Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse emphasized his team’s poise after Saturday night’s 130-119 victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
“He obviously hit some huge shots… even when we hit a little offensive trough, he seemed to come up with a huge three to spark us a little bit,” Nurse said, referring to Tyrese Maxey, who led the team with 36 points.
Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe each added 26 points while Nurse highlighted their defensive contributions. “He’s been very alert all season on that end of the floor, I think. It’s getting a little bit better,” he said of Edgecombe’s ability to create turnovers and disrupt the opposition.
Nurse praised the performance of a smaller lineup early in the second quarter that did not include Maxey or Embiid. “It was important because they had to play a lot more in the second half … that definitely gives those guys a break there,” he said, noting that Jared McCain’s extended minutes helped keep his stars fresh.
The 76ers’ two-man game remains central to their offense. “They’ve got a lot going on there… a few more roles for Joel as he continues to get better and feels better, and a few more cuts at the back for Tyrese, which will open up some of the outside stuff a little bit more,” Nurse said.
Continuity was a challenge early this season, but the win reflected progress. “I think the most important thing is that we get some rhythm, a little bit more shape. We’ve played three games in a row with the same line-up… that could be a record for us in the last 18 months,” Nurse explained.
The coach also discussed Edgecombe’s attacking development. “There’s going to be three spots for him… there’s going to be room for him to rush down the court with the ball… I’d like to see it eight times a game instead of four,” said Nurse, who emphasized his plan to increase his guard’s chances in transition.
The nurse acknowledged that despite the win, the team still has work to do. “We’ve still got a long way to go… we’re still digging out the hole we were in at the start of the season. There’s still conditioning, rhythm and health that needs to get a little bit better, and we’re just building on that,” he said.
Philadelphia improved to 19-14, while New York fell to 23-12 despite Jalen Brunson’s 31 points and Karl-Anthony Towns’ 23 points and 14 rebounds. The Sixers host the Nuggets and the Knicks visit Detroit on Monday.
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