Redick good to go after brief scare early in Game 1
CAMDEN, N.J. » J.J. Redick has had no repercussions from the eye issue that worried him early in the Sixers’ Game 1 playoff win over the Heat.
“I feel fine,” Redick said after a walkthrough Sunday. “I feel fine.
After the game Redick said he lost vision in his left eye after a fall but that it didn’t result from a concussion. It was enough of a concern to warrant an examination by the medical staff.
Redick returned to the game and scored 28 points, matching his season high, to spark the Sixers to a 130103 blowout of the Heat. Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Monday at Wells Fargo Center.
“We protected our home court,” Redick said. “Doc Rivers used to always say a playoff series doesn’t really start until someone gets a road win. So, all we’ve done is protect home court for one game.”
Also on the medical front, the Sixers said Joel Embiid and guard Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot will sit out the second game.
Embiid is performing basketball activities but still isn’t all the way back from a broken orbital bone in his left eye. Embiid sustained the eye injury in a March 28 collision with rookie Markelle Fultz. The timetable for return was 2-to-4 weeks. It will be three weeks from the injury this Wednesday, although Embiid had surgery to repair the fracture March 31.
Luwawu-Cabarrot has patellar tendinitis in his right knee.
***
The Sixers’ 40 points in the fourth quarter against the Heat were their most in a postseason quarter since recording 46 on June 1, 2001 against the Bucks.
*** Ben Simmons collected 17 points, 14 assists and nine rebounds against the Heat.
It was the most assists by a rookie in a playoff game since Spud Webb got 18 on April 19, 1986.
*** Marco Belinelli’s 25 points are the most by a Sixer off the bench in a playoff game since Roy Hinson got 28 on April 26, 1987 against the Bucks.
*** Keep an eye on Sixers matchups with Josh Richardson Monday.
When Richardson was on the floor, the Heat was outscored by 30 points Saturday night.