-one layup trimmed the Sixers’ lead to 62-61.
Momentum shifted back and forth throughout the third quarter. Kelly Oubre Jr. nabbed a steal on an after-timeout play and grinned as he cruised in for a slam. Maxey got a steal of his own on the Knicks’ next possession, then exceeded his first-half scoring total by nailing a pull-up three.
In addition to Maxey’s decreased offensive output, the Sixers received zero points from both Harris and Kyle Lowry in the game. Harris' final outing of a five-year, $180 million contract was a scoreless one on 0-for-2 shooting.
The Sixers needed a big Embiid scoring performance and he delivered it, providing several important buckets in the third quarter whenever the Knicks generated a few consecutive stops.
Batum and Cameron Payne knocked down threes late in the third quarter, but the Knicks were relentless. The Sixers were infuriated that Maxey got no call on a driving layup try. Seconds later, Anunoby buried a three to knot the contest at 83 apiece.
Nurse didn't attempt to play Embiid the entire second half as he had in Game 4. Instead, Paul Reed entered to begin the fourth quarter and Hield joined him. Both players grabbed offensive boards on a single possession, enabling Oubre to sink a three, but the Knicks kept on scoring and held a 92-88 edge when Embiid returned.
Yet another Hield three cut that deficit to one point and the Sixers briefly regained the lead when 35-year-old Batum (16 points, seven rebounds) leaped high for a put-back dunk.
Brunson then came through with a superstar's stretch. He drilled back-to-back threes to give his team a 101-95 lead. Maxey responded with a steal and an and-one layup, but the Sixers ultimately found themselves requiring one more improbable comeback.
Brunson did impressive work both pushing the ball when the Knicks had transition chances and making excellent decisions in the final seconds of the shot clock. His mid-range jumper with 3:26 left put the Knicks ahead by eight points.
The Sixers were still far from finished. They blitzed Brunson, summoned some gutsy stops, and stormed back within a point on a put-back Oubre slam. A goaltended, and-one Maxey layup evened the game at 111-all.
The Sixers successfully forced the ball out of Brunson's hands on the ensuing play, but Hart decided to fire a three and buried it with 24.4 seconds to go.
Embiid then laid the ball in quickly on the Sixers' next possession. However, the Sixers couldn't create a turnover and Embiid fouled Donte DiVincenzo with 11.1 seconds left.
Crucially, that was Embiid's sixth personal, meaning his night was over. DiVincenzo and Brunson made their clutch free throws and the Sixers faced the cruel reality of a seventh consecutive playoff appearance that didn't last beyond the second round.
Alex Perez hopes Alexandre Pantoja retains title at UFC 301: ‘I want to fight the guy that beat me’
Alex Perez is hoping to kill two birds with one stone in the near future – win the UFC flyweight title and avenge his loss to Alexandre Pantoja.
The UFC flyweight contender is hoping Pantoja defends his 125-pound title against Steve Erceg on Saturday in the main event UFC 301 in Brazil. Perez (25-8 MMA, 7-4 UFC) is confident Pantoja can get the job done, from an objective, analytical point, but he’s also hoping that’s the case for personal reasons.
“I give it like a 70/30, 60/40 chance,” Perez told MMA Junkie. “Pantoja has the experience. Pantoja’s wrestling isn’t the best, but he’s just a dog that keeps shooting. On the feet, Pantoja is tough. He can take a punch. Steve, I haven’t seen a lot of him outside the UFC, but he’s a stud, too. One thing that’s scary in the division is that he’s shown that he has one-punch knockout (power), whether he just hit the right button on (Matt) Schnell or what. But on paper, Pantoja gets hit, and Steve is going to hit him, so still give him a chance.
“Obviously, I want Pantoja to win because if I fight for the title, I want to fight the guy that beat me.”
Both Pantoja and Perez fought back in 2022 with the Brazilian coming out on top, submitting Perez in the first round.
Today, Perez feels he’s in a bit of a weird spot given that he picked up a big knockout win in the main event of UFC on ESPN 55 last week, but he’s also 1-3 in his past four performances. Perez is hoping to improve that run on June 15, when he faces Tagir Ulanbekov at a UFC Fight Night event in Las Vegas.
Although not banking on it, Perez thinks he can maybe get a title shot given the state of the division – which has many of the top contenders injured or coming off losses.
“Anything can happen in this sport, but I just worry about myself,” Perez said. “Obviously. I want to fight and beat all these guys. I wish no ill will toward them. Hopefully they can get healthy and we can get this fight going. But if the opportunity comes, great. I’ll take the opportunity.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 301.
