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We continue our playoff rewind series by taking it back to 2018 when the Philadelphia 76ers were facing elimination. After letting one slip away in Game 3 at home, the Sixers were facing the possibility of a sweep at the hands of the Boston Celtics in Round 2.
Coach Brett Brown made an interesting lineup change inserting T.J. McConnell into the starting lineup and moving Robert Covington to the bench. It was a questionable decision, to say the least, as Covington was the team’s best perimeter defender at the time, but McConnell did serve a purpose as another ball-handler.
What the team did not expect was McConnell going off for 19 points on 9-for-12 shooting, eight rebounds, and five assists and making big plays down the stretch to lead Philadelphia to a 103-92 win in Game 4. The passionate Philadelphia fan base serenaded McConnell with chants of his own name as they let him know their appreciation of him.
The win was enough to keep Philadelphia’s season going, but they could not replicate the same success on the road. Despite big games from JJ Redick and Dario Saric, they dropped a tough one 114-112 and it put an end to a terrific season for them. It was their first playoff appearance since 2012 and it gave the franchise hope that they were moving in the right direction. [lawrence-related id=38879,38867,38863]