PHILADELPHIA (94WIP) -- Despite leading and controlling the entire first half, the Philadelphia 76ers went into halftime leading the Brooklyn Nets by just one point in Game 2 of the first-round series, a series Philly already trailed 0-1. Pressure was mounting.
Sixers head coach Brett Brown apparently laid into the team, cursing them out and eventually firing them up. The Sixers dominated the third quarter with a historic 51-point performance over the next 12 minutes, en route to a 145-123 blowout win.
"He came in here, said a few cuss words which shocked me a little bit, but I like it," Jimmy Butler said after the game of Brown's halftime speech. "That's that type of energy I love."
The Sixers were led by Ben Simmons, who responded to an awful Game 1 performance with 18 points (8-of-12 shooting), 12 assists, 10 rebounds, two steals, plus solid defense on D'Angelo Russell. Simmons left the floor to a standing ovation from the crowd.
Game 3 is Thursday in Brooklyn at 8 p.m. ET.
By Andrew Porter