The New York Knicks failed to close out a victory in the first playoff series on Tuesday after the Philadelphia 76ers’ 112-106 comeback in Game 5.
The Knicks had a chance to seal a berth in the Eastern Conference semifinals for the second year in a row when they hosted the Sixers in front of a celebrity-studded Madison Square Garden and were seconds away from doing so.
However, Tyrese Maxey was the decisive one for Philadelphia with seven points in the last 25 seconds of regulation time.
The 76ers trailed by six points with 28 seconds left in regulation before Maxey pulled off a comeback that evoked memories of Reggie Miller’s eight points in nine seconds for Indiana at Madison Square Garden in 1995.
The All-Star guard converted a four-point play with 25 seconds left to cut the score to two, and after Josh Hart’s free throw, he produced a game-tying 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation to force the game. game to a dramatic overtime final.
Tyrese Maxey was decisive for Philadelphia with seven points in the last 25 seconds.
The Philadelphia 76ers forced a sixth game against the New York Knicks with an overtime victory
Maxey produced a game-tying 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation.
The Knicks had a three-point lead with less than ten seconds left when Maxey performed his MSG miracle to tie the game at 97 points apiece.
Jalen Brunson scored 40 points for the Knicks, who were eyeing a possible Game 1 of the second round at MSG on Saturday night. Instead, it could be Game 7 of this series, which seemed almost over.
The Sixers cut the Knicks’ series lead to 3-2 and sent them back to Philadelphia, where Game 6 will be played.
It was the second desperate rally to salvage what seemed like certain defeat in what has been a hard-fought series between Atlantic Division rivals. The Knicks won Game 2 after trailing by five points with less than 30 seconds left.
Joel Embiid, who has been ill and missed shoot practice due to a migraine, did not score as usual after entering the game with an NBA-leading 35 points per game in the playoffs.
The 30-year-old was booed mercilessly by the Knicks’ home crowd before the game even began.
New York’s raucous fans were still furious after his flagrant foul on Robinson in Game 3 in Philadelphia. They had plenty of opportunities to boo him after Embiid also had nine turnovers in a sloppy performance.
“I think considering our No. 1 option was having trouble, for him to say, ‘Okay, I’ve got to put this gear on my back and move forward,’ I kept encouraging him to take risks, take his shots, make plays,” Sixers coach Nick Nurse said.
Joel Embiid, who has been sick and missed shooting practice due to a migraine, struggled again
The 30-year-old was booed mercilessly by the New York crowd for having nine turnovers.
“And he certainly did, he got into a rhythm and did a lot of them.”
Embiid walked slowly through the locker room a little more than an hour before the game, resting his head on his hand as he sat briefly before warming up.
However, Maxey had plenty of energy as he took on the scoring load, knocking down seven 3-pointers and adding nine assists.
His final 3-pointer put the 76ers on the board in overtime after Brunson scored the first five points. That sparked a 9-0 run that Embiid capped with a three-point play with 1:40 left for a 106-102 lead, and after Brunson’s 3-pointer tied the score at 106, Kelly Oubre Jr. made the basket tiebreaker with 1:02 left and Tobias Harris followed with two free throws.
“It was a tough way to lose because you’re up six, eight and then we had a couple of turnovers and we have to be better,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said.
Ben Still was sitting courtside alongside Tracy Morgan and Jon Stewart Tuesday night at MSG.
Carmelo Anthony was surrounded by fans as he entered Madison Square Garden for the game.
Sting entered Madison Square Garden for the Knicks-76ers with his wife Trudie Styler
‘Be tougher on the leader, use good judgment. The fourth quarter is different, understand the difference. So we can do better and we will.”
The Sixers’ surprising victory stunned the raucous MSG crowd, including the many famous faces from the celebrity feud.
Die-hard Knicks fan Ben Stiller joined several other celebrities as they enjoyed the action on the court.
Carmelo Anthony, Julianne Moore, Tracee Ellis Ross, Sting, Dave East and Offset, Jon Stewart and Tracy Morgan were seen on the court for Game 5.
