Embiid’s Heroics Fall Short as Sixers’ Rally Comes Up Just Shy Against Knicks
Joel Embiid gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about on Saturday afternoon, but even his 38-point, 11-rebound effort couldn’t lift the Sixers past the Knicks. Despite a furious late-game rally, Philadelphia fell 112-109 at Xfinity Mobile Arena, dropping to 24-20 on the season. New York, meanwhile, improved to 27-18 behind a strong showing from Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby.
Let’s break down how this one slipped away from the Sixers - and why Embiid’s brilliance continues to be the team’s lifeline.
Embiid Starts Hot, Keeps Sixers Afloat
The Knicks came out firing, with early threes from Karl-Anthony Towns and Brunson helping them jump to a quick 6-0 lead. New York opened the game 6-for-7 from the field, including a perfect 3-for-3 from deep.
But Embiid and Tyrese Maxey weren’t about to let the Sixers fall behind quietly. The duo combined for 14 of Philly’s first 16 points, with Embiid doing serious damage against a clearly limited Towns, who was playing through back spasms.
Embiid looked locked in from the jump - aggressive in transition, sharp with his passing, and overpowering in the post. He even found Kelly Oubre Jr. on a slick feed for an and-one layup, continuing the playmaking momentum he built during Thursday’s triple-double performance against Houston.
By the end of the first quarter, Embiid had 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including a couple of emphatic dunks. He was everywhere, pushing the pace and punishing mismatches. It was the kind of start you expect from a reigning MVP - and he looked every bit the part.
Brunson, though, was nearly matching him shot for shot. The former Villanova standout torched the Sixers early, dropping 14 points in the opening period on 5-of-7 shooting. Philadelphia’s defense gave him too much room to operate, allowing him to get to his spots and create clean looks off the dribble.
Still, Embiid’s first-half dominance was a reminder of just how high his ceiling remains - and how much the Sixers lean on him to keep the engine running.
Shooting Struggles and Second-Chance Woes
With Embiid and Maxey on the bench to start the second quarter, Paul George took over the offensive reins and delivered a quick seven-point burst. But once Embiid returned and hit a three to push the Sixers ahead 51-45, it was clear who the focal point would be the rest of the way.
Outside of Embiid, though, the Sixers couldn’t buy a bucket from deep. They hit just 2-of-9 from three in the first half outside of Embiid’s contributions - a continuation of a season-long issue.
Entering the game, Philly ranked 20th in three-point frequency and 17th in accuracy (excluding garbage time), according to Cleaning the Glass. That lack of perimeter firepower showed up again in a big way.
The other glaring issue? Defensive rebounding.
The Knicks feasted on second-chance opportunities, outscoring the Sixers 26-4 in that department. Anunoby’s tip-in to tie the game at 58 was just one of several backbreaking putbacks New York converted.
It’s been a recurring problem for the Sixers - and one that cost them dearly in this one.
Still, Embiid kept the Sixers in it. He drew Towns’ third foul late in the second quarter with a powerful and-one post move, then closed the half with a coast-to-coast layup that gave him 28 points.
He didn’t miss a shot in the second quarter. It was a masterclass in offensive efficiency.
Third-Quarter Collapse
Whatever momentum the Sixers had built evaporated in the third.
New York dominated the period, outscoring Philly by 17 and completely disrupting the Sixers’ offensive rhythm. Embiid, who had been unstoppable in the first half, was held scoreless in the third quarter. He attempted just three shots - one of them a desperation heave as the shot clock expired.
The Sixers’ offense stalled. Possessions dragged, ball movement dried up, and the Knicks took full advantage.
Brunson drilled a deep jumper after New York grabbed a pair of offensive boards, and Mitchell Robinson blew past rookie Adem Bona for a thunderous dunk that pushed the lead to 86-72. Knicks fans in the building made their presence felt.
Embiid even missed a pair of free throws early in the fourth, and the Knicks stretched their lead to 17. It looked like the game was slipping away for good.
A Furious Comeback - But Not Enough
Then came the push.
Down 17, the Sixers rattled off a 12-0 run that cut the deficit to 98-93. Embiid and Maxey each finished tough and-one layups during the stretch, and the Knicks couldn’t buy a bucket.
Mikal Bridges, in particular, struggled through a 3-for-16 shooting day. New York also faltered at the free throw line, and Towns fouled out with over five minutes remaining.
Suddenly, the Sixers were alive.
VJ Edgecombe, the rookie, knocked down a clutch three to bring the Sixers within 104-102. The crowd was back in it.
The energy had shifted. But down the stretch, the Sixers needed everything to go their way - and it just didn’t.
Anunoby buried a corner triple, and Landry Shamet - a former Sixers draft pick - followed it up with a dagger from deep. Still, the Sixers wouldn’t go quietly. Edgecombe hit two free throws to make it 110-107, and on the ensuing inbounds play, Brunson was called for an offensive foul after pushing off Edgecombe.
But after a Knicks challenge, the call was overturned. Edgecombe was hit with an away-from-the-play foul, and Brunson sank the free throw.
The final 10 seconds were chaotic - and familiar. Both teams attempted intentional fouls that weren’t whistled. The Sixers had a chance to extend the game, but the whistle never came, and the Knicks escaped with the win.
Takeaways
This one stings for Philly. Embiid was sensational, Maxey had his moments, and the Sixers showed real fight late. But second-chance points, cold shooting, and a third-quarter collapse proved too much to overcome.
The Sixers are now 24-20 and head to Charlotte for a Monday night matchup with the Hornets. They'll need to clean up the glass and find more consistent offense outside of Embiid if they want to avoid another frustrating finish.
For now, though, it’s another reminder that as great as Embiid is - and he’s been playing at an All-Star level for weeks - he can’t do it alone.