Game Preview: Sixers vs Knicks
The Sixers are 34-19 after dropping their last two games on the road and are currently in the third seed in the Eastern Conference standings – 20-8 at home. Tonight,…
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 05: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers heads for the net as Miles McBride #2 of the New York Knicks defends in the first half at Madison Square Garden on February 05, 2023 in New York City.
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)The Sixers are 34-19 after dropping their last two games on the road and are currently in the third seed in the Eastern Conference standings – 20-8 at home. Tonight, they host the 30-26 New York Knicks in the final game of the four-game regular season series – the Knicks have won two of the three games they’ve faced off in. New York is 16-11 on the road, a better record than their 14-15 home record. They’re a half-game behind the Miami Heat in the East standings, good for sixth place.
In the last matchup, the 76ers gave up a 21-point lead in the first half as the Knicks stormed back to win the game, 108-97. A tough loss for sure as Philadelphia looked like they were well on their way to a route against a division opponent. New York chipped away at the deficit by winning the second quarter by nine which allowed them to close the gap to two at the half. With the Sixers winning the third quarter by one, the Knicks closed the game strong with a plus-14 final frame to help them pull out the win.
On Thursday ahead of the trade deadline, the 76ers acquired forward Jalen McDaniels from the Charlotte Hornets as part of a four-team trade. To complete the deal, Matisse Thybulle was sent to Portland to join the Trailblazers. McDaniels is having a career-year in points, rebounds, assists and steals in his fourth NBA season. The versatile wing can do a lot on the floor and will look to provide yet another helpful piece in head coach Doc Rivers's rotation through the final 29 games and into the postseason.
The Knicks have had a few days off, last playing on Tuesday in Orlando, defeating the Magic, 102-98. Much like the game against the Sixers last Sunday, New York used a strong fourth quarter to complete the comeback win by erasing a 12-point Orlando lead. Another solid three-point shooting night made a big difference as the Knicks were a plus-nine over the Magic making 15 to their six. Brunson led all with 25 points, Randle scored 22 and corralled a game-high 14 rebounds with six dimes. Third year guard Immanuel Quickley poured in 18 off the bench.
Before the NBA’s trade deadline came to a close, New York traded three players including Cam Reddish to Portland in exchange for former Villanova standout Josh Hart. Hart reunites with his former college teammate Brunson in the Big Apple. The six-year veteran will surely fit into head coach Tom Thibodeau’s defensive scheme. Hart arrives to New York as part of the four-team deal with Philadelphia mentioned earlier.
Probable Starters:
PHI: Embiid, Harris, Tucker, Melton and Harden
NYK: Jericho Sims, Randle, RJ Barrett, Quentin Grimes and Brunson
NBA Trade Deadline Recap- Shams vs Woj
Thursday afternoon marked the NBA’s Trade Deadline with a ton of movement across the league. Beyond the trades themselves, this day always marks a clash of two titans, Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania, in the battle of breaking the deals first.
Here’s a look at each deal and who reported on it first, organized by the Sixers first and then in chronological order starting Thursday at midnight.
Sixers trade Matisse Thybulle in three team deal to acquire Jalen McDaniels
Sixers acquire: Jalen McDaniels, two second round picks Hornets acquire: 2023 second round pick, Svi Mykhailiuk
Trail Blazers acquire: Matisse Thybulle
Woj or Shams? Woj
Toronto Raptors acquire C Jakob Poeltl from the San Antonio Spurs
Raptors acquire: Jakob Poeltl
Spurs acquire: Khem Birch, a protected 2024 first-round pick, and two second-round picks
Woj or Shams? Woj (ESPN had a graphic ready for him too)
Phoenix Suns acquire Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Net
Suns acquire: Kevin Durant, TJ Warren
Nets acquire: Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first round picks and a 2028 pick swap
Woj or Shams? This is an interesting one. Woj had the report that the deal was close, but technically, it was Shams that had the final report of the deal and its details first. Point for Shams.
Boston Celtics acquire Mike Muscala from the Oklahoma City Thunder
Celtics acquire: Mike Muscala
Thunder acquire: Justin Jackson and two second-round picks
Woj or Shams? Shams.
Milwaukee Bucks acquire Jae Crowder from the Brooklyn Nets
Bucks acquire: Jae Crowder
Nets acquire: Five (!!) second-round picks
Pacers acquire: Jordan Nwora and two second-round picks
Woj or Shams? Shams.
Denver Nuggets acquire Thomas Bryant from the Los Angeles Lakers
Nuggets acquire: Thomas Bryant
Lakers acquire: Davon Reed and three second-round picks
Woj or Shams? Woj (he even got an Adam Schefter retweet)
Indiana Pacers acquire George Hill and a second round pick from Milwaukee Bucks
Pacers acquire: George Hill and a second-round pick
Bucks “acquire”: A free roster spot and free up $4 million
Woj or Shams? Woj.
Los Angeles Clippers acquire Bones Hyland from the Denver Nuggets
Clippers acquire: Bones Hyland
Nuggets acquire: Clippers’ 2024 and 2025 second-round picks
Woj or Shams? Woj
Phoenix Suns acquire Darius Bazley from the Oklahoma City Thunder
Suns acquire: Darius Bazley
Thunder acquire: Dario Saric
Woj or Shams? Shams.
Golden State Warriors trade away James Wiseman in three-team deal
Warriors acquire: Five (!!) second-round picks, Kevin Knox
Pistons acquire: James Wiseman
Hawks acquire: Saddiq Bey
Woj or Shams? Woj.
Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets trade bench players
Hawks acquire: Justin Holiday and Frank Kaminsky
Rockets acquire: Garrison Matthews and Bruno Fernando
Woj or Shams? Woj.
Los Angeles Clippers acquire Eric Gordon from the Houston Rockets
Clippers acquire: Eric Gordon, three second-round picks
Rockets acquire: John Wall, Danny Green, pick swap
Grizzlies acquire: Luke Kennard
Woj or Shams? Shams tweeted about the trade first. He also provided the Kennard and Wall pieces of the trade first. Woj did, however, report on the second-round picks and Danny Green. Tim MacMahon gave us the pick swap. Shams got more details first so we will credit him.
Los Angeles Lakers trade Patrick Beverley to the Orlando Magic for Mo Bamba
Lakers acquire: Mo Bamba
Magic acquire: Patrick Beverley, second round “compensation”
Woj or Shams? Shams. Shams got this by so much that he accidentally tweeted that Beverley was being traded by the Clippers, not the Lakers, in his first attempt at this tweet.
New Orleans Pelicans acquire Josh Richardson from the San Antonio Spurs
Pelicans acquire: Josh Richardson
Spurs acquire: Devonte’ Graham and four (!!) second-round picks
Woj or Shams? Shams.
Los Angeles Clippers acquire Mason Plumlee in exchange for Reggie Jackson
Clippers acquire: Mason Plumlee
Hornets acquire: Reggie Jackson
Woj or Shams? Woj.
Golden State Warriors acquire Gary Payton II from the Portland Trail Blazers
Warriors acquire: Gary Payton II
Trail Blazers acquire: Five (!!) second picks, Kevin Knox
Woj or Shams? Woj.
Final Totals
Woj: 9
Shams: 7
Second-round picks traded: 38, pending the “second-round compensation” that the Magic received.
