Sixers guards praise Dominick Barlow for his work in Game 2 vs. Knicks
TL;DR
Dominick Barlow stepped up for the Sixers in Game 2 against the Knicks, contributing six points, two rebounds, and two blocks. His strong defense against Jalen Brunson helped spark the team despite the absence of Joel Embiid.
Key points
- Dominick Barlow played center for the Sixers in Game 2.
- He scored six points and had two blocks in 16 minutes.
- Barlow's defense against Jalen Brunson was notable.
Mentioned in this story
NEW YORK -- With the Philadelphia 76ers running out of options at the center spot, coach Nick Nurse knew he had to try something. Joel Embiid was sidelined, Andre Drummond and Adem Bona were in foul trouble, and Nurse decided to go with Dominick Barlow at the center spot down the stretch of Game 2 against the New York Knicks.
Barlow has been mostly out of the playoff rotation, but he gave a strong effort on Wednesday. He had six points, two rebounds, and two blocks in 16 minutes down the stretch. He switched onto Knicks star Jalen Brunson and forced him to make some tough shots and gave the Sixers a bit of a spark going forward.
"He played great," said VJ Edgecombe. "He played great, man. He got, like, two blocks or so when he switched on (Brunson). He was guarding his yard. He made tough shots over him, but I mean, Dom is 6-foot-11. I mean, he made a really tough shot over him. That was great defense. So, I think Dom was great."
While Brunson made the shots he needed to make in the fourth--he scored eight in the final frame--all of those shots were contested by Barlow. When considering the type of talent Brunson is, one just has to tip their cap to him and keep it pushing. He has made life tough on any defender. The big takeaway is that the Sixers might have found something with Barlow.
"He was pretty good," added Tyrese Maxey. "He's pretty good. He got in and was active, played the right way. So, we appreciate him for that."
The Sixers now trail the Knicks 0-2 as this series shifts to Philadelphia. They just rallied from down 3-1 against the Boston Celtics and will now look to lean on that experience again to ensure they can rally against New York.
"Just kind of handling adversity," Barlow said. "You don't want to put yourself into these spots, but can't, you know, rewind time. It is what it is. This is the position we're in now. So, the only thing we do is move forward. Take it one game at a time, and try to get the next one."
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers guards praise Dominick Barlow for his work in Game 2 vs. Knicks
Q&A
What did Dominick Barlow achieve in Game 2 against the Knicks?
In Game 2, Dominick Barlow scored six points, grabbed two rebounds, and recorded two blocks in 16 minutes.
How did Barlow perform defensively against Jalen Brunson?
Barlow contested all of Brunson's shots, making it difficult for him to score, although Brunson managed to score eight points in the fourth quarter.
What challenges did the Sixers face in Game 2 that led to Barlow's increased role?
The Sixers were short-handed at the center position due to Joel Embiid's absence and foul trouble for Andre Drummond and Adem Bona.
