The Philadelphia 76ers got their superstar back, but it wasn't enough to change the story. Despite Joel Embiid's return to the lineup, the Sixers fell 108-94 to the New York Knicks on Friday night, dropping to 0-3 in their second-round playoff series. Now, Philadelphia faces elimination on Sunday—a Mother's Day matchup they'll need to win to avoid a sweep.

Embiid's presence was supposed to be the difference-maker. In the first round against Boston, he looked sharp and mobile, and the Celtics struggled to exploit him in drop coverage. But the Knicks have proven to be a much tougher matchup. New York has systematically attacked Embiid's limited mobility, particularly on the glass, and that strategy paid off in a big way during Game 3.

Anyone who watched the 2024 Sixers-Knicks series has seen this script before. Even with new faces on both sides, the result remains the same. The Knicks grabbed four offensive rebounds in the first quarter alone, keeping the game tight. By the second quarter, the Madison Square Garden crowd was roaring as New York's relentless work on the boards wore down Philadelphia's defense. A promising start for the Sixers quickly evaporated under the Knicks' physical pressure.

Early on, Embiid's lack of mobility was the primary culprit. The Knicks wasted no time testing him, running Josh Hart into screen actions and forcing Embiid to move laterally. When Embiid wasn't directly involved in the play, he struggled to navigate traffic or box out, giving Knicks players clear paths to the basket and second-chance opportunities. New York's game plan was ruthless and effective—credit to head coach Mike Brown and his staff for their preparation.

But the rebounding woes weren't entirely on Embiid. The entire Sixers roster struggled to match the Knicks' intensity on the boards. New York's guards crashed the glass with purpose, and Philadelphia's wings failed to provide consistent help. The result was a familiar frustration: the Sixers watching the Knicks turn missed shots into extra possessions, swinging momentum and ultimately the game.

For a team that entered the season with championship aspirations, being down 0-3 is a harsh reality check. The Sixers need a complete team effort to keep their season alive—and they'll need it on Sunday, or their playoff run will be over before they know it.