For nearly four minutes, the two teams had managed a paltry 7–4 score.
The efficiency was awful—worlds apart from when Chen Xi and Embiid had been on the floor.
Fortunately, once those four minutes were up, the fans' ordeal finally came to an end.
After a brief break between quarters, both teams' key players returned to the court.
The Knicks opened the second quarter with Chen Xi, Hart, Toppin, Ingles, and Harten.
The 76ers, meanwhile, went with Walker, Melton, Niang, Tucker, and Embiid.
Tweet!!!
The baseline referee blew the whistle, and play resumed.
The Knicks had the first possession.
Hart stood out of bounds on the baseline and passed to Chen Xi. Chen Xi caught the ball but didn't dribble; he immediately returned it to Hart, then turned and ran upcourt.
Seeing that, Hart simply brought the ball up himself.
The guy was a guard, after all. He could handle the ball well enough~~
After dribbling across half court, he held the ball at the top of the key and organized the offense, waiting for his teammates to get into position. Then he passed to Ingles, who had moved up.
Ingles caught the ball, dribbled one step to the right, then handed it off to Chen Xi.
Chen Xi used a screen to dribble one step left, gathered the ball, and rose straight into a three-point shot.
Dang!!
Unfortunately, the first shot after returning at the start of the second quarter didn't go in for Chen.
The ball struck the back of the rim, bounced high into the air, then came down and was collected by Embiid.
The 76ers counterattacked.
Without Maxey, Philadelphia's transition offense was clearly a step slower.
And with the Knicks maintaining good discipline on defense, Walker jogged a few steps, assessed the situation, then slowed down