Joel Embiid didn’t mask his frustration after the Philadelphia 76ers dropped a 108-94 loss to the New York Knicks in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Friday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The defeat pushed Philadelphia into a 3-0 series deficit, and Embiid quickly framed the situation without any pretense, repeating a message rooted in urgency and control.
“Yeah, just take it one game at a time,” Embiid said when asked about the challenge of facing elimination. “We can’t get it all back in one game. So win one, focus on the next one, win the next one. That should be the mentality.”
The Sixers star embraced the idea of gradual recovery rather than drastic shifts. “Just got to have that belief that you can do it,” he added, referencing previous comebacks earlier in the postseason.
The Knicks’ defensive pressure on Tyrese Maxey stood out as a crucial factor, and Embiid stressed collective responsibility when addressing adjustments. “Just be available. Everybody has to be,” he said. “Every single time we blitz, it comes down to shot making.”
Embiid noted that Philadelphia generated enough opportunities but failed to convert during key stretches. “I feel like we had a lot of good shots tonight. We missed some and we’ll make them,” he said. “Be more available.”
Rebounding was again a decisive element, especially during New York’s second-quarter surge. Embiid pointed to structural breakdowns rather than just effort. “Most of the time it’s their guards just crashing in,” he said. “Instead of looking at the ball, just go towards your man and try to do the best job possible.”
He also acknowledged the physical nature of the matchup and the effect of foul pressure. “They shot 32 free throws,” Embiid said. “We’re not a team that shoots a lot of threes. We attack with the ball on the glass.”
The frustration extended to roster depth discussions, with Embiid focusing on execution from role players. “Just playing hard,” he said when asked about the bench. “Everybody who comes in… just come try to play hard.”
New York’s late-game execution again proved decisive, with Jalen Brunson scoring 33 points, Mikal Bridges adding 23, and Josh Hart controlling the glass with 12 points and 11 rebounds. The Knicks now stand one win away from a second straight conference finals appearance.
Embiid also reflected on the offensive approach against New York’s blitz-heavy coverages. “It’s the other guys,” he said. “Jalen is going to do his thing. So you thank God for sure when that happens.”
He added that defensive timing errors contributed to breakdowns. “I thought tonight we doubled at the wrong times,” Embiid said.
Philadelphia now faces elimination in Game 4 on Sunday, with Embiid returning to the same theme that defined his postgame message from start to finish. “Win one, focus on the next one,” he said again. “That should be the mentality.”
