3 observations after Sixers’ season ends with wild Game 6 loss to Knicks

Eric Bledsoe

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:

Eric Bledsoe Sixers’ start a nightmare 

NBA

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?
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