Recap: Sixers blow out Knicks

This was a wire-to-wire domination. The Sixers hosted the division rival Knicks and gave them all they could eat, final score 117-91.

The Knicks had previously won 3 out of 4 but were coming off a loss last night to the Pistons and appeared to lack effort or competitiveness throughout the contest. Joel Embiid put on a show, including a highlight spin and one-handed jam, reminiscent of one of his idols, Hakeem Olajuwon. With his father, Thomas Embiid, in attendance that one may have felt extra good for the former Jayhawk.

Embiid had 17 points 7 rebounds and 6 assists at the half as the Knicks simply had no answers.

He finished with 26 pts 14 rebs and 7 assists 1 block and 1 steal in 30 minutes of action. Similarly scintillating (can you tell I listened the Clyde Frazier on to the Knicks broadcast?) was J. J. Redick who was a game high +26 plus/minus. He was simply on fire at 10-14 from the field and 4-6 from 3 for 24 points.

Ben Simmons flirted with a triple double with 14 pts 8 rebounds and 7 assists but he didn’t have to work too hard this evening. With the Sixers up so much he was held to just 24 minutes by Coach Brett Brown.

The Knicks shot 20.7% from 3 and 34.8% from the field. Not their finest moment. There may come a time in the future when the Knicks present a problem in the division. If they draft well this June and land a star in free agency, the landscape of the east could change a bit. But for this evening, it was no contest.

The Sixers are 15-8 and 3rd overall in the east:

538 currently forecasts them to finish that way ahead of Boston. That would be a big surprise, given many fans’ preseason expectations. Jimmy Butler’s hero-services were not needed tonight. He finished with 7 points but a +19 plus/minus.

Next up are the Wizards who opened the year struggling but have made a push recently, winning 6 of their last 10. It’s in Philly and ESPN likes the Sixers, so Here They Come.