NEW JERSEY – A contentious kick from Joel Embiid and two ejections from the Philadelphia 76ers’ 102 to 97 victory over Brooklyn on Thursday put the Sixers one victory away from sweeping their NBA first-round playoff series.

The Nets were well aware that no NBA team had ever come back from 3 to 0 down to win a series when the 76ers took the lead with 2:15 left in the game at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, trailing by five points. The 76ers then blasted home to grab a 3 to 0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference series.

Philadelphia’s MVP candidate, Embiid, finished with just 14 points but also grabbed 10 rebounds and produced a vital block with eight seconds left in the game with Philadelphia leading by two.

Embiid didn’t receive a technical foul when he kicked Nic Claxton in the crotch when the Nets player stepped over him in the first quarter, despite the fact that many commentators will think he should have been removed from the game by that point.

Royce O’Neale was struck in the body by James Harden’s shoulder as he drove to the basket for the Sixers late in the third quarter.

After receiving a second technical foul for mocking Embiid, Brooklyn’s Claxton was also dismissed early in the fourth.

The secret to the tough victory, according to Embiid, was that “we stayed together.” Despite all that was happening, we continued to play.

Tyrese Maxey was instrumental in the late run, contributing 10 of his 25 points in the final frame.

With 44.7 seconds remaining, he made a step-back three-pointer to put the Sixers ahead 99-96.

When Embiid leapt up to block Spencer Dinwiddie’s layup attempt after he had lowered the Sixers’ deficit to one point with a free throw, the Sixers managed to hold on. Dinwiddie had previously cut the gap by one.

Brooklyn is in danger of being swept for the second consecutive year as Mikal Bridges led the Nets with 26 points, and Dinwiddie added 20.

Despite having a commanding lead, Embiid stressed that the Sixers must improve in game four on Saturday. He momentarily left the locker room in the first quarter and was later observed hobbling.

A 2 to 0 deficit was attempted to be overcome by the Sacramento Kings as they played the defending champion Golden State Warriors in other games on Thursday.

Draymond Green, a star for the Warriors, was absent because of a one-game suspension for stamping on Domantas Sabonis of Sacramento in game two.

As they faced the Phoenix Suns in game three of their Western Conference series, the Los Angeles Clippers were without Kawhi Leonard due to injury. In Phoenix, the clubs’ first two games were divided.