The 2024 NBA Playoffs did not get off to a great start for the Philadelphia 76ers. They lost Game 1 on the road to the New York Knicks 111-104 in what was a roller coaster ride of production from the team.
Philadelphia got off to a blazing hot start, scoring 34 points in the first quarter and building a lead as large as 13 points. But, in the second quarter, the wheels fell off as they were outscored 33-12 and trailed by 12 points.
Joel Embiid going down clutching his surgically repaired left knee certainly didn’t help matters in the second quarter. But, he was able to return to the court after halftime and helped the 76ers get back into the game with another dominant quarter.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Nicolas Batum, Nick Nurse, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
The 76ers won the third quarter 36-21, reclaiming the lead heading into the fourth. There is a pattern building, as Philadelphia was then blown out in the fourth quarter, losing 32-22. It was the kind of up-and-down performance that would drive a head coach mad, especially since his team came out on the losing end.
But, the 76ers aren’t discouraged by the performance. Series in the NBA Playoffs are long and all about adjustments as each coaching staff tries to get an edge over a team they know very well.
According to veteran Nicolas Batum, that is already happening. Batum revealed that 76ers head coach Nick Nurse has some things up his sleeve when it comes to finding a way to play with more consistency and clean up what went wrong.
“Last night, we know what we did wrong. And we (found) a way, I think, this morning to do something special with us…I won’t tell you what,” Batum said via Gina Mizell of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Nicolas Batum, Nick Nurse, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
It will be interesting to see what Nurse fixes. Their defense was solid for the most part, they just got bludgeoned on the boards, getting outrebounded 55-33. That led to a lot of second-chance points for the Knicks, who were at home in a physical, drag-’em-out game.
The NBA Postseason is all about improving on the margins and Batum sounds confident that Nurse has found a way to do that. Will it result in a victory? That we will have to wait and see as Game 2 between the Atlantic Division rivals is set to tip off on Monday night.
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