3 observations after Lowry debuts, Maxey scores 35, Sixers fall to Knicks

3 observations after Lowry debuts, Maxey scores 35, Sixers fall to Knicks initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Philadelphia

The Sixers’ first half of their first sport after the NBA All-Star break was an exceptionally poor one.

Regardless of a second-half comeback effort, the Sixers fell to a 110-96 loss Thursday night time to the Knicks at Wells Fargo Middle.

They could not seize a chance to maneuver previous the fourth-seeded Knicks within the Jap Convention standings.

New York obtained a 21-point, 12-assist efficiency from Jalen Brunson. Bojan Bogdanovic scored 22 factors off the bench.

All-Star Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey had 35 factors, six rebounds and 5 assists.

The Sixers had been down Joel Embiid (left knee meniscus process), De’Anthony Melton (lumbar backbone stress response) and Robert Covington (left knee bone bruise). New York’s OG Anunoby and Julius Randle had been additionally out.

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse stated pregame that Melton “will play” Friday night time vs. the Cavs.

Listed below are observations on the 32-23 Sixers’ defeat to the Knicks:

Batum, Sixers not close to their finest early

Nicolas Batum returned Thursday from a nine-game absence with a left hamstring pressure. He began subsequent to Maxey, Buddy Hield, Tobias Harris and Paul Reed.

That unit didn’t open the sport properly. Hield dedicated a turnover on the night time’s first play, resulting in a Brunson transition layup.

Harris air balled his first three-point strive. Hield missed a lefty layup try, dropping the Sixers to 1 for 7 from the ground, and Donte DiVincenzo’s long-range jumper on the following quick break put New York up 12-3.

A Nurse timeout failed to right away cease the bleeding. The Sixers’ scoring struggles had been their largest drawback early on, however the Knicks had been superior in basically each space. They damage the Sixers on the glass, in transition, and with stable ball motion when Brunson obtained double teamed. The Knicks performed their sport from the soar and exhibited a lot much less post-All-Star break rust.

“Lack of focus,” Nurse stated. “We simply weren’t getting something completed on the defensive scheme aspect of issues. They had been simply out taking part in rather a lot quicker, much more bodily, rather a lot more durable. Lack of focus and lack of simply being able to go.”

Individually, Batum’s rust was very obvious. He picked up his second, third and fourth fouls in fast succession throughout the second quarter. The 35-year-old ahead obtained whistled for his fifth private with 8:24 remaining within the third quarter for backcourt contact on Brunson and was incensed on the name. Nurse challenged unsuccessfully.

Batum performed simply 18 minutes and had zero factors, three rebounds and one help.

The Sixers’ different beginning ahead additionally had a tough outing; Harris recorded seven factors on 3-for-9 capturing, 4 rebounds and three assists.

“He didn’t fairly get into the movement of issues, didn’t get an entire lot of shot alternatives,” Nurse stated of Harris. “I feel he’s definitely a rhythm man and he wants the sport to get right into a rhythm. I’m certain he’ll be higher tomorrow night time.”

Lowry debuts, will get stitched up 

The 1,116th sport of Kyle Lowry’s NBA profession was the six-time All-Star’s first for his hometown crew.

Sixers public tackle announcer Matt Wire made certain to focus on that Lowry is “from North Philly” when the 37-year-old checked within the sport. The house crowd voiced its appreciation.

“It was nice,” Lowry stated. “It’s unlucky that we didn’t play in addition to I feel we are able to, but it surely was an incredible ambiance. The ovation that I obtained was superior. I used to be pleased. I used to be pissed that we misplaced and we had been in that state of affairs, but it surely was an incredible second. … Now it’s about going on the market and serving to this crew win basketball video games.”

Lowry earned some extra cheers immediately by beating the shot clock with a nifty reverse layup.

The Sixers used Lowry each on and off the ball. Provided that he hadn’t performed since Jan. 21, Lowry’s decision-making and downhill driving each seemed fairly sharp. He posted 11 factors on 5-for-7 capturing, 5 assists and 4 rebounds in 25 minutes.

“He was massive time tonight,” Maxey stated. “Not simply on the courtroom, however (additionally) his communication in huddles — in each single huddle. There have been instances the place I used to be making an attempt to run a unique play. He’s like, ‘No, we’re working this play. You’re going to be right here with the ball and also you’re going to do that.’ And I used to be like, ‘All proper, cool.’ I imply, what am I presupposed to say? He’s a (six-time) All-Star, a frontrunner, champion.

“However I feel he was nice, actually. After which defensively, he did an incredible job of simply speaking, telling guys the place to go. We want that. We want that management and it’s going to be good for us.”

Lowry positively didn’t cruise easily by means of Thursday night time. After lacking a second-quarter leaner, he took an elbow to the face from Knicks massive man Jericho Sims. Lowry went again to the Sixers’ locker room with a towel pressed towards his face.

He returned to motion within the third quarter with a bandage on his brow.

“It’s cool. Six stitches. The physician made a seven in there — good little seven in there,” Lowry joked. “He did a bit seven in there and I used to be like, ‘All proper, cool, doc.’ Hopefully, it’ll be a bit bit higher tomorrow. It’s a bit sore. Nonetheless numb from the numbing, however we’re cool.”

Improved second-half exhibiting inadequate

The Sixers’ first 4 gamers off the bench had been Lowry, Kelly Oubre Jr., KJ Martin and Mo Bamba.

Nonetheless, Nurse expanded his rotation to 11 males late within the second quarter by subbing in Cameron Payne and Ricky Council IV. Nurse opted for a Council-Martin frontcourt over extra Bamba minutes.

Bamba was one in all many Sixers to play a decidedly subpar first half. Maxey’s 17 factors earlier than intermission had been a shiny spot, however the Sixers had little or no to be ok with over the primary two quarters.

“I used to be simply making an attempt to determine a lineup that would get one thing happening each ends of the ball,” Nurse stated. “We had been having a tough time guarding sure issues and we had been simply making an attempt totally different guys. After which we had been having a more durable time rebounding the ball.

“It was simply making an attempt to get some scoring on the market, making an attempt some totally different guys. After which clearly it began going fairly good with these guys, so we stayed with it.”

The Sixers suffered an embarrassing 36-point loss final month to the Knicks. On Thursday, a trio of Bogdanovic threes sunk them right into a 26-point gap earlier than halftime.

To their credit score, the Sixers made a surge to start the third quarter. Hield drilled a 3 to punctuate a 16-2 run and reduce New York’s result in 71-59.

Although the Sixers couldn’t maintain that momentum your complete quarter, Maxey drove onerous, hit powerful pictures and saved the competition aggressive. Lowry knocked down a triple, Maxey transformed a lefty lay-in, and the Sixers defended properly with Martin as their small-ball heart.

A tightly contested Lowry mid-range jumper with 0.4 seconds to go within the third interval trimmed the Sixers’ deficit to 10 factors. Lowry was robust early within the fourth as properly, organising a Hield three with a pump faux, drive and crisp kick-out move. The Sixers obtained the Knicks’ lead as little as six factors on an Oubre layup.

In the end, New York regained composure and restored a double-digit benefit. Maxey was brief on two three-point makes an attempt, DiVincenzo beat Hield backdoor for a layup, and the air drained out of the Sixers’ comeback balloon.

“It’s onerous to beat good groups once you get down like that,” Maxey stated. “You’ve obtained to exert a lot vitality to battle and get again into the sport. I feel we did that. We gave all of it we had, actually, in that third quarter. However we’ve obtained to start out video games higher, faster, quicker, stronger … and simply be higher.”