WASHINGTON (AP) — After the Philadelphia 76ers lost NBA Most Valuable Player finalist Joel Embiid for what the team called right knee soreness in the first quarter Monday night, they lost their lead and their chance in the franchise’s first playoff sweep in 36 years.
With Embiid at the peak of Game 4, Bradley Beal’s 27 points, Russell Westbrook’s twelfth triple-double in the playoffs and Washington’s strategy of obstructing Ben Simmons whenever imaginable down the stretch, it all helped the Wizards beat the 76ers 122-114 in the Philadelphia series at 3-1.
“Everyone had the idea of winning the game for us,” 76ers coach Doc Rivers said of what happened to his team’s offense after Embiid left. “You have to play well . . . We didn’t play well tonight, either side. “. »
When asked for more data on Embiid’s knee, Rivers said, “I don’t know,” adding that “precautionary” tests would be conducted on Tuesday.
Game five of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series will take place Wednesday in Philadelphia.
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Possibly it wouldn’t be simple for this to be as hectic as this one, adding the view of the third quarter of a spectator coming out of the stands and into the box before being hit on the floor by a security guard, the most recent example of NBA enthusiasts have gone crazy.
“It’s embarrassing,” Wizards coach Scott Brooks said. “Unacceptable. “
Nothing had that effect on the outcome and, potentially, on the rest of philadelphia’s playoffs, the No seed. 1 in the East, like what happened to Embiid, who came into the night averaging more than one point consistent with minute in the series . .
In a 29-point win in Game 3 for the 76ers, for example, he produced 36 numbers in 28 minutes, a career-high, against the Wizards, who had to pass the no- pass only to get the No. 8.
But the middle headed to the locker room in the first quarter after suffering a heavy fall behind the baseline when his shot was blocked through Robin Lopez. Ambiid tried to keep playing, grimacing and crouching down at breaks in the game, before despite everything registering and limping away.
He never came back and finished with 8 numbers and six rebounds in minutes.
Philadelphia led no less than 11 in the opening period, however, it went 61-60 at halftime.
And Washington briefly succeeded in the third quarter, leading up to 92-78 in its final minute. A quarter of a tight back-and-forth quarter down the stretch after Danny Green’s layup with less than four-and-a-half minutes to go made it 106-all.
That’s when Washington necessarily took the ball out of Philadelphia’s hands, sending Simmons over the line several times with an edition of the old Hack-a-Shaq strategy that Shaquille O’Neal used to face.
“That’s obviously what they’re going to do. That’s what they do,” Rivers said. “And I agree with that. “
Simmons came here on the night 0-of-nine on fumble shots in the series and 1-of-3 the night before Hack-a-Ben went into full effect: he made 1-of-2 attempts in each of the last 4 times he crossed. the line to finish five by 11.
Tobias Harris led the 76ers with 21 problems and thirteen rebounds, Simmons had thirteen problems and 12 rebounds.
When asked by a reporter about keeping Simmons in the game while Washington continually harassed him, Rivers replied, “Do you need him to get Ben Simmons off the ground?No, it’s pretty good. I will pass on that suggestion. “
Rui Hachimura had 20 problems and thirteen rebounds for the Wizards, adding a 3-point corner on a hand from Beal to give the home team an 118-112 lead with 45. 6 seconds to play.
“It’s growing, right before our eyes,” Brooks said of 2019 first-round pick Hachimura.
The Sixers last swept a playoff opponent in 1985 against the Milwaukee Bucks, long before Embiid or Simmons, where the slogan “Trust the Process” was born.
The last Wizards were swept in 2007 through the Cleveland Cavaliers.
76ers: Embiid missed 10 games in the normal season after having a bruise on his left knee while playing Washington in March. . . Mike Scott, who played for the Wizards, took Embiid’s position in the lineup to start the moment. .
Wizards: Beal has surpassed 1000 playoff problems in his career. . . Hachimura was called up for a technical foul in the 3rd quarter. . . Bertans left on the spot with a stretched right calf and scored 15 problems. . . . . Daniel Gafford replaced Alex Len in the starting lineup and scored 12 numbers.