The Philadelphia 76ers wanted a win within the worst method on Saturday once they visited the Chicago Bulls. The Sixers had simply toppled the Cleveland Cavaliers in a stunning effort Friday at residence to finish a 7-game skid and badly wanted a win in opposition to the Bulls.
The Sixers entered the competitors simply two video games behind Chicago for the ultimate play-in spot within the Jap Convention and so they knew it. Tyrese Maxey and Co. confirmed the suitable mindset and perspective to place the Bulls away and win it 109-97 and are available again to inside one match within the standings.
The Sixers at the moment are 2-0 in opposition to the Bulls and Maxey revealed that Kyle Lowry had a message for the staff forward of the competition.
“Kyle mentioned it was a should win, you recognize what I imply?” Maxey informed reporters after the victory. “On the finish of the day, we’re preventing for our lives proper now. So each sport is necessary, and this sport was extraordinarily necessary. You by no means know. Like final yr, tiebreakers are necessary, such as you “You possibly can see it, it is the primary time I’ve seen what occurred final yr.”
In keeping with Maxey, the Sixers confronted some defining moments through the 2023-24 season. That they had completed with an similar 47-35 report with the Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic, however had been relegated to the play-in event because the No. 7 seed on account of dropping tiebreakers in opposition to each groups. That’s what made the sport in opposition to the Bulls so necessary.
“We have now a tiebreaker with some groups and we do not have a tiebreaker with a staff, it is the distinction between being fourth and seventh,” Maxey added. ” what I imply? So, you recognize, we do not know the place we’ll fall, or how it is going to finish, however our aim proper now’s to get higher day-after-day and proceed to win video games.”
Even coach Nick Nurse knew that. He and his staff knew they needed to win on Saturday and life was made harder once they misplaced Paul George to harm within the first half. Nonetheless, the Sixers managed to drag out the win.
“I discussed it earlier than the sport,” Nurse mentioned. “Clearly, I feel anybody trying up must put slightly extra emphasis on the sport. You discuss in regards to the head-to-head may turn into an element, however we simply need, once more, to have an opportunity to win. We preserve going to have issues pitted in opposition to us now with PG popping out. Once more, we’re placing it collectively as greatest we are able to, and the principle factor is we’re enjoying the suitable method.
The Sixers will now have two days off earlier than going through the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.
This text was initially revealed on Sixers Wire: Tyrese Maxey and the Sixers clarify why they took the Bulls so critically within the victory