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Quotebook | Focus Shifts to Second Round

It began with a 14-0 run, and ended with a ticket to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Tuesday’s Game 5 brought a wire-to-wire, 122-100 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, leaving the 76ers in high spirits as they advanced to Round 2 of the playoffs to face the Toronto Raptors.

Here’s some of what was said after the close-out win...

After establishing a commanding 23-2 advantage in the first nine minutes of play, the Sixers went into halftime up 60-31. JJ Redick (11 pts, 2 ast) said that the early surge showed some of his team’s best work to date:

Game 5 marked the Sixers’ fourth straight victory, and prevented the team from having to make a trip back to Brooklyn. Following the decisive win, Tobias Harris (12 pts, 8 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl) echoed Redick’s sentiments:

Jimmy Butler (9 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast, 3 stl) said that when it came to defense, his team stuck to its gameplan. The squad held Brooklyn to just 26.1% shooting in the first half, and 38.7% overall. Looking ahead, Butler hopes there’s carryover to the Sixers’ upcoming second-round matchup versus Toronto:

Looking back at the series, and his team’s second consecutive first-round series win, Ben Simmons (13 pts, 4 reb, 6 ast) credited the group’s unwavering physicality as the series progressed:

As the playoffs continue, and the Sixers shift their focus North, the team maintains lofty ambitions. Joel Embiid (23 pts, 13 reb, 2 ast) told reporters the team seeks a championship. Brooklyn head coach Kenny Atkinson thinks it’s possible:

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal battle between the Sixers and Toronto Raptors starts Saturday. Tip time remains TBD.