NEW YORK -- The Sixers concluded the 2016-17 season Wednesday night with a 114-113 loss to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. They finished the season 28-54.
The game became a back-and-forth battle into the final minute, as most of their matchups have been this season. Nik Stauskas hit a three to give the Sixers a 113-112 lead with just over 30 seconds to play. Maurice Ndour responded with the go-ahead bucket. The Sixers had one last chance off a jump ball with 7.5 remaining. Stauskas missed the game-winning attempt.
In spite of the loss, the Sixers finished this season with an 18-game improvement from last season's dismal 10-72 record. The Knicks are 31-51 on the year.
Inside the box score
Justin Anderson set a new career-high with 26 points (9 for 10 from the field). He led all players in scoring.
Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks with 17 points in 23 minutes.
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Justin Holiday scored 20 points.
Mason Plumee recorded a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double.
Alex Poythress scored 18 points and six rebounds.
Richaun Holmes scored 15 points and seven rebounds.
Shawn Long pulled down a team-high nine rebounds.
Tiago Splitter scored a season-high 12 points.
Saric misses final game
Dario Saric's goal of playing all 82 games was cut short by one. He was sidelined for his final game of the season as a precaution. Saric has been battling plantar fasciitis in his left foot and had been placed under a 24-minute guideline.
Saric had wanted to play in every game to "show I am tough," he previously said. Brown said Saric was frustrated when told he could not play Wednesday.
Saric averaged 12.8 points and 6.3 rebounds over 81 games this season.
Embiid reaction
Joel Embiid sent the following tweet after the game.
🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿 #TrustTheProcess— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) April 13, 2017
Injury updates
Robert Covington will undergo surgery in the upcoming days to repair a right meniscus tear (see story). … Brown described the news of Ben Simmons being cleared following Tuesday's scan as "excellent." … Jerryd Bayless was cleared to use his left hand (wrist surgery) in basketball activity. Up until this point, he had not been able to lift any weights. … Kristaps Porzingis (sore lower back) sat out his fifth straight game.
Simmons ends season on the road
If all goes as planned for Simmons, he will be wearing a uniform for the final game of next season. He also denied a young Knicks fan (see story).
Up next
The Sixers will hold end-of-the-season interviews on Thursday morning and afternoon. Stay tuned to CSNPhilly.com for reactions from the players, including Simmons.
