Knicks Coach Has High Praise for Sixers' Tobias Harris, Paul Reed

Before the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks battled it out, Tom Thibodeau praised multiple players.

Heading into Sunday night’s matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks, the latter team had a leg up on the regular season series, winning the first two games on the road at the Wells Fargo Center in South Philly.

On Sunday, both teams were at a disadvantage, considering they were playing without some of their key contributors.

New York continues to roll without the veteran center Mitchell Robinson and the star forward Julius Randle. They’ve also been without their notable trade acquisition, OG Anunoby, who underwent elbow surgery recently.

As for the Sixers, they’ve been down the two All-Stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. In addition, Robert Covington has been out for a few months after suffering a knee injury.

Even without Embiid and Maxey, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau noted that he doesn’t believe his team was overlooking a shorthanded Sixers in any way. Prior to Sunday’s outing, the head coach singled out several Sixers, issuing some praise to specific players.

“Obviously, they made additions by adding Kyle [Lowry] and Cam Payne,” Thibodeau said to reporters during his pregame press conference via Sam DiGiovanni of Clutch Points. “[Kelly] Oubre and Buddy Hield, those are explosive players.”

In the first two outings against the Knicks, the Sixers had Oubre in the lineup. As for Lowry, Payne, and Hield, they are newer additions, who only appeared in the first game against New York a couple of weeks back.

As for the veterans Tobias Harris and Paul Reed, they have faced the Knicks many times over the previous few seasons. Based on what he’s seen out of those two, Thibodeau singled them out as well.

“We know who Tobias Harris is, he’s been one of the best players in the league for a long time,” said the head coach. “I like Reed’s activity and his ability to get to the offensive boards. They are a very good team.”

The Sixers proved Thibodeau right on Sunday. In a low-scoring grudge match, the Sixers managed to claw their way to their first victory over the Knicks by winning 79-73.