On April 23, Beijing time, in the NBA playoffs, the 76ers defeated the Nets 96-88 away, sweeping the opponent 4-0 on aggregate. Embiid missed the game due to a sprained right knee injury, and Reid replaced him as the starting line-up. The 76ers trailed the Nets by as many as 11 points in the first half, but they led the Nets to a "black six" in the third quarter under Harden and Harris, playing a 14-0 offensive climax. Melton was a 76ers surprise soldier, and he scored 15 points in the fourth quarter to help the team gradually open the gap to double digits and establish a victory. The 76ers turned around and swept the Nets to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals, where they would face the Celtics and Hawks series winner. It was also the first time the 76ers swept their opponents since 1991.
Statistics
76ers: Harris 25 points and 12 rebounds, Harden 17 points, 8 rebounds and 11 assists, Maxi 16 points and 8 rebounds, Reid 10 points and 15 rebounds, substitute Melton 15 points
Nets: Dinwiddie 20 points, 3 rebounds and 6 assists, Claxton 19 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks, Bridges 17 points and 5 rebounds, Johnson 11 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists
Star of the field: Tobias Harris
In Embiid's absence, Harris stepped up for the team and had 25 points and 12 rebounds. With the 76ers trailing in the second half, Harris helped the team play an offensive climax to overcome. With the two sides glued in the fourth quarter, Harris used his personal ability to open the point gap. He was undoubtedly the winner of the game.
Highlight moments
Claxton dunks with both hands behind the basket
Harden Europe stepped for a layup
Dinwiddie hit a three-point shot
Maxi steals fast break unbalanced layups
Johnson and Claxton Sky were connected
Harden dangled Mills for a 3-pointer
Johnson scored a 2+1 with deft footsteps
Harden dangled Johnson and hit a 3-pointer
Maxi swung away from his opponent and scored a 2+1
Bridges turned a jumper with difficulty
Match Review
At the start of the first quarter, Harris broke through for a layup and scored the 76ers' first athletic game. Dinwiddie hit back-to-back three-pointers, and the Nets went on a 14-2 offensive run to stretch the gap to double digits. Harris turned and jumped to help the 76ers stop the loss, Claxton scored on a dunk, Harris jumped in again and Johnson hit a three-pointer. Harden hit all 4 consecutive fouls, Claxton hit 1 of 2 free throws, Harden made a free throw, and the 76ers scored 6 consecutive points to chase the gap to 2 points. Johar and Seth Curry scored back-to-back points to break the deadlock, McDaniels broke through the throw, Seth Curry hit a jumper, Maxey scored on a free throw, and Dinwiddie pressed the whistle for a three-pointer. The first quarter ended with the 76ers trailing the Nets 22-29.
At the start of the second quarter, the 76ers started with six straight points to stop the Nets, and Finney Smith hit a three-point shot to stop the Nets. Bridges made 1 of 2 free throws for a foul, Claxton made an empty dunk, and the Nets went on an 8-0 run to take a nine-point lead. Harris hit a three-pointer, Milton hit a 2-pointer, Johar scored a free throw, and Harden hit a three-pointer. Claxton scored a 2+1 on an empty layup and scored five straight points. Harden and Harris hit back-to-back jumpers, Johnson broke through to score 2+1, and the Nets entered the second half with an eight-point lead. At halftime, the 76ers trailed the Nets 40-48.
Easy to fight again. Harris hit a jumper, Finney Smith scored a layup and scored five straight points, and Harden and Tucker responded with back-to-back three-pointers. The Nets failed to score any points for more than six minutes and were in a complete scoring drought. With the help of Reid and Harris, the 76ers extended their offensive climax to 14-0 and managed to overcome. Claxton broke the deadlock for the Nets with a backhand layup, Maxey scored a free throw, Dinwiddie broke through and Harris drifted for a shot. Maxi hit a three-point shot to give the 76ers a six-point lead. Dinwiddie turned and jumped, Maxi made a sharp stop to score a 2+1, Dinwiddie broke through for a basket, and Bridges scored on a jumper. The third quarter ended with the 76ers leading the Nets 66-63.
At the beginning of the final quarter, Bridges hit a back-up jumper, Harden hit 1 of 2 free throws, Melton hit a three-pointer, and Seth Curry broke through for a layup. O'Neal hit a three-point shot and the Nets managed to equalize the score. Bridges hit a difficult jumper, Melton hit a 3-pointer, Harris scored a 2+1, and the 76ers hit another 8-0 run to take a six-point lead. Bridges hit 2 free throws, Melton hit a 3-pointer, Harris turned to make a jumper, and Dinwiddie responded with a free throw. Melton scored two offenses, and the 76ers scored six straight points to stretch the gap to 13 points, and the game gradually lost suspense. Claxton made an empty dunk, Harris hit a three-pointer, Dinwiddie hit 2 free throws, and Melton hit a mid-range shot. O'Neal missed a three-point shot, the Nets were over, and Johnson made a steal and layup to narrow the gap further to less than 10 points. As time ran out, the 76ers won the game.
Both sides start
76ers: Harden, Maxi, Tobias-Harris, Tucker, Reid
Nets: Dinwiddie, Cameron Johnson, Bridges, Finney Smith, Claxton