The Philadelphia 76ers' decision to extend their starters' minutes had made a considerable difference.
At least, with the Knicks choosing not to follow suit, Philadelphia's scoring efficiency had rebounded noticeably once Chen Xi left the floor and Butler was freed up to focus on offense. The gap between the teams, which had been growing wider, soon began to shrink.
A short rotation had its advantages.
At least in short bursts, it allowed them to produce at a higher level.
So yes, Tyronn Lue really did know basketball~~
But everything came at a price.
Even a stamina monster like Butler couldn't maintain that level of focus and offensive firepower throughout an entire game.
Even if they stayed on the floor, there would inevitably be stretches when they dialed back their focus a little to conserve energy.
For the Knicks, those were the opportunities they needed to seize next. It was all about that timing.
As time ticked away, the game continued as a fiercely contested battle.
Before long, the third quarter ended with the score at 104–99.
The New York Knicks headed into the fourth quarter with a five-point lead.
To open the fourth, the Knicks went with Paul, Strus, Chen Xi, Ethan, and Adams.
The Philadelphia 76ers countered with Isaiah Joe, Kyle Lowry, Butler, Tucker, and Embiid.
Compared with New York's usual rotation, the only change was Thibodeau choosing the younger, stronger, and fresher Chen Xi to lead this stretch, while giving the older George a little more rest. It was a way of protecting his veteran.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, continued with its short-rotation approach.
Apart from Maxey, who took a brief rest after playing the entire third quarter, the lineup still consisted almost entirely of starters.
Clearly, they were desperate to win tonight.
The fourth quarter soon got underway.
Philadelphia