Brooklyn put up as much of a fight as it could Thursday in Game 3 on its home court. It was a back-and-forth affair and, with only a couple of minutes left, they had a genuine opportunity to get back into the series.  Philly made superb and critical plays in the dying moments to win 102-97.

The NBA odds indicate the Philly will complete the sweep. They sit as -5.5 favourites.

76ers vs. Nets NBA Playoffs Betting Odds

Philadelphia has been here before. A year ago they entered Game 4 of their first-round series with the Toronto Raptors looking to seal the deal. They faltered twice in a row, once quite badly at home in Game 5, before finally doing away with the Raps in Game 6. Doc Rivers, Joel Embiid, and James Harden all remember this. They know what they have to do here.

Brooklyn faced a similar scenario in last year’s Round 1 encounter with Boston, albeit with different players and members of the coaching staff. If only for a sense of pride, avoiding a sweep would give the fans something to appreciate. That bunch has been through a roller coaster of emotions for the better part of three seasons. Not winning a single playoff game in eight tries in back-to-back years would be the cherry on top of a terrible sundae. Brooklyn had a glorious opportunity to cut the series deficit to 2-1 but awful mistakes with only minutes remaining did them no favours.

Philadelphia 76ers

The intensity certainly kicked up a notch in Game 3. Entering enemy territory against a wounded animal – often the most dangerous kind – was never going to be easy and Brooklyn definitely gave Philly a run for its money.

Even under those circumstances, it was a chippy affair. Look no further than Harden’s ejection for a flagrant foul in the second half when driving with the ball (there was non-ejection for something Embiid did that looked worse). Much like we said in our Game 2 article, the 76ers have the kind of depth to get them out of jams when either their best players aren’t up to par, or in this case unavailable. In a reversal of the first two contests when Brooklyn came out fairly strong before allowing the home team to find its groove, it was the 76ers who set the tone. Tyrese Maxey had his second consecutive strong outing (25 points) and De’Anthony Melton produced his most important game of the series so far with 13 points off the bench and three steals. Embiid was not so much a factor on offence (14 points) but he corralled 14 boards and had two blocks. The second was a brilliant, potentially iconic one that preserved a precious two-point lead with eight seconds left.

Brooklyn Nets

They tried; they really did. This time it was Brooklyn who had to muster a second half push to put the contest’s result in doubt. Brooklyn’s third quarter was their best basketball of the series so far, as they won it 35-18.

But they don’t have players that Philadelphia does and those that wear Nets jerseys, while solid basketballers, don’t look capable of stepping up to the plate against this sort of opposition. Even when things look to be going their way, something bad happens. We talked about how mediocre Nic Claxton was in the first two bouts. Game 3 was a vastly superior performance. He went 8-for-9 from the field, tallied 18 points and four rebounds and got in Embiid’s face as much as possible. In fact, he was in 76er faces so much that the referee ejected him in the third quarter. Mikal Bridges resembled his Game 1 self (26 points) but it wasn’t enough. Royce O’Neale had a fourth quarter to forget, producing two turnovers, the second one particularly brutal that made the final 102-97 official.

Game 4: Who Will Win 76ers vs. Nets?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

76ers Team Leaders

PHI

Points	Joel Embiid 33.08
Assists	James Harden 10.66
Rebounds	Joel Embiid 10.15
FG%	Saben Lee 75
Steals	De'Anthony Melton 1.64
Blocks	Joel Embiid 1.7

BK

Points	Kyrie Irving 27.1
Assists	Spencer Dinwiddie 9.08
Rebounds	Nic Claxton 9.24
FG%	Nic Claxton 70.5
Steals	Cameron Johnson 1.4
Blocks	Nic Claxton 2.49

PHI

Points	Joel Embiid 23.67
Assists	James Harden 8.27
Rebounds	Joel Embiid 9.78
FG%	Jaden Springer 100
Steals	James Harden 1.82
Blocks	Joel Embiid 2.78

BK

Points	Mikal Bridges 23.5
Assists	Spencer Dinwiddie 6.5
Rebounds	Nic Claxton 8
FG%	Nic Claxton 72
Steals	Spencer Dinwiddie 1.25
Blocks	Nic Claxton 1.75

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Nets Team Leaders

PHI

Points	Joel Embiid 33.08
Assists	James Harden 10.66
Rebounds	Joel Embiid 10.15
FG%	Saben Lee 75
Steals	De'Anthony Melton 1.64
Blocks	Joel Embiid 1.7

BK

Points	Kyrie Irving 27.1
Assists	Spencer Dinwiddie 9.08
Rebounds	Nic Claxton 9.24
FG%	Nic Claxton 70.5
Steals	Cameron Johnson 1.4
Blocks	Nic Claxton 2.49

PHI

Points	Joel Embiid 23.67
Assists	James Harden 8.27
Rebounds	Joel Embiid 9.78
FG%	Jaden Springer 100
Steals	James Harden 1.82
Blocks	Joel Embiid 2.78

BK

Points	Mikal Bridges 23.5
Assists	Spencer Dinwiddie 6.5
Rebounds	Nic Claxton 8
FG%	Nic Claxton 72
Steals	Spencer Dinwiddie 1.25
Blocks	Nic Claxton 1.75

Injuries

Philadelphia

Tyrese Maxey (PG)

day-to-day Ankle - 01 / 05 / 23

Danuel House Jr. (SF)

Prob Mon Illness - 20 / 04 / 23

Jalen McDaniels (PF)

Prob Thurs Illness - 19 / 04 / 23

Dewayne Dedmon (C)

Prob Sat Undisclosed - 14 / 04 / 23

Danuel House Jr. (SF)

Prob Sat Foot - 12 / 04 / 23

James Harden (SG)

Prob Sat Achilles - 08 / 04 / 23

Tobias Harris (SF)

Prob Sat Hip - 08 / 04 / 23

Georges Niang (SF)

Prob Sat Knee - 08 / 04 / 23

James Harden (SG)

Out Fri Rest - 07 / 04 / 23

Tobias Harris (SF)

Out Fri Rest - 07 / 04 / 23

Brooklyn

Nic Claxton (C)

Out Sun Rest - 09 / 04 / 23

Spencer Dinwiddie (PG)

Out Sun Rest - 09 / 04 / 23

Seth Curry (SG)

Prob Sat Ankle - 08 / 04 / 23

Royce O'Neale (SF)

Prob Sat Knee - 08 / 04 / 23

Edmond Sumner (PG)

Prob Sat Hip - 08 / 04 / 23

Dorian Finney-Smith (SF)

Prob Sat Wrist - 08 / 04 / 23

Cameron Johnson (PF)

Prob Sat Knee - 08 / 04 / 23

Dorian Finney-Smith (SF)

Prob Fri Wrist - 05 / 04 / 23

Day'Ron Sharpe (C)

Prob Fri Ankle - 30 / 03 / 23

Royce O'Neale (SF)

Prob Wed Knee - 26 / 03 / 23

Injuries

Philadelphia

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Tyrese Maxey (PG)	day-to-day	Ankle - 01 / 05 / 23	4-3	4-3	+ -
Maxey exited Monday's game with an ankle injury, and it is unknown if he will return.
Danuel House Jr. (SF)	Prob Mon	Illness - 20 / 04 / 23	5-3	4-5	+ -
House Jr. is ailing from an illness, but it is anticipated that he will suit up against the Celtics Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Jalen McDaniels (PF)	Prob Thurs	Illness - 19 / 04 / 23	5-3	4-5	+ -
McDaniels is nursing an illness, but it is not expected to affect his status against the Nets in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Dewayne Dedmon (C)	Prob Sat	Undisclosed - 14 / 04 / 23	7-3	6-5	+ -
Dedmon has an unspecified ailment, but it is projected that he will participate in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Nets.
Danuel House Jr. (SF)	Prob Sat	Foot - 12 / 04 / 23	7-3	6-5	+ -
House Jr. has a foot injury, but it is likely that he will suit up against the Nets in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
James Harden (SG)	Prob Sat	Achilles - 08 / 04 / 23	8-3	7-5	+ -
Harden is managing a left Achilles injury, but it is not expected to affect his status for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Nets.
Tobias Harris (SF)	Prob Sat	Hip - 08 / 04 / 23	8-3	7-5	+ -
Harris is nursing a left hip injury, but it is expected that he will be in the lineup for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Nets.
Georges Niang (SF)	Prob Sat	Knee - 08 / 04 / 23	8-3	7-5	+ -
Niang is tending to left knee soreness, but it is likely that he will partake in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Nets.
James Harden (SG)	Out Fri	Rest - 07 / 04 / 23	8-4	8-5	+ -
Harden will not face the Hawks on Friday as he will be given a day of rest.
Tobias Harris (SF)	Out Fri	Rest - 07 / 04 / 23	8-4	8-5	+ -
Harris is out of the starting lineup for Friday's matchup with the Hawks as he will be handed a day of rest.

Brooklyn

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Nic Claxton (C)	Out Sun	Rest - 09 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-3	+ -
Claxton is taking a day of rest, and he will not suit up against the 76ers on Sunday.
Spencer Dinwiddie (PG)	Out Sun	Rest - 09 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-3	+ -
Dinwiddie will be absent from Sunday's showdown with the 76ers as he is taking a rest day.
Seth Curry (SG)	Prob Sat	Ankle - 08 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-3	+ -
Curry is managing a left ankle injury, but it is likely that he will lace up for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the 76ers.
Royce O'Neale (SF)	Prob Sat	Knee - 08 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-3	+ -
O'Neale injured his left knee, but it is anticipated that he will bounce back in time for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round with the 76ers.
Edmond Sumner (PG)	Prob Sat	Hip - 08 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-3	+ -
Sumner is tending to a right hip contusion, but it is not expected to affect his availability for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the 76ers.
Dorian Finney-Smith (SF)	Prob Sat	Wrist - 08 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-3	+ -
Finney-Smith is dealing with a right wrist contusion, but it is projected that he will face the 76ers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Cameron Johnson (PF)	Prob Sat	Knee - 08 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-3	+ -
Johnson is nursing right knee soreness, but it is not likely to affect his status for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the 76ers.
Dorian Finney-Smith (SF)	Prob Fri	Wrist - 05 / 04 / 23	2-4	3-4	+ -
Finney-Smith sat out the last game due to a right wrist contusion, but it is projected that he will partake in Friday's clash with the Magic.
Day'Ron Sharpe (C)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 30 / 03 / 23	3-6	4-6	+ -
Sharpe is expected to take on the Hawks on Friday despite a left ankle sprain.
Royce O'Neale (SF)	Prob Wed	Knee - 26 / 03 / 23	4-7	5-7	+ -
O'Neale was absent from the previous game with left knee soreness, but it is likely that he will face the Rockets on Wednesday.