After the thrilling game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, NBA icon Magic Johnson tweeted out a bold prediction.
Johnson highlighted the top performers of the game, including Tobias Harris who hit the game-winner and Joel Embiid whom he called a candidate for the MVP award. Given the close duel that was decided in the final seconds, Johnson admitted he won't be surprised to see both teams in the NBA Finals.
That was the most exciting NBA game this season! Tobias Harris hit the game winning shot for the Sixers and finished with 24 points. MVP candidate Embiid had 28. I wouldn’t be surprised if these two teams were in the NBA Finals!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 28, 2021
The Sixers are still on top of the Eastern Conference with a 13-6 record, having won six of their last 10 games. They have been considered a perennial playoff team for the last couple of years, but analysts believe that the team needed several tweaks to turn into legitimate contenders. So far after a busy offseason with Daryl Morey at the helm and head coach Doc Rivers manning the sidelines, the 76ers are looking as great as ever.
As for the Lakers, the quest is to defend their title. After the loss, they remain the best team in the NBA right now with a 14-5 record. Their late-game surge against Philly proved how deadly they can be even when down double-digits in the final minutes of a game.
Perhaps the most impressive thing was that LeBron James didn't have to do everything in their late-game run. It was a mixture of Alex Caruso's offense and defense, Dennis Schroder's tenacity, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's shooting that kept the Lakers in the game. Of course, James is the most lethal threat, but the entire team has a bunch of excellent players who can get it done.
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