In a top-of-the-table clash, the Philadelphia 76ers emerged as the victors against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night. Steve Nash and his men were dismal right from the start and could not get a hold of the deficit across the four quarters.
Both these teams have been touted as championship favorites this season by critics and analysts. Therefore, this game was being looked at as a big fixture. However, the Brooklyn Nets were severely shorthanded and it showed in their style of play.
Star players like James Harden, LaMarcus Aldridge, KD, and Blake Griffin were all absent from this game. The 76ers capitalized on this situation and upped the pressure on the Nets. In the post-game press conference, Coach Steve Nash was not happy about the way his team played in this game.
He said, “I think the connectivity and the fighting spirit are to blame for this loss. I thought they played pretty well in the first half against an excellent team. In the second half, the game kinda got away from us a little bit. However, we did not give up.”
He continued, “Connectivity and fighting spirit are non-negotiables. It’s hard, in the season. There are so many games, so many things getting thrown at us. But our group dug in deep tonight. We didn’t get the win tonight but I thought that our performance was up to the mark.”
Steve Nash and the Nets fail to win against a strong 76ers team
Even without many starters, the Brooklyn Nets put forward a good performance in this match. However, the defensive frailties were capitalized upon by the 76ers and they walked away with a crucial victory.
PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 14: Danny Green #14 of the Philadelphia 76ers plays defense against Kyrie Irving #11
Joel Embiid was the pick of the lot as he continued on his MVP caliber streak this season. He finished the game with 39 points to his name. Moreover, he racked up 13 rebounds and two assists during the course of the game.
The Brooklyn Nets are second in the Eastern Conference standings. At the moment, they are well in contention for the playoff spots. On the other hand, the Philadelphia 76ers secured their position at the top of the Eastern Conference with a win over their immediate rivals.
