Because it seems, having the NBA MVP wholesome and out there will be the distinction between being a championship contender and a bottom-end playoff staff. The Philadelphia 76ers are studying that lesson the exhausting means, as they prolonged their powerful stretch towards the New York Knicks of their first sport again from the All-Star break on Thursday.
NBA: 76ers Are Now 3-10 In Final 13 Video games
Tyrese Maxey within the loss:
35 PTS6 REB5 AST
The youngest participant in franchise historical past to common 25+ PPG in a season. https://t.co/OWESIvBonJ
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 23, 2024
Again on January twenty fifth, Philly was in third place within the Jap Convention, and looking out like contenders for the NBA Finals with their 29-13 document and Joel Embiid cruising to a different most useful participant award. However the all-too-familiar damage bug caught up with the gifted heart, and he was dominated out for an prolonged interval after aggravating the ailment when making an attempt to return to play earlier than being full healed.
The results have been felt. Over their final 13 video games, the 76ers are 3-10. Granted, most of the groups they performed towards in that span, however the one top-3 staff was the Denver Nuggets. Throughout that point, they dropped from third to fifth place within the East, and can end the night time 11.5 video games behind the first place Celtics.
There was hope that the All-Star break can be a pleasant strategy to break the development and alter the staff’s fortunes heading into the house stretch, however they didn’t even crack 100 factors towards the Knicks on Thursday night time. Tyrese Maxey scored 35 of his staff’s 96 complete, whereas three starters for Philadelphia mixed to attain simply 9.
Philly In Hazard Of Dropping Into Play-In Spot
The 76ers are optimistic about Joel Embiid returning sooner or later through the common season, per @ramonashelburne. pic.twitter.com/wcNtBovA0I
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) February 21, 2024
Dropping to the fifth spot has been unhealthy sufficient, however the staff is now at risk of changing into a Play-In staff. They may finish the night time only one sport up on the Pacers, who’re at the moment within the sixth and remaining non-Play In spot, and their subsequent three video games will all be towards the highest 3 groups within the Jap Convention.
The staff that’s at the moment within the seventh spot, the Orlando Magic, are 7-3 of their final 1o video games after being victorious over the red-hot Cavaliers on Thursday. They’re simply 1.5 video games behind Philadelphia, and play towards a number of the worst groups within the NBA over the subsequent couple of weeks, together with two towards the Pistons and one towards every of the Wizards and Hornets.
