The 76ers (36-28) are back in action in the big city on Tuesday, meeting the New York Knicks (37-27) for a Sunday revenge Sixers win 79-73.
“It looked like a game from the 90s” Kelly Oubre Jr. (18 pts, 10 reb, 3 ast, 3 stl) said immediately after the low score affair. “Old school, East Coast basketball. Very defensive game – they also played good defense, but we played a little better defense tonight.
The Sixers’ efforts on Tuesday will be buoyed by the return of an All-Star, as Tyrese Maxey has cleared the concussion protocol and will be available to join his teammates on the court for the final regular season meeting between the Sixers and Knicks this season.
Maxey hasn’t played since March 3, when the Sixers took a Victory 120-116 has Dallas.
“It will be more physical, faster and with more scores,” Oubre said of Tuesday’s rematch. “I don’t think we played at our best tonight, but ultimately the guys stepped up. We’re going to do the same thing, but with Tyrese back.
In his first All-Star season, Maxey averaged 26.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game (all career highs).
After Tuesday’s matchup at Madison Square Garden, the Sixers will conclude their three-game road trip Thursday at Milwaukee.
Monday evening, the Sixers occupy 6th place in the Eastern Conference, 0.5 games behind No. 5. Magic of Orlando (37-28) and 1.0 game behind the No. 4 Knicks.
All-Star Jalen Brunson led New York on Sunday, tallying 19 points, three rebounds and eight assists. The Sixers forced Brunson to shoot 6-of-22 from the floor and 1-of-9 from long range.
Donte DiVincenzo finished with 15 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals against Philadelphia. He shot 6 of 17 overall and 3 of 12 from long range.
Brunson is the Knicks’ leading scorer this season, averaging 27.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and a team-high 6.5 assists per game.
New York is also shorthanded, as Julius Randle (dislocated right shoulder) hasn’t appeared since Jan. 27, when New York faced Miami and recorded a 125-109 victory. OG Anunoby (right elbow surgery) has also been out since Jan. 27, but was reclassified as questionable for Tuesday’s game.
SIXERS/KNICKS INJURY REPORT
Joel Embiid (left knee meniscus procedure), Robert Covington (left knee bone bruise) and De’Anthony Melton (lumbar spine bone stress) remain out Sunday for Philadelphia.
New Yorkers Randle and Mitchell Robinson (left ankle surgery) are also out, with Anunoby questionable.
SUNDAY’S KEY CONTRIBUTORS
- Oubre finished Sunday with a team-high 18 points, plus 10 rebounds, three assists and three steals in 33 minutes of play.
- Harris notched a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds, along with two assists and two steals in his team’s 38 minutes.
- Hield totaled 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists and a steal, shooting 6 of 9 from the field and 4 of 6 from deep in 26 minutes off the bench.
- Reed finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and a game-high four blocks coming off the bench Sunday, shooting 5 of 8 from the field and 2 of 2 from long range in 28 minutes.
Oubre on Tuesday’s impending battle:
“Guys made big shots, guys made big saves. We have another one Tuesday against these guys, and it will be another dog fight.
Tuesday’s match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET in New York.
The Sixers are expected to wear their white Association Edition uniforms, while the Knicks will wear their navy Statement Edition uniforms.
