Making It Rain: The Sixers Set A New Franchise Playoff Record With 21 Three-Pointers Made

The Philadelphia 76ers took a 1-0 series lead with their 121-101 victory over the Brooklyn Nets Saturday afternoon. There was plenty to like about the Sixers’ game 1 performance. While P.J. Tucker’s hustle, Bball Paul’s handles, and Tobias Harris’ heart all contributed to Philly’s win, it was the team’s performance beyond the arc that secured the W. Philly hit 21 three-pointers yesterday, setting a new franchise playoff record!

Threes Rain Supreme

The Nets shot well in game 1. They shot 45% from three and 56% from the field. Brooklyn kept the game close (within 10 points) through the first half off of a strong performance from Mikal Bridges, who had 23 points through two. Bridges shot 63% from the field, going 10 of 16 in the first half.

Despite a herculean effort from Bridges, the Sixers pulled away every time the Nets made a run. Brooklyn never had the lead in the game thanks to the Sixers’ historic performance from three. Lead by James Harden, Philly hit 21 three-pointers yesterday. Here’s the full breakdown from beyond the arc:

Overall, Brooklyn actually shot better than Philly. The Nets shot 56% from the field compared to the Sixers’ 47%, but 3’s reign supreme. By hitting 21 threes, the Sixers set a new franchise playoff record. The previous Sixers’ record was 18 three-pointers made.

Offensive Rebounds Matter

The Sixers out-rebounded the Nets 38 to 35. Not a big deal, right? Wrong! If you take a closer look at yesterday’s box score, you will see that Philly had 14 offensive rebounds to Brooklyn’s 5 offensive rebounds. Offensive rebounds matter as the provide second scoring opportunities, especially from three. A big part of the Sixers’ historic afternoon is in thanks to P.J. Tucker’s 5 offensive boards.

Turnovers and Steals Also Matter

Like offensive rebounds, turnovers provide more scoring opportunities. The Nets (19) had twice as many turnovers as the Sixers (8). A good portion of those turnovers came from steals. Philly had 14 steals total, again mostly thanks to P.J. Tucker who had 5 alone. Tucker must have drank some rocket fuel before yesterday’s game, because he was all over the place. I’ve heard about Playoff Tucker before, but watching him zoom all of the court was truly something special.

The Sixers took 89 shots compared to the Nets 70 shots due to an increased number of looks thanks to solid rebounding and relentlessly attacking the ball. It will be interesting to see if this team of veteran players comes with the same energy in game 2. It’s unlikely Philly eclipses 21 three-pointers again, but I expect a big night from Embiid and Maxey on Monday.