Tyrese Maxey’s miracle comeback — or Knicks choke job — started with an illegal move.
With its latest admission of a highly consequential blunder, the NBA said Maxey traveled before his four-point play with about 25 seconds left in regulation of Philadelphia’s Game 5 victory over the Knicks.
“Maxey (PHI) gathers the ball on his left foot, takes two legal steps, and then moves his right foot again just before he is fouled on his shot,” the NBA determined in its 2-minute report.
In addition, the league determined that two other mistakes disadvantaged the Knicks and one disadvantaged the 76ers in Game 5.
Jalen Brunson’s potential game-winning shot in regulation was blocked by Philadelphia’s Nic Batum and should’ve been ruled out of bounds with 0.4 seconds remaining.
Instead, regulation ended and the Knicks were robbed of a last crack for a winner before overtime — albeit a long shot considering there was so little time left.
In OT, the Knicks should have also had another possession while down two with 41 seconds left, but Josh Hart was incorrectly ruled out of bounds, the league said.
Hart had saved the ball before it crossed the baseline and passed it to Isaiah Hartenstein under the basket, but the refs whistled him out.
Also in OT, Brunson should’ve been whistled for an offensive foul on a drive (he ended up getting blocked by Embiid).
But the headline mistake was ignoring Maxey’s travel before he was fouled while making a 3-pointer.
That play started a stirring Sixers comeback and ultimately forced Thursday’s Game 6.
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It’s also the second time in the series the referees acknowledged outcome-altering gaffes in the final seconds.
In Game 2, the Knicks were the beneficiaries of multiple no-calls during their thrilling comeback win.
Bojan Bogdanovic underwent surgery to his left foot Wednesday, sources said. Though the specific injury remains unclear, a source said “additional testing showed the procedure was required.”
“Bojan is looking forward to being on the court next season,” the source said.
The 35-year-old is out for the remainder of the playoffs and will be re-evaluated in three months, the Knicks said.
Bogdanovic was injured during Sunday’s Game 4 — when he was chasing after a loose ball alongside Batum, who dove and landed on Bogdanovic’s leg.
Bogdanovic’s $19 million salary next season is only partially guaranteed, but the Knicks could keep him on the books to use the contract in a trade.
That potential salary-matching flexibility was an emphasis for the Knicks when they acquired Bogdanovic at the deadline, according to sources.
Without Bogdanovic, the Knicks cut their rotation to seven players in Tuesday’s loss. Alec Burks and Precious Achiuwa were healthy DNPs.
Brunson finished third for the NBA’s Teammate of The Year, an award voted on by current players.
Mike Conley, a veteran guard from the Timberwolves, took the honor in a close race with second-place Mikal Bridges of the Nets.
The Knicks haven’t won a postseason award yet, but Brunson is expected to be named to an All-NBA team.
On Tuesday, the NBA announced that Knicks president Leon Rose finished fourth in the voting for Executive of the Year — which is voted on by other league executives.
Boston’s Brad Stevens was the top vote-getter, with Oklahoma City’s Sam Presti and Minnesota’s Tim Connelly also finishing ahead of Rose.