Philadelphia 76ers: 3 takeaways from Game 5 advance vs. Nets

PHILADELPHIA, PA - April 23: Joel Embiid #21, Ben Simmons #25, and Jimmy Butler #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers look on during a game against the Brooklyn Nets during Round One Game Five of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

With a dominant 122-100 victory over the Brooklyn Nets in Game 5, the Philadelphia 76ers advanced to the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs.

After a Game 1 scare, the Philadelphia 76ers completed the gentlemen’s sweep of the Brooklyn Nets in Game 5 of their first round matchup to go to their second consecutive conference semifinals.

It was a blowout from start to finish, one where the Sixers didn’t allow a basket until about midway through the first quarter and at one point led Brooklyn by a score of 30-6. Philly built up a lead as high as 39 points and rarely led by less than 10 throughout.

Four of the five starters for the 76ers scored in double figures in what was admittedly a short night for them all. Ben Simmons played a team-high 27 minutes on his way to a well-rounded 13 points, six assists and five rebounds. Joel Embiid led both teams in scoring with 23 points in just 20 minutes of action.

Brooklyn was led by Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who poured in 21 in just 15 minutes off the pine. D’Angelo Russell continued his inaugural postseason struggles, mustering up only eight points on 3-of-16 shooting from the field.

The Nets presented Philly with a nice challenge in round one. Now, as the Sixers move on to face the Toronto Raptors, they’ll have to be even better on a nightly basis if they hope to advance to their first conference finals since the days of Allen Iverson back in 2000-01.