In a game that saw the Sixers narrowly escape with a 99-98 victory over the Warriors, it's clear that luck played a significant role in their triumph. Despite having one of the more cohesive and organized lineups of the season, Philadelphia struggled to find consistency until the final minutes.
The team's organization was evident from the start, as they managed to outscore the Warriors 20-10 in the first quarter. However, it wasn't until Curry and Butler were sidelined for Golden State that Steve Kerr was forced to rely on his bench, resulting in a significantly reduced scoring output. This presented an ideal opportunity for Nick Nurse's team to capitalize on their advantage, but they ultimately failed to do so.
The turning point came when VJ Edgecombe threw down a put-back dunk off a Tyrese Maxey miss, giving the Sixers the lead with just seconds remaining on the clock. This moment was made all the more remarkable by Maxey's earlier block on Warriors guard Jonathan Kuminga, which essentially sealed the game for Philadelphia.
Maxey's performance was nothing short of spectacular, as he managed to find his scoring groove despite struggling early on. Joel Embiid also had a strong outing, albeit one that was ultimately overshadowed by his team's collapse in the fourth quarter.
One notable development from Thursday night's contest is Nurse's decision to start Quentin Grimes alongside Maxey and Edgecombe for the first time all season. This lineup proved effective, with Grimes displaying improved passing skills and Edgecombe managing to stay focused despite being limited to just 10 points.
The three-guard lineup will undoubtedly be a staple of Nurse's rotations moving forward, particularly when his starting wings are unavailable. However, there were also some defensive challenges presented by Golden State's smaller closing lineup.
As the Sixers head to Milwaukee for their next game, they'll look to capitalize on the momentum from Thursday's victory and avoid another late-game collapse. With Maxey and Edgecombe continuing to thrive in the starting lineup, Philadelphia fans are optimistic about their team's chances of success.
The team's organization was evident from the start, as they managed to outscore the Warriors 20-10 in the first quarter. However, it wasn't until Curry and Butler were sidelined for Golden State that Steve Kerr was forced to rely on his bench, resulting in a significantly reduced scoring output. This presented an ideal opportunity for Nick Nurse's team to capitalize on their advantage, but they ultimately failed to do so.
The turning point came when VJ Edgecombe threw down a put-back dunk off a Tyrese Maxey miss, giving the Sixers the lead with just seconds remaining on the clock. This moment was made all the more remarkable by Maxey's earlier block on Warriors guard Jonathan Kuminga, which essentially sealed the game for Philadelphia.
Maxey's performance was nothing short of spectacular, as he managed to find his scoring groove despite struggling early on. Joel Embiid also had a strong outing, albeit one that was ultimately overshadowed by his team's collapse in the fourth quarter.
One notable development from Thursday night's contest is Nurse's decision to start Quentin Grimes alongside Maxey and Edgecombe for the first time all season. This lineup proved effective, with Grimes displaying improved passing skills and Edgecombe managing to stay focused despite being limited to just 10 points.
The three-guard lineup will undoubtedly be a staple of Nurse's rotations moving forward, particularly when his starting wings are unavailable. However, there were also some defensive challenges presented by Golden State's smaller closing lineup.
As the Sixers head to Milwaukee for their next game, they'll look to capitalize on the momentum from Thursday's victory and avoid another late-game collapse. With Maxey and Edgecombe continuing to thrive in the starting lineup, Philadelphia fans are optimistic about their team's chances of success.
. But seriously, can't a team just have one game where they don't choke at the end? It's like they're trying to win by being inconsistent 
. On the bright side, VJ Edgecombe is now my new favorite player – who knew put-back dunks could be so clutch? 
And let's give a shoutout to Tyrese Maxey for that incredible block on Jonathan Kuminga... talk about making a statement 
. The 3-guard lineup might just work out, but only if they can figure out how not to turn games into nail-biting finales 
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then he gets a putback dunk like 2 seconds later 
thats one highlight reel moment right there!! Nurse needs to keep playing those three guards together, grimes is killing it with his passing skills and edgecombe brings the energy 
gotta be curious what they'll do against milwaukee next
They need to find that consistency and make smart decisions on the fly. Nick Nurse is doing a great job adjusting his lineup, but they can't keep relying on big moments from guys like VJ Edgecombe. The bench needs to step up more often than not. 
And yeah, Tyrese Maxey's been on fire lately! He's got that clutch gene, no question 
he came out of nowhere & saved those sixers like literally 
!!! i think nurse's decision 2 start grimes @ pg alongside maxey & edgecombe was a great one tho! it showed that the team has depth & can adapt. but yeah, they gotta work on their defense 
... cant have them giving up easy baskets just cuz the other team's smaller lol 
he went from 0-5 off bench to a clutch putback dunk 
3G lineup looks promising but defense is key, esp when GS brings out their small squad 
; grimes had 4 asts in his 20min of play 
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