‣ Despite missing key players Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, the 76ers managed to secure their 17th road win of the season, showcasing the depth and resilience of their roster.
‣ The game’s low score reflects a broader trend of defensive battles in the NBA, with both teams struggling offensively but finding ways to compete, highlighting the importance of adaptability and defense in winning games.
Tonight’s 79-73 win by Philadelphia is the first time since January 2016 where neither team in a game scored 80 points:
— Basketball Reference (@bball_ref)
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Oh boy, the Philadelphia 76ers snagged a win against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. The final score? A nail-biting 79-73. This game, folks, marked the lowest-scoring NBA game we’ve seen since 2016. Can you believe that?
The first quarter was something else, ending in a 15-all tie. It’s only the third time in the last five seasons we’ve seen both teams score 15 points or fewer in the first quarter. The last couple of times this happened? Oh, just this past January 4, 2023.
Sixers’ Buddy Hield had something to say about it. “Any defensive coach would take that quarter,” he admitted. Offensively, not so much. But hey, they managed to get some great possessions. And somehow, they weathered the storm, making plays when it mattered most.
Betting sites are watching closely, with the 76ers holding the 10th-best odds to clinch the championship. The Knicks? They’re not too far behind, with the 12th-shortest odds, just a step below the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Here’s a fun fact from Twitter: This game was the first time since January 2016 where neither team scored 80 points. A total of 152 points were scored between Philadelphia and New York on Sunday. Coincidentally, that’s the same total from a game back on Jan. 6, 2016, when the Denver Nuggets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 78-74.
At halftime, Philadelphia was leading 37-31. This was the lowest-scoring first half in an NBA game since the Portland Trail Blazers led the Detroit Pistons 34-31 on March 30, 2019. And guess what? The Pistons won that game 99-90.
Now, about the Philadelphia 76ers’ largest lead? It was 10 points against the Knicks. And they pulled it off without Embiid and Maxey on the court. Hield and Paul Reed were on fire, combining for the Sixers’ first 12 points in the fourth quarter. Reed’s 3-pointer with 3:32 left gave the 76ers a double-digit lead, the only one in the game, at 73-63.
Kelly Oubre Jr. was the top scorer for the 76ers with 18 points. Philadelphia shot 31-of-80 (38.8%) from the field, while New York finished 26-of-80 (32.5%) shooting. Both teams were missing some key players. Joel Embiid is still out recovering from knee surgery, and Tyrese Maxey missed his fourth straight game due to a concussion.
The Knicks were also short-handed, missing Julius Randle, OG Anunoby, and Mitchell Robinson. But Jalen Brunson was there, struggling to score but still managing a team-high 19 points.
And just for a bit of historical context, there have been other low-scoring NBA games. Like the New Jersey Nets’ 64-60 victory against Portland on Nov. 9, 2004, and the Charlotte Hornets‘ 65-56 win over the Miami Heat on Dec. 20, 2000. Makes you appreciate those high-scoring games a bit more, doesn’t it?
