76ers' Joel Embiid Calls Knicks Loss 'F--king Unacceptable' After Wild Game 2 Ending

by 24USATVApril 23, 2024, 7 a.m. 21
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Joel Embiid did not exactly hold back when discussing the ending of the New York Knicks' stunning 104-101 victory over his Philadelphia 76ers in Monday's Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.

The big man told reporters the sequence in the final 30 seconds that saw New York finish on an 8-0 run was "f----ng unacceptable." He also said that Tyrese Maxey was "fouled a couple times" and should have been on the free-throw line.

After the 76ers went up five, Jalen Brunson hit a three-pointer, Josh Hart forced a Maxey turnover, Donte DiVincenzo connected on a go-ahead triple and Isaiah Hartenstein blocked Maxey's ensuing shot.

The most notable moment of the entire sequence came when Maxey turned it over, as New York was particularly physical on the defensive side. Philadelphia head coach Nick Nurse also may have called a timeout and told reporters, "I called timeout. The referee looked right at me. Ignored me."

Alas, no timeout was given, and the Knicks emerged with a 2-0 series lead after one of the most memorable 30 seconds in recent playoff history.

Embiid isn't giving up hope, though, and told reporters, "we should be 2-0. We're good. We're going to win this series."

Embiid did what he could with 34 points, 11 rebounds and six assists even though he was clearly labored by a knee injury that he reaggravated in Game 1 when he landed awkwardly after throwing an alley-oop to himself off the backboard.

Yet nobody outside of Embiid and Maxey (35 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds) scored more than 10 points for the visitors. That will have to change if they truly are going to win the series.

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