Tonight it’s Sixers/Hawks Game 3, down in Atlanta.

And it’s Friday, which coincidentally means it’s time for another installment of the critically-acclaimed Friday Mount Rushmore column.

Staying current with the biggest story in Philadelphia, we will today honor the best Philadelphia 76ers wins in postseason Game 3s. The Sixers historically have not played very well in Game 3s, but there are still quite a few to choose from, and this is our Mount Rushmore. If you disagree, then you can carve out your own damn mountain.

Sixers vs. Lakers, 1983 Finals

The Sixers almost went Fo’ Fo’ Fo’ in the 1983 playoffs, but had to settle for Fo’ Five’ Fo’ instead.

They did sweep the Lakers in the 1983 Finals and they basically ended the series with Game 3 out at the Inglewood Forum, boosted by a 28/19/6 performance from Moses Malone in a 111-94 victory.

Other Sixers in this game:

  • Dr. J – 21/12/3
  • Mo Cheeks – 12/3/5 with four steals
  • Bobby Jones – 17/7/2
  • Andrew Toney – 21/2/5

They limited Magic and Kareem to 11-32 shooting on the evening, and grabbed 22 offensive rebounds while forcing 25 turnovers. That led to a +12 field goal attempt disparity for the visitors.

Sixers vs. Raptors, 2019 Eastern Conference Semifinals

The Sixers blew out the eventual champs at home by 21 points.

Every single starter scored in double-digits, and they got 10 off the bench from James Ennis on a 4-6 shooting night. They even got nine points out of the Mike Scott and Greg Monroe combo.

It put the Sixers up 2-1 in the series, after they had stolen Game 2 in Toronto. Unfortunately, as we all know, they struggled offensively in Game 4, gave home court back to the Raptors, and then went out in seven.

This was also the Ben Simmons/Kyle Lowry groin shot game:

Sixers vs. Pacers, 2001 Eastern Conference opening round

When Allen Iverson took his squad to the 2001 Finals, the Sixers actually lost their first playoff game, to the Indiana Pacers.

Not sure people remember that. They actually went down 0-1 in the best-of-five series, then came back to win the next three and knock out Reggie Miller and company.

In Game 3, at the Conseco Fieldhouse, Iverson had an okay night, scoring 32 points on 11-28 shooting while going to the foul line 14 times. But they got a huge performance out of 6th man Aaron McKie, who poured in 22 off the bench in a 8-14 effort from the floor. The Sixers only shot 1-7 from three in that game, if you can believe it, but they grabbed 19 offensive rebounds and held the trio of Miller, Jalen Rose, and Austin Croshere to just 23 for 57 shooting on the evening (40.3%), and grabbed hold of the series with a strong defensive effort.

Sixers vs. Bulls, 1991 Eastern Conference Semifinals

The Sixers lost this series 4-1, but it goes on the Mount Rushmore for the fact that they gave Michael Jordan one of his only two losses that postseason.

For some context, the Bulls won 61 games that year and won the title with a 15-2 playoff record. Jordan, at 27 years old, was in his prime and averaging 32 points a night. The fact that anybody was able to take a single game off the Bulls back then was a feat in itself. The only other team to beat them in the postseason was the Lakers, who snagged Game 1 of the Finals before suffering a gentleman’s sweep.

In that Sixers/Bulls game, Jordan went for 46 points, but Philly countered with 19 and 9 from Charles Barkley and 25 and 11 from Armen Gilliam. Hersey Hawkins scored a team-high 27 points and the Sixers somehow won despite only taking 64 field goal attempts, compared to Chicago’s 86. That’s insane. They were able to limit Scottie Pippen and Chicago’s bench did nothing.

That was an ultimately forgettable playoff run, but to steal one from the Bulls back then was an achievement.

 

Honorable mention: vs. Nets 2019, vs. Heat 2018, vs. Pistons 2008, vs. Magic 2009, vs. Bucks 1983, vs. Bulls 1990, vs. Celtics 1980, 1982, 1967, and 1968