On Monday, the Philadelphia 76ers appeared to have snatched a victory at Madison Square Garden.
But the Knicks quickly snatched it back.
The 76ers rallied from an eight-point deficit in the fourth quarter to take a 101-96 lead in the final minutes of the game. However, chaos erupted in the final minutes of the game as the Knicks won 104-101 in the first round of the playoffs, leading the series 2-0.
Last-minute frenzy secures Knicks victory
New York possessed the ball and led by five points with 32 seconds left. Donte DiVincenzo drove through the 76ers defense to the bucket and kicked the ball to Jalen Brunson on the left side. Brunson evaded Tyrese Maxey and sank a 3-pointer to cut Philadelphia's lead to 101-99.
The 76ers got the ball back with a two-point lead with 27 seconds left in the game. However, they were unable to get the ball into the frame cleanly.
Tyrese Maxey couldn't handle Kyle Lowry's inbounds pass and Josh Hart stole it from him. He kicked the ball out to DiVincenzo, who missed an open three from the side. But he was given another chance.
Isaiah Hartenstein secures the offensive rebound; DiVincenzo is aiming for the go-ahead three again. This time, DiVincenzo scored a goal from the top of the key, securing a 102-101 lead.
It looked like the 76ers would eventually tie the game at the final buzzer. However, just as the buzzer sounded, Joel Embiid's 3-point shot hit the rim, sending Madison Square Garden into a frenzy.
The win spoiled a big night for Maxey and Joel Embiid, as the Knicks came back from a 9-0 hole and a 10-point deficit in the first half. The series would return to Philadelphia with New York holding a 2-0 lead. It was a close call for the Knicks to tie the game 1-1.
76ers file complaint over officiating
The final moments didn't go well for the 76ers.a a team spokesperson told reporters. After the game, the 76ers said they plan to file a complaint with the NBA regarding the officiating of the first two games of the series.
Meanwhile, 76ers head coach Nick Nurse accused officials of ignoring a timeout during the late-game commotion.
“I called a timeout,” Nurse told reporters. “The referee looked right at me and ignored me. It hit Tyrese. I called timeout again and a scuffle started.
“I think I need to run out on the floor or do something to get his attention. I needed a timeout to get it going. It could have been better, but I didn't get it.”
Video of the last moments (seen) here or more) caught them all. As Lowry struggled to get the ball inbounds, Nurse made a vague gesture, clearly anticipating a timeout. And after the inbounds pass, he clearly called a timeout. But by then, Maxey had lost control of the ball and it was loose.
Maxey caught fire after search was delayed
The night started much better for the 76ers. Maxey is questionable during the day due to illness, and Embiid has been limited by soreness in his surgically repaired knee that has plagued him since returning to action late in the regular season. Both were cleared to play before tipping.
Maxie showed no signs of wear. He started the game with three 3-pointers to give the 76ers a 9-0 lead.
By halftime, he had 20 points and Embiid had 16 points and 10 rebounds. The 76ers entered halftime with a 53-49 lead. The Knicks still didn't have the lead. That will change midway through the third quarter.
The Knicks fought back in the third, with Brunson making a layup in traffic with four minutes left, securing New York's first lead at 68-67. Early in the fourth, Bojan Bogdanovic hit back-to-back threes, his first two buckets of the game, giving New York an 85-78 advantage.
The Knicks increased their lead to 90-82 with 7:43 remaining and appeared to be firmly in control. But the 76ers weren't finished.
Led by Maxey's six points, Philadelphia went on a 12-4 run to tie the game at 94-94. Back-to-back buckets from Maxey, including a 3-pointer with 1:09 left, gave the 76ers a 100-94 lead. Lowry's free throw with 47.1 seconds left extended the lead to five points.
What followed was a frenzied final moment of the game that ensured the Knicks' victory.
Maxey and Embiid both had big games. Maxey had a game-high 35 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds. He made 12 of 22 shots from the field and 5 of 11 from 3-point range.
Embiid's knee clearly slowed him down as the game progressed, and he had some trouble getting up and down the court. However, he finished with 34 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 block. He was unable to secure a rebound after halftime and his knee hitting the post appeared to be a concern.
The Sixers' star players couldn't help much. Tobias Harris was the only Philadelphia player to score in double figures on the night with 10 points and nine rebounds.
On the other hand, the Knicks showed a well-balanced performance with all five starting players scoring in double digits. Brunson led the way with 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. Hart had a double-double with 21 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks. He made 4 of 7 3-point shots.
DiVincenzo made 4 of 8 3-pointers along the way and scored 19 points. Hartenstein had 14 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks.
The series moves to Thursday's Game 3 in Philadelphia, and the 76ers are left with questions about what happened.
