The NBA playoffs officially began, in a just-concluded Eastern Conference focus battle, 76ers at home after 4 quarters of fierce fighting, and finally defeated the Raptors 131-111, ushering in the playoffs to open the door, the series score 1-0 lead!
In this game, the 76ers followed the regular starting lineup, with Harden, Maxi, Danny Green, Harris and Embiid joining forces, while the Raptors used a small lineup, with Siakam, Anurabi and Barnes three forwards in attendance, teaming up with VanVleet and Trent doubles.
Obviously, the raptors' starting lineup is extremely ineffective, after all, Embiid's comprehensive ability is too strong, and it is difficult for them to use the small lineup to drag down the opponent. In the first quarter, the 76ers led 35-27, and in the second quarter, Harris, Embiid and Harden simultaneously threatened, and under their leadership, the team played a wave of 34-24 offensive and took an 18-point lead at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Raptors once stubbornly chased the score, chasing the score to only 11 points, but Harden suddenly threatened, he shot with a pass, directed a wave of 7-0 attack, helped the 76ers once again pull the score to 88-71 to lead by 17 points, stabilized the situation, Maxi continued his performance, consecutive offensive success, single quarter 21 points, to help the 76ers in the third quarter to withstand the counterattack. The Raptors scored 37 points and the 76ers 38 points in this quarter, making Maxi the brightest star on the court, and even Harden and Embiid became supporting roles.
In the final quarter, the Raptors chased the score without success, and the 76ers always held the lead, and finally took the victory firmly in their own hands.
In the whole game, Maxi played 38 minutes, shooting 14 of 21, 5 of 8 from three-point range, 5 of 5 from the free throw line, and bombed down 38 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists, which was very impressive. And to be able to play so well, in fact, is more because the Raptors put more defensive energy on Harden and Embiid, and Maxi has taken advantage of the opportunity very well and played his own place to the fullest.
Embiid shot 5-of-15 from the field, but also contributed 19 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 block.
Harden shot 6-of-17 and contributed 22 points, 5 rebounds, 14 assists, 1 steal and 1 block.
Harden and Embiid have received a lot of attention, and under the entanglement of each other, the shooting efficiency is not high, but they still stand up well when they need to score. Embiid protected the basket well, and Harden showed his strength again in passing, leading his teammates to attack very well.
It can be said that in this game, Harden and Embiid did not play at a normal level, because they were under more defensive pressure, and with Maxi's coming forward, Harden and Embiid also became supporting roles.
Another player who has performed well is Harris, who contributed 26 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists, and finally played 180 million.
If Maxi and Harris can take their chances, there is no doubt that the next Raptors game will be very difficult to play, when they limit Harden Embiid, the other players will erupt, and when they let their guard down, Harden and Embiid will make them pay a terrible price.
It is worth mentioning that in the fourth quarter of this game, there was an accident, raptors supernova Barnes was accidentally injured in a defense, his left foot was stepped on by Embiid, resulting in a 90-degree sprain, was helped off the field, the current injury situation is uncertain, but it seems very unfortunate. Embiid escaped the disaster, because he stepped on Barnes's foot during the movement, in the past, players stepped on other people's feet, it is easy to be sprained, and Embiid was lucky not to be injured this time, it is really lucky.
As can be seen from the slow-motion replay, this accident, neither side was intentional, Barnes came to make up for the defense, his left foot just landed on the ground, Embiid was moving, his left foot also landed on Barnes's left foot, yin and yang, and finally Barnes became the unfortunate victim, and Embiid was glad that he did not get injured by stepping on the foot, and did not let the 76ers' one-season efforts be in vain again.