The Sixers advanced to 18-3 at home this season after an impressive win over the Knicks on Tuesday night. Doc Rivers admitted that he wasn’t thrilled with the team’s first-half performance but applauded the club’s resiliency down the stretch in the second half.
Rivers gave New York credit during his post-game zoom, calling the Knicks’ physicality playoff-like. Ben Simmons said he embraced Tom Thibodeau’s playing style.
Julius Randle bullied his way in the post for most of the contest, accumulating 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists. However, Dwight Howard was able to lock him down in the fourth quarter, including a big-time block that shook New York’s All-Star.
Howard finished the contest with a double-double (11 points, 12 rebounds). Rivers joked about what has led the 35-year-old to look 10 years younger.
“Probably the drinks he had in Puerto Rico or wherever he was over the break,” Rivers told FortyEightMinutes and other reporters after the contest.
Howard has 270 rebounds on the season for Philadelphia, which leads the league among players coming off the bench.
