Kelly Oubre Defended After 3-of-19 Three-Point Series

Kelly Oubre Jr. shot 15.8 percent from three through five playoff games, and Nick Nurse kept playing him anyway. The Philadelphia 76ers won Game 5 to live for another day, while the forward’s place in a roster headed toward major turnover keeps moving toward the center of the summer.

Nick Nurse Sticks With Oubre

Nurse defended Oubre’s value on the defensive end after the forward struggled offensively against the Boston Celtics. That defense kept him on the floor for more than 33 minutes a night, even as the shots stopped falling.

Through five games, Oubre made 3 of 19 three-point attempts and averaged 9 points per game. He also shot 38.3 percent from the field overall, a line that shows how thin the margin was between his minutes and his production.

Boston Turned Every Possession

Oubre had to guard Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in the series, a task the article described as insurmountable for anyone. That assignment explains why Nurse kept leaning on him even while the offense stalled.

The first-round setting sharpened the debate. A couple of weeks ago, it seemed like the script had already been written for Oubre to stay in Philadelphia, but the series against Boston reopened the question of what kind of role he should have once the season ends.

Game 5 Buys Time

The Sixers’ Game 5 win pushed off elimination for the time being and kept the series alive. It also gave Oubre another chance to matter in a postseason where his shooting line has been the loudest number attached to his name.

Free agency is already looming for Philadelphia because of expected major roster turnover, and the team will have to make a decision about Oubre in the open market. For a player who was expected to stay not long ago, the last few games can still shape how expensive or necessary he looks when the offseason starts.