Joel Embiid didn’t hide behind excuses after the Philadelphia 76ers fell 108-94 to the New York Knicks in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Friday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
The loss put Philadelphia in a 3-0 series hole, and Embiid immediately framed the situation in simple terms, repeating a message centered on 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 leaned into the idea of incremental recovery rather than dramatic swings. “Just got to have that belief that you can do it,” he said, pointing back to earlier comebacks in the postseason.
New York’s defensive pressure on Tyrese Maxey was a major theme, and Embiid emphasized collective responsibility when discussing adjustments. “Just be available. Everybody has to be,” he said. “Every single time we blitz, it comes down to shot making.”
Embiid added that Philadelphia created enough opportunities, but failed to convert in 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 again became a decisive factor, especially during New York’s second-quarter surge. Embiid pointed to structural breakdowns rather than effort alone. “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 impact 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 into roster depth discussions, with Embiid focusing on execution from supporting 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 proved decisive again, as Jalen Brunson scored 33 points and Mikal Bridges added 23, while Josh Hart controlled the glass with 12 points and 11 rebounds. The Knicks now sit one win away from a second straight conference finals appearance.
Embiid also reflected on the offensive focus 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.”
