3 observations after Sixers win finals without Embiid, still end up in play-in tournament

3 observations after Sixers win finals without Embiid, still end up in play-in tournament originally appeared in NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers did their part on Sunday afternoon.

However, even with eight consecutive victories, they were unable to get the help they needed to stay out of the NBA play-in tournament.

The Sixers recorded a 107-86 victory over the Nets at the Wells Fargo Center in the regular season finale. Because the Magic beat the Bucks and the Pacers outscored the Hawks, the Sixers still finished seventh in the Eastern Conference at 47-35.

The Sixers will host a play-in tournament game Wednesday against the Heat. If they win, they will advance to the playoffs as the seventh seed in the East. If they lose to Miami, the Sixers will face the winner of the Bulls-Hawks play-in matchup in a game to determine the No. 8 seed.

The Knicks secured second place on Sunday by overcoming the Bulls in overtime. This means that if the Sixers beat the Heat, New York would be their playoff opponent in the first round.

Tyrese Maxey scored 26 points against the Nets. Tobias Harris recorded 21 points and eight rebounds.

The Sixers beat Joel Embiid (recovering left knee injury), De’Anthony Melton (recovering back injury), KJ Martin (left big toe contusion) and Robert Covington (left knee contusion).

Here are observations from the Sixers’ win over Brooklyn to conclude the regular season:

We don’t cook too early besides Maxey

The Sixers didn’t start out as a team distracted by all the pertinent action happening elsewhere.

They played active defense, looked for transition opportunities, leaned on Maxey and scored the first seven points of the day.

Maxey played an especially aggressive first quarter, scoring a dozen points on 5-for-9 shooting. However, the Sixers managed just 10 points out of the All-Star guard in the first quarter. No other Sixer has hit a three-point shot.

The Sixers also had several breakdowns in transition defense, which coach Nick Nurse identified as a concern early in the game. Noah Clowney drained a corner three with 5.1 seconds left in the first quarter and Brooklyn took its first lead at 23-22.

Big men, bench do the work

Mo Bamba started in Embiid’s place. With Allen Iverson sitting courtside two days after his sculpture unveiling at Sixers training complexBamba flicked his finger Dikembe Mutombo style after his second block on Clowney.

After Bamba’s first pass, Paul Reed played 12 consecutive minutes at center. His best play may have been a patient, balanced assist to Buddy Hield. When there was nothing for Reed in the post, he waited for a teammate to break free and saw Hield’s cut in the middle.

Hield on Sunday became the first NBA player to record an 84-game season in 19 years. (Casey Jacobsen did this in the 2004-05 season). He gave the Sixers a useful spark off the bench early in the second quarter. Hield scored eight quick points, constantly tried to push the pace and did a solid job defensively.

The sharpshooting guard also hit a trio of three-pointers late in the third quarter. He finished the day with 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Harris played alongside the Sixers’ second unit and looked to attack frequently in the 15-point first half. The Sixers were on top when Maxey returned in the second quarter and extended their lead to double digits with triples from Harris and Maxey.

Sixers move away professionally

The Nets were the better team to start the third quarter. Cam Thomas drilled two long-range jumpers and Brooklyn went on an 8-2 run.

Bamba was strong to open the third, scoring a couple of buckets in return. Kyle Lowry contributed many tough and smart plays that helped the Sixers get back on track, including a drawing offensive foul on Nic Claxton in the post.

Lowry didn’t score goals on Sunday, but he had eight assists and brought all the qualities of a six-time All-Star who has plenty of playoffs and playoff-like games under his belt.

Hield’s barrage of shots put the Sixers ahead by 18 points after three quarters. At the start of the fourth game, the Nets’ behavior was that of a team aware that its season was about to end.

Nurse called timeout at 7:34 of the fourth quarter, substituted Jeff Dowtin Jr. and Ricky Council IV and watched his team earn another victory. The play-in tournament is on deck.