Playoff Game Preview: New York Knicks at Philadelphia 76ers, Game 6, May 2, 2024

During Game Four of the first-round playoff series between the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks, a significant number of Knicks fans infiltrated the Wells Fargo Center. (Seriously, like 40% of the crowd.) To counteract this and bolster home-court advantage for tonight’s Game Six, the 76ers’ managing partners, including Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin, bought over 2,000 tickets to distribute among first responders, healthcare professionals, and local organizations in Philadelphia. They hope this move will prevent a repeat of the previous humiliation.

Really, Game Six shouldn’t even be happening. The Knicks, now leading the series 3-2, were ahead late in Game Five but committed costly mistakes, missed crucial free throws and shots, and thanks to the heroics of Tyrese Maxey, the Phillies escaped with an overtime win.

In Game Five, Maxey led his people like Moses, playing 52 minutes and posting 46 points, nine assists, and five rebounds. He also shot 17-of-30 from the floor and 7-of-12 from deep. Maxey was less bothered by the Knicks’ defense than by the hair that’s perpetually in his eyes. Tonight, New York needs to find ways to slow him down, hold him down, and maybe give him a haircut.

Maxey’s partner in crime, center Joel Embiid, logged 19 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists, four blocks, and a steal on Tuesday. In one of the uglier triple-doubles of the season, he shot 38% from the floor and turned the ball over nine times. Still, despite his swatty, whacky, groin-kneeing play, he only caught three fouls in 48 minutes. NBA royalty has its perks! We’ll see how his knee is feeling after such heavy usage just two nights ago.

Sleepy Tobias Harris came alive to score 19 points and eight rebounds on 7-of-11 shooting, 3-of-6 from deep. And although the royal we despises Kelly Oubre, Jr., we have to acknowledge his defensive play, which earned a 102 rating on Tuesday and has been excellent through the series. He finished with 14 points, four boards, two steals, and a block and shot 46% in his 39 minutes.

On the other side, the Knicks played a seven-man rotation, with three starters (Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and OG Anunoby) logging over 50 minutes. Brunson posted 40 points, six assists, and three steals, but by the end of regulation time, all the color had drained from his face and he looked positively exhausted. That didn’t stop him from some myopic overtime play, scoring all of the Knicks nine points in the bonus frame.

Hart (18 points, nine rebounds) and Anunoby (17 points, six boards, three stocks) played as well as you could ask of them, and Isaiah Hartenstein (seven rebounds), Mitchell Robinson (seven rebounds, five stocks), and Miles McBride (14 points) all played important roles.

An area of concern has been Donte DiVincenzo, who won Game Two with a monster three but has shot 3-of-17 from downtown since then. And a nagging question after the last loss is: Why not Precious Achiuwa? He played great in Game Four but was a DNP on Tuesday. It seems that Thibs sees Achiuwa as a sub for when Mitch is absent. Yet, when OG and Josh have sweated out the total of Hudson River, he couldn’t spell one or the other for 10 minutes of gameplay? If the Knicks lose the series, I suspect our focus will return to decisions made in the Game Four loss. If they win? To hell with it!

Prediction

ESPN.com gives the Knicks a 42% chance to win this one. Seems low. The Knicks are made of iron, forged in fire, and fueled by Mike and Ikes. Tonight their defense can afford no cavities, and they will need everyone to play to the top of their abilities (including you, Donte) to win in what promises to be a more hostile environment than Game Four.

All season long, the Knicks have shown incredible depths of determination, pride, and conditioning. We can expect more of the same grit tonight. Considering the coach’s tantrums so far, if the Sixers lose tonight poor Nick will need a wet nurse to console him. And Philadelphia will lose. The Knicks will win by +4 in a lovely birthday present for my dad and advance to Round Two.

Game Details

What: Round One, Game Six, 2024 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs

Who: New York Knicks at Philadelphia 76ers

When: 9:00 pm EST, Tuesday, May 2, 2024

Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA

Watch: MSG and TNT

Follow: @ptknicksblog