Saturday’s Game 1 between the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers featured wild lead swings, tight defense, an injury, and a raucous crowd. The Knicks emerged victorious, giving them a 1-0 lead in the series.
The Knicks’ role players stepped up in a big way in Game 1, with , and Deuce McBride all delivering stellar performances. MVP candidate shot a poor 8-of-26 from the field, but his teammates picked him up.
The focus now shifts to Game 2, where the 76ers will be without Joel Embiid, who is listed as questionable with an injury. This is a major blow to Philadelphia, as Embiid is their best player and the key to their success.
If Embiid is unable to play, the 76ers will be in tough shape. They won by 14 points in the minutes that Embiid was on the court in Game 1, but they lost by 21 points in the minutes that he was out.
The Knicks will be looking to take advantage of Embiid’s absence and take a 2-0 lead in the series. They will be confident after their Game 1 victory, and they know that a win in Game 2 would put them in a great position to advance to the second round.
The 76ers will need to find a way to win without Embiid if they want to stay alive in the series. They will need to get more production from their other players, and they will need to play much better defense than they did in Game 1.
Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks will be looking to take a commanding 2-0 lead, while the 76ers will be looking to avoid falling into a 0-2 hole.
