In a hard-fought series against the New York Knicks, it feels like every mistake has cost the Philadelphia 76ers dearly. What happened at the end of Philadelphia’s loss on Sunday to give the Knicks a 3-1 series lead looked especially brutal.
With the 76ers trying to mount a late comeback, Joel Embiid found himself wide-open for a short mid-range jumper that would’ve made it a one-score game. Instead, he pump-faked, drove into the teeth of the Knicks’ defense for the lay-up, and missed altogether. It seemed eerily reminiscent of ex-76er Ben Simmons passing up an easy dunk in a Game 7 loss against the Atlanta Hawks a few years ago.
Check it out via a video from a Twitter user below:
Joel Embiid had a wide open mid range jumper. Didn't shoot it. Drove into the defense and missed. Wow pic.twitter.com/zPuS7rdYeZ
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) April 28, 2024
Oof. That’s gotta sting for the 76ers, particularly now that they face a 3-1 series deficit and have no margin for error.
To be fair to Embiid, he was probably the only reason this was even a close game in the fourth quarter. The superstar stuffed the stat sheet with 27 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, three steals, and two blocks. This happened while All-Star Tyrese Maxey teammate shot just 8-of-21 from the field, and other key contributors like Tobias Harris scored only 10 points.
However, Embiid is the 76ers’ engine. He still scored a single point in the fourth quarter after playing the entire second half of a game for the first time in his career. (Never mind that the Knicks won the fourth-quarter rebounding battle far and away without a true center on the floor.) 76ers head coach Nick Nurse defended the decision because Philadelphia really needed this win, but it’s hard not to think that getting some rest would’ve helped Embiid, especially with his clutch time decision-making.
Embiid’s brutal decision at the very end probably didn’t lose the 76ers this game by itself, but the optics will be impossible to escape. It’s only natural it reminded NBA fans of Simmons’ infamous blunder.
Everyone is saying this Joel Embiid’s Ben Simmons moment.. fair or unfair?
— the Sports ON Tap (@thesportsontap) April 28, 2024
JOEL EMBIID OUT HERE LOOKING LIKE BEN SIMMONS!?!?!? pic.twitter.com/Yer9o5Bg6Z
— sto | Artist Development & Marketing | Writer | (@BigSto) April 28, 2024
And the season ends with Joel Embiid pulling a Ben Simmons
— Jacob (@Jacob__333) April 28, 2024
That was a Ben Simmons kind of finish for Joel Embiid there. Sad. #NYKvsPHI
— Michael Kasdan (@michaelkasdan) April 28, 2024
Major Ben Simmons vibes from Joel Embiid at the end of the Knicks-Sixers game.
Passed up a wide open short jumper.
— Ryan Jones (@ryan_a_jones) April 28, 2024
Joel Embiid just had a Ben Simmons moment
— clipszn🩸 (@IVpointplays) April 28, 2024
