Scenes from an impossible finish to beat the Sixers

In Game Two, Round One of the 2024 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs, the New York Knicks treated the Philadelphia 76ers to another slugfest at Madison Square Garden. If you missed it, you missed out.

Despite being listed as questionable due to injuries and illness, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey carried Philly through the first half, helping the Sixers to a 53-49 lead over the Knicks. While Jalen Brunson struggled to find daylight, Josh Hart kept New York alive with a first-half double-double and sizzling shooting from downtown. New York would win the third quarter 30-21, but Philadelphia wasn’t prepared to quit. The Sixers roared back and took a five-point lead into the final 30 seconds and the game looked as good as over.

And yet, the Knicks won’t quit either. In one of the most bonkers sequences you’ll ever see: Jalen Brunson (who laid more bricks than a mason tonight) lucky-bounced a three-pointer; Jalen and Josh Hart harassed Maxey on the inbound pass and stole the ball away; Donte missed and then made a three; Hartenstein swatted down a Maxey drive to secure a win; OG Anunoby swished two free throws; and Joel Embiid missed on a buzzer-beater. Knicks win, 104-101.

For the Phillies, Embiid finished with 34 points and 11 rebounds, and Maxey logged 35 points and 10 assists. For New York, all starters scored in double figures. Jalen Brunson managed 24 points on 8-of-29 (yikes) shooting, Donte DiVincenzo recorded 19 points on 50% shooting, and Isaiah Hartenstein finished with 14 points, eight boards, and four blocks.

But tonight’s star was once again Josh Hart. Playing all 48 minutes without breaking a sweat, he scored a 21-point, 11-rebound double-double, plus three assists, four stocks, and shot 7-of-16 from the field, 4-of-7 from deep. Unbelievable effort.

Knicks lead the series 2-0.

First Half

Before the game, Joel Embiid (knee) and Tyrese Maxey (illness) were listed as questionable. Keeping up the ruse, Maxey even missed shootaround.

Yeah, right. The supposedly ill guard hit three straight three-pointers to start the game off on a 9-0 foot. As for Embiid’s wonky knee, he played the entire first quarter and collected 12 points and eight rebounds. Never trust an injury report in the playoffs.

Meanwhile, the Knicks were bricking, shooting just 33% from the floor, and committed four turnovers in the frame. Jalen Brunson struggled yet again, making just two of his eight field goal attempts. Stuck in the mud and unable to break 20 points, New York headed into the second quarter behind, 25-18. Josh Hart was shooting 50%, at least. He played the entire quarter.

In the second quarter, the Sixers pushed their lead to 10. Around midway through the frame, Embiid shoved Donte DiVincenzo to earn a technical foul. Jo already had a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double in the first half. Why the sour mood?

With this nifty move, Deuce McBride picked up where he left off on Saturday.

Josh Hart kept New York competitive through the first half, scoring 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including 4-of-5 from deep, and adding 10 rebounds, a steal, and a block. Feeling his oats, he drilled a heat-check, pull-up three on the run with 30 seconds left in the half. He played the entire half.

By intermission, the Knicks were behind 53-49.

New York dominated the glass in the first game. Tonight, they were outrebounded 27-24 by halftime. Philly had shot 44% from the floor and 43% from deep compared to New York’s 39% and 40%. For the visitors, Maxey already had 20 points, and Tobias Harris came alive to add 10 points and six boards. For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson had 13 points on 4-of-14 shooting and was the only Knick to score double-digits besides Josh Hart.

Second Half

The ‘Bockers charged out of the locker room to make their first three shots and tie the game for the first time since tip-off. From there, Embiid sprightly galloped up and down the floor, and the Pennsylvanians retook the lead until the four-minute mark. That’s when Embiid sat, and Jalen Brunson attacked Paul Reed with a layup to give New York their first lead of the game.

While the big Cameroonian took a breather, the Knicks made hay and stretched their lead to five points. Winning the quarter 30-21, New York brought a five-point lead into the final frame. Josh Hart minutes update: 36 so far.

The Sixers scored the first four points of the fourth quarter. Nursing a sore wrist, Bojan Bogdanovic had whiffed on his first four shots of the game but swished two consecutive triples to give New York a seven-point lead, their biggest of the game.

If you ever play basketball against Deuce McBride, never let him get close enough to touch the ball, or he might just rip it out of your hands like Conan the Barbarian. Minutes after this vicious theft of Maxey, he cashed in a jumper and an And1 to give New York an eight-point lead.

Maxey and Embiid fought back to tie the game at 94 with just under four minutes remaining. Isaiah Hartenstein made all seven of his second-half shots. mostly pillow-soft floaters, and New York clung to a one-point lead with under three-minutes left. Maxey scored five unanswered points to put the visitors ahead by four. Nick Nurse’s crew did an admirable job of locking up Brunson, who bricked six shots in the final five minutes.

But wait! With the Knicks down by five with 30 seconds left, Jalen’s lucky-bounce three-pointer brought them within two. And then, in one of the craziest sequences of the year, the Knicks managed to wrestle the ball from the Sixers, and Donte DiVincenzo stroked a three for a one-point advantage.

With seven seconds remaining, Maxey charged the rim and Hartenstein flew in for the block. OG Anunoby was fouled, made the two free throws. Embiid got off a shot at the buzzer, but bricked his 24-footer. Ballgame.

Up Next

Our series moves to Philadelphia for Game Three. Thanks for another amazing win, Knickerbockers. See you Thursday.

Box Score