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Knicks vs. 76ers has already been a thrilling NBA playoff series with a pair of tight battles at MSG.

Now, the series heads to Philadelphia with the 76ers in desperation mode.

Game 2 was another tightly contested affair with New York pulling out a 104-101 victory to take a 2-0 lead in the series after Donte DiVincenzo’s game-winning 3-pointer.

Jalen Brunson missed a number of shots in Game 2 but still ended up with 24 points.

The 76ers are hanging around, however, with each Joel Embiid (34 points) and Tyrese Maxey (35 points) looking like the best players on the court in Game 2.

Embiid doubled down on his performance and even boldly declared afterward that the 76ers will win the series.

Follow The Post’s live updates from Knicks vs. 76ers Game 3.

76ers’ Joel Embiid battling mild case of Bell’s palsy in health scare

By Andrew Crane

Joel Embiid’s injury issues this postseason also featured a behind-the-scenes health scare.

The 76ers star has navigated what ESPN described as a mild case of Bell’s palsy, which, according to the Mayo Clinic, “causes sudden weakness in the muscles on one side of the face” — with that side appearing “to droop” and leading to difficulties with shutting that side’s eye.

“It’s unfortunate … got to keep pushing,” Embiid told reporters postgame, according to ESPN, while also adding that the condition has been “pretty annoying.”

Embiid’s condition was revealed after Philadelphia’s 125-114 victory against the Knicks on Thursday at Wells Fargo Center, when he set a playoff career-high with 50 points and became the first 76ers player to reach that threshold in a postseason game since Allen Iverson in the 2003 playoffs.

READ MORE HERE

Mitchell Robinson leaves Wells Fargo in a boot

By Bridget Reilly

Mitchell Robinson hobbled off the court in the second quarter of the Knicks eventual 125-114 Game 3 loss to the 76ers and limped his way out of Wells Fargo hours later.

After Robinson suffered a sprained left ankle in the scrabby matchup, he was spotted leaving the arena in a boot.

Robinson recorded 12 minutes on the floor, scoring just two points and grabbing seven rebounds, before it was announced that he would be out for the remainder of the game at the start of the third quarter.

His status for Game 4 on Sunday is unknown.

Knicks react to Joel Embiid's flagrant foul on Mitchell Robinson

By Bridget Reilly

This time around, it's the Knicks camp that is mulling over a foul that could've been a game-changer for them after their Game 3 loss to the 76ers.

After getting knocked down in the paint by OG Anunoby, Embiid took his anger out on Mitchell Robinson, pulling at his ankles as the Knicks star tries to get the ball in the basket.

"It was dirty," Donte DiVincenzo said after the game, according to The Post's Stefan Bondy.

"It's not a basketball play," Isaiah Hartenstein added.

It was ruled a flagrant foul type 1, but Embiid definitely got off easy with that call and it seems the 76ers likely know that.

"I didn't even look at it. Sorry, I didn't see it," head coach Nick Nurse said when asked about the foul.

Donte DiVincenzo on Joel Embiid grabbing Mitchell Robinson:

“It was dirty.”

— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) April 26, 2024

When asked about the foul, Tom Thibodeau asked the reporter, "Which one?"

"The one they called, or the one they didn't call? Just want to make sure we have clarity on that," he said in his postgame press conference.

"We knew what Game 3 was gonna be... Especially with how Game 2 ended. Am I surprised? Not at all," Josh Hart said after the game in regards to the call.

"Happy Mitch didn't get a serious injury on that," Hart added. "I'm all for tough fouls, tough playoff fouls, but that's something that can put a guy out for a significant amount of time. We're lucky he didn't get seriously hurt. It is what it is."

Embiid went on to score 50 points in the 125-114 76ers victory.

Tom Thibodeau on the flagrant foul called on Joel Embiid:

"Which one? The one they called, or the one they didn't call? Just want to make sure we have clarity on that." pic.twitter.com/qlrkqYDWar

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) April 26, 2024

Joel Embiid assessed a Flagrant 1.

https://t.co/yuDfmFq52q

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 26, 2024

Joel Embiid underwent treatment for Bell's Palsey case in past week

By Bridget Reilly

Following the 76ers' big Game 3 win to avoid a 3-0 lead from the Knicks, a new health report on Joel Embiid emerged but not one regarding his left knee recovery.

Embiid, who put up 50 points on Thursday night, has been treated for a mild case of Bell's Palsey in the last week, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The incident reportedly started during the 76ers' play-in win over the Heat but the former MVP has wished to keep the condition private in an effort to avoid distractions during the playoff series.

Bell's Palsey is a condition with unexpected facial muscle weakness or paralysis that can result from damage to the facial nerve.

ESPN Sources: Sixers star Joel Embiid has been treated for a mild case of Bell’s Palsey for the past week. The condition began during the play-in victory over Miami but he has wanted to keep it private to avoid distractions for his team.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 26, 2024

Sixers miss deadline to file protest after Game 2 loss

By Stefan Bondy

PHILADELPHIA — The Sixers aired their grievances but did nothing else about it. 

Despite their list of issues surrounding the Game 2 loss — mostly with the refereeing — Philly let the deadline pass without filing a formal protest, multiple sources confirmed. 

In the regular season, they would’ve had 48 hours after the game.

In the playoffs, a protest “must be filed not later than midnight of the day of the game protested,” according to the NBA’s guidelines. 

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Joel Embiid called for flagrant after trying to trip Mitchell Robinson as Knicks-76ers gets chippy

By Andrew Crane

Joel Embiid added to a physical start between the Knicks and 76ers in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series with a flagrant foul on Thursday night, and ESPN NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins thought it should have resulted in an ejection.

With 4:30 remaining in the first quarter, Embiid fell to the Wells Fargo Center court after attempting to take a charge when OG Anunoby drove. When Anunoby dished a pass to Robinson, the 76ers’ star grabbed the Knicks center’s leg and attempted to trip him.

Embiid was called for a flagrant 1 foul and Robinson missed both free throws to keep the Knicks’ lead at 18-15.

READ MORE HERE

Knicks fall to 76ers in Game 3 as Joel Embiid explodes for 50 points

By Stefan Bondy

PHILADELPHIA — The Knicks lost a scrap in the sandbox to the Sixers and the MVP version of Joel Embiid.

It got dirty. Feisty. The Sixers went for eyes and legs.

And Embiid, lucky not to be ejected after grabbing Mitchell Robinson’s legs, emerged victorious, riding a dominant third quarter to finish with 50 points and a 125-114 Thursday win for Philly.

The result kept the series on serve with the Knicks leading, 2-1, and Game 4 not until Sunday afternoon in Wells Fargo Center.

No team has ever recovered from a 3-0 deficit, so Thursday was essentially an elimination game for the Sixers and they played with that type of desperation.

Embiid, who set a new career-high for the playoffs, was physical and efficient while hitting 13 of his 19 shots with eight rebounds, dropping 18 points in the third quarter — which the Sixers ended on a 32-19 run to take a 13-point advantage heading into the fourth.

Jalen Brunson had his best game of the series while recording 39 points with 13 assists.

But defense was an issue for the Knicks, who allowed the Sixers to shoot 55 percent and hit 15 treys.

READ MORE HERE

Joel Embiid joins 76ers history with 50-point performance

By Bridget Reilly

It was a historic night for Joel Embiid.

The former MVP joins legendary company Allen Iverson and Billy Cunningham as the only 76ers to record a 50-point performance in a playoff game.

It was a performance to watch, as Embiid ignited a spark within his team in the third quarter -- the game-changing frame -- to outscore the Knicks 43-27 and shoot 9-of-12 in the quarter.

The last two 76ers to drop 50 in a playoff game 😤 pic.twitter.com/qDP8GDfn0t

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 26, 2024

Embiid also had a drama-filled game that saw him and Kyle Lowry both earn flagrant foul type 1, which was luckily for Embiid as he found himself in several heated situations in the opening quarter.

The series continues on Sunday afternoon at Wells Fargo.

Joel Embiid joins Allen Iverson and Billy Cunningham as the only Sixers ever with 50 points in a playoff game
From @NBCSPhillypic.twitter.com/7UPCZpAvbx

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) April 26, 2024

76ers steal Game 3 from Knicks

By Bridget Reilly

The Knicks poor defense landed them in now a 2-1 series, oh, and Joel Embiid's 50 point performance also had a say in the 125-114 Game 3 victory.

It was a physical game that saw five reviews and two flagrant fouls in the first quarter and it stayed tight throughout the first half.

That was until Embiid and Tyrese Maxey went on a scoring spree in the third quarter, outscoring the Knicks 43-27 as a team. Embiid found a groove from deep on Thursday night, scoring 5-of-7 from downtown.

The first-round playoff series will continue on Sunday afternoon for Game 4, where the 76ers will try to even the series on their home court.

Knicks fight back to get within 8 of the 76ers

By Bridget Reilly

OG Anunoby subbed in for Bojan Bogdanovic and got down to business quickly, sinking two back-to-back 3-pointers.

Jalen Brunson was later fouled by Kyle Lowry to add two more points to inch the score to 115-107 with under three minutes to go.

On the following possession, Brunson gave up a bad pass that led to a steal, but luckily for New York, Tyrese Maxey lost the ball in return.

In the remaining minutes, the Knicks need to keep possession and avoid turnovers, which the 76ers have tallied 10 points off of their 8 committed mishaps.

The Empire State Building takes a shot at Joel Embiid

By Bridget Reilly

Joel Embiid may have trouble if he is to return to New York during this first-round playoff series.

He has officially been banned from the Empire State Building on Thursday night during the Game 3 matchup that saw the Knicks trailing behind in Philadelphia.

It's an interesting take from the New York landmark and hot tourist spot, as they once supported the Eagles by sparkling with green and white lights in honor of the team's NFC Championship win in 2023.

Joel Embiid has been banned from the Empire State Building

— Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) April 26, 2024

76ers maintain lead over Knicks in fourth

By Bridget Reilly

To start the fourth quarter, Joel Embiid was on the bench and Paul Reed replaced him for the opening minutes.

Tyrese Maxey kept the 76ers ahead, only allowing the Knicks within nine until Embiid returned to the court.

Just under halfway to go in the remainder of the game, the Knicks have outshot the 76ers 14-13 and they trail 111-99 without Robinson, who left injured with a sprained left ankle.

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