KNICKS CAN’T GET THEIR PHIL
They put up a fight against Sixers, but suffer yet another close loss
The Knicks were feisty but couldn’t beat a better team Wednesday night.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Philadelphia in the final 90 seconds sealed the Knicks’ collapse in a 109-104 loss at Wells Fargo Center.
The Knicks (411), coming off their easy win against the Cavs, blew a 17-point lead in the third quarter. They played hard but talent usually wins in the NBA. And in the end, Philly’s duo of Joel Embiid and (23 points, 12 rebounds) and Ben Simmons (18 points, 13 assists) were too potent.
“This is a team (the Sixers) you’d consider contenders. You just can’t let off the gas for one second,” Knicks coach David Fizdale said. “They’ll really make you pay.”
The crucial moments started with 1:33 remaining when Marcus
Morris missed a wild lay-up attempt. He was hoping for a foul. On the other end, Philly’s Mike Scott buried a 3-pointer in transition to give the Sixers a 99-95 advantage.
Morris then missed a jumper and Embiid responded with a trey. Game over. The Sixers (9-5) saved themselves from an embarrassing defeat at home. A crowd that booed Philadelphia sporadically throughout the night ended with a chant of “New York sucks.”
The Knicks, despite the defeat, were content about being in the game until the end. After getting blown out five times in their opening 10 games, they’ve endured just one non-competitive loss in their last 5.
“You win some, you lose some,” Morris said. “As long as we’re competing our ass off that’s all I can ask for.”
Frank Ntilikina (17 points) was again a bright spot for the Knicks. He’s ascension continues after being given the starting point guard spot. Morris scored 22 points but also took 21 shots.
After taking the 17-point advantage, the Knicks gave up a 10-0 run to the Sixers to end the third quarter. It was a dogfight from there. And the Knicks lost.
“This is painful because they really wanted this and we had a chance. But I told them, don’t make excuses,” Fizdale said. “I don’t want to hear excuses. We ain’t pointing the fingers at officials or none of that crap. What can we control? To a man they all said, getting back on defense, getting to the 3-point line, trusting the offense. So the fact that they’re saying this stuff means that we’ve got a chance to improve at these things.”
Things turned heated in the second quarter when Morris, positioning for a rebound, threw Embiid to the court. Embiid bounced up and raised his hands, searching for assistance from the officials, while Morris approached the big man more eager to continue the confrontation.
“He’s too big to be flopping. He’s just flopping and grabbing,” Morris said. “And I’m not the one to take that. He knows that.”
Morris added later about the incident, “There are no hard feelings. I’m not taking it to no Twitter or Instagram, I’m not that dude. And he knows that. Whatever happened out there is done. We’re worried about
the next game and I’m worried about my team.”
Both players were hit technical fouls, and Morris was also docked a flagrant foul. Morris leads the league with six technical fouls. Sixteen technical fouls results in a one-game suspension.
“I wouldn’t put my team or myself in jeopardy with that many techs. Early on I’m just trying to set the precedent that we’re just not going to going for anything.”
The game began a killer stretch for the Knicks with 11 consecutive games against teams that made the playoffs last season. After Wednesday’s loss, they play the Spurs, the Nets, at Toronto, vs. Sixers, vs. Celtics, at Bucks, vs. Nuggets, vs. Pacers, at Blazers and at Warriors.
MORRIS-EMBIID FLAP
Marcus Morris vowed to bring an edge to the Knicks. He’s lived up to that statement.
Morris’ latest incident was a dust-up Wednesday night with Joel Embiid, resulting in double technical and a flagrant foul during the second quarter of the Knicks’ 109-104 loss to the Sixers. As the two were positioning for a rebound, Morris grabbed the giant center and threw him to the court.
Embiied bounced up and threw his hands in the air, looking more for referee assistance than a confrontation. Morris, meanwhile, was being held back from getting closer to Embiid.
“He’s too big to be flopping. He’s just flopping and grabbing. And I’m not the one to take that,” Morris said. “He knows that. He knows what I’m about.”
Still, Morris said the issue was finished after the game. Embiid is known for airing his issues on social media but it’s safe to assume he’ll leave this one alone.
“There are no hard feelings. I’m not taking it to no Twitter or Instagram, I’m not that dude. And he knows that,” Morris said. “Whatever happened out there is done. We’re worried about the next game and I’m worried about my team.”