Sidney Moncrief Guts It Out in Game 7 Win to Squash the ‘Philly Jinx’

Sidney Moncrief, one of the NBA’s most clutch guards in recent memory and a player who has found success despite Philadelphia football fans’ “Philly Jinx,” scored 16 points as the Celtics defeated Philly 105-103 to win Game 7.

Sidney Moncrief Guts It Out in Game 7 Win to Squash the ‘Philly Jinx’. The Philadelphia 76ers were on a 23-game home winning streak, but their win streak came to an end when Sidney Moncrief scored the game-winning goal for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Read more in detail here: 1984 eastern conference finals.

The Milwaukee Bucks have heard about the “Philly Jinx” for years. The 76ers had eliminated the Bucks from the playoffs four times in the previous five years. In the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 1986, they met, and future Hall of Famer Sidney Moncrief vowed to never let it happen again.

With a heel ailment, Moncrief missed Games 5 and 6. He battled it out in Game 7 in front of a sellout crowd of 11,052 and did all he could to break the Philly Jinx.

The Milwaukee Bucks needed to end their losing streak against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Don-Nelson-Bucks-1024x691

Don-Nelson-Bucks-1024x691 During an NBA basketball game versus the Washington Bullets at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland in 1985, Milwaukee Bucks head coach Don Nelson reacts to the action on the court. Nelson was the Bucks’ coach from 1976 through 1987. | Getty Images/Focus on Sport

The Sixers were always a stumbling block for Milwaukee. Philadelphia has a history of coming out on top.

In 1985, the Philadelphia 76ers swept the Milwaukee Bucks in four games. In the Eastern Conference Finals in 1983, the Sixers defeated them in five games. In 1982 and 1981, it was the same story. Because of the Sixers, the Bucks were constantly sent home early.

Terry Cummings, a forward with the Milwaukee Bucks, was not interested in jinx talk during the Eastern Conference Semifinals series in 1986.

“A jinx has nothing to do with what happens on the court,” Cummings remarked at the time, according to United Press International. ‘On the court, it’s simply ten men dictating what occurs.’

The series between the two teams in 1986 came down to the last game. Milwaukee needed to do all it could to dispel the rumors of a curse. Moncrief, who hadn’t played since scoring 13 points in Game 4, suited up at that time.

For the Milwaukee Bucks, Sidney Moncrief battled through Game 7.

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During the 1956-86 NBA season, Moncrief earned his fifth consecutive All-Star berth. That season, the 6-foot-3 guard averaged 21.7 points and 5.2 assists. He established himself as one of the top two-way players in the league, earning Defensive Player of the Year twice.

Moncrief has missed the previous two games due to a chronic heel ailment, but the Bucks won Game 5 113-108 without him. The Sixers, on the other hand, evened the series at three games each with a 126-108 victory in Game 6. In Game 7, the Bucks needed their captain, and he delivered.

Moncrief played 35 minutes despite being in constant agony, shooting 9-for-16 from the field. He scored 23 points in a dramatic 113-112 win against the Boston Celtics, advancing them to the Eastern Conference Finals.

“I didn’t want the players to think that the game depended on whether or not I played the game,” he stated afterward, according to UPI. “I believe it was pure willpower that won us this game.” It feels great to win this one after so many years of being on the losing end (against Philadelphia).”

His teammates were taken aback by his appearance and performance.

“We were fortunate to have Sidney Moncrief back tonight,” said Craig Hodges, a fellow guard. “He demonstrated his heart and character.”

After a goaltending call on Charles Barkley, the Bucks broke the Philadelphia Jinx.

After Philadelphia’s Charles Barkley was penalised for goaltending on his attempt with 29 seconds remaining, Hodges was given credit for the game-winning basket. While the Bucks secured a meeting with the Celtics to decide the East’s representative in the NBA Finals, the Philly Jinx dominated the conversation.

“Jinx or no jinx,” Cummings added, “I know we’re finally thrilled to defeat them.”

After the triumph, Nelson and Hodges were both questioned about the jinx.

“It wasn’t on my mind a lot,” Nelson recalled, “but I wanted another opportunity at them.” “At long last, we’ve beaten the Sixers once.” “Wow, that’s rather wonderful.”

Hodges believes the jinx discussion can now be put to rest.

“If it was, it isn’t anymore,” he stated of the jinx.

Sidney Moncrief, a Milwaukee Bucks legend, discusses Stephen Curry, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Social Media.

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