“Nick Nurse Is Trippen”: Bold Decision on Joel Embiid Leaves 76ers’ Coach Lambasted by Kendrick Perkins

The Wells Fargo Center is twice as loud as the Madison Square Garden today and Joel Embiid is the reason behind it. The Philadelphia 76ers center is absolutely dominating the paint today against the New York Knicks. However, Jalen Brunson and Co. managed to tie the game by the fourth quarter. The last 12 minutes of the game are the most crucial, but Sixers coach Nick Nurse decided to experiment with a different rotation, which triggered Boston Celtics icon Kendrick Perkins.

Embiid dropped 33 points in just three quarters, shooting 10/21 from the field, and 2/5 from the three-point line. However, Nurse decided to sit him out the first four minutes of the last quarter. Surprised by this decision from Nurse, Kendrick Perkins shared, “Nick Nurse is trippen! Ain’t no way in hell I’m taking Embiid out the game especially to start the 4th.“ 

This was an elimination game for the Philly, who were down 3-2 in this series. Tyrese Maxey, who forced game 6, had an off night today. Although Buddy Hield filled his absence on the offense, sitting out Embiid turned out to become costly. 

Just as Perkins expected, things went haywire for the Sixers towards the end of the fourth quarter. Not having the best player on the court can be circled as one of the reasons. 

Joel Embiid loses rhythm as Jalen Brunson takes control to eliminate the Sixers

Embiid joined the team back around the 7th minute. The Knicks were up by only a few points, but Embiid did not get a lot of touches. Hield and Maxey heated up instead. Anyhow, all the efforts went in vain after Brunson and Josh Hart made a few crucial three-pointers to take a promising lead. Knicks forward OG Anunoby was also electric today and had a brilliant two-way performance.

Embiid had 16 points in the third quarter and 17 points in the first half, but scored just 6 points in the fourth quarter. He took only four shots and grabbed just one rebound. Nick Nurse could have used the big man to take a demanding lead for the first few minutes in the last quarter. At the same time, Embiid’s knee was a problem throughout the series. He returned to the playoffs after repairing his meniscus on the left knee. It started to trouble him once again. He played all six games through an injury, which is why Nurse decided to sit him out in the fourth quarter.

Game 6 was indeed about ‘second chance opportunities’ for the Knicks, and they managed to find success from the field whenever it mattered. With the Knicks forcing Nick Nurse and Co. into a timeout, the Sixers’ season comes to an end in a tight 3-point loss in the elimination game.