PHILADELPHIA–The Philadelphia 76ers struck quickly in 2022 free agency to bring in PJ Tucker for moments like this. The veteran forward provided a big boost in a 121-101 Game 1 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday to prove a point.
Tucker had six points, he knocked down two triples, seven rebounds, and five steals in 25 minutes. He made countless other winning plays in order to help Philadelphia secure this win to open their Round 1 series with the Nets.
“That’s what we brought him here for,” James Harden said. “The extra possessions, shot-making in the corners, the defense. That’s the reason why he’s on our team.”
Tucker is a proven player who sacrifices a lot of his game in order to ensure his team comes out on top. Saturday was just another example of that and why he was brought to Philadelphia.
“The playoffs is what it’s all about,” Tucker said afterward. “It’s what the whole season’s for. To get it on and really be able to chase the chip and do all the stuff all year to build up to this point, but the energy, the atmosphere, everything’s different when it’s all the line.”
After winning a championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021 and helping the Miami Heat to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and one win away from the finals in 2022, Tucker is now looking to bring his winning ways to the Sixers during this playoff run.
“Playoff basketball is just about every possession,” added Tobias Harris. “PJ gave us more possessions out there by crashing the glass and just being physical out there, his presence out there defensively as well. Five steals, five offensive rebounds, that’s huge for us and added possessions they add up at the end of the game and that was a huge reason why we got extra looks and good looks as well.”
Guys like Tucker, Jalen McDaniels, De’Anthony Melton, and Paul Reed were a big reason why the Sixers took Game 1.
“I think, obviously our skill guys were great,”said coach Doc Rivers. “James, I thought one of his best games being, I guess, a catcher where he’s calling the perfect game, but I thought our interview guys played a big part in this game. De’Anthony Melton, Jalen, Paul Reed, Tuck about those four guys. They had a huge imprint on why we won.”
This series will continue with Game 2 on Monday.
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