Sixers 112, Knicks 106: "I want to cry right now."

01/05/2024 13:00

Ah, to be a Knicks fan...

According to ESPN's win probability calculator, with 28.2 seconds left in the game, there was a 95.4% chance that I wouldn't have to delete the article that I had prepared to publish. To be honest, I was looking forward to the 95.4% range of outcomes in which I posted a piece about Jalen Brunson's excellent closeout performance. Statistically speaking, there was about a 1 in 20 chance that this wouldn't be about the Knicks taking care of business in a Game 5 at MSG. But here we are.

Sometimes you play the odds. Sometimes the odds play you.

Leading up to the game, it felt as if Knicks fans and media alike had already penciled New York in for the second round. Sure, a 3-1 deficit is not insurmountable, but Game 4 really had the feel of the Sixers' spirit being broken. The Knicks won, not only on the scoreboard but also both mentally and physically. The Embiid problem had been solved, the Knicks grabbed every rebound, and Jalen Brunson was showing the world what we New Yorkers knew to be true this entire year: he was that guy. Game five was supposed to be more of a formality than anything else.

Hours before tip, some unfortunate news dropped: Bojan Bogdanovic would be out for the remainder of the playoffs. Bogy was just getting going offensively, and it's a huge blow to the Knicks' bench to lose him. Rotational queries were being floated around. Would Achiuwa be the eighth man up? Alec Burks, perhaps? Or… dare I suggest… no one? (It was no one.)

Anyway, the show must go on. MSG. Game five. First chance to close out a series at home since 1999. Let's dance.

The game started off like any other game in this series… with the Sixers jumping out to an early lead. Sure! Excellent! Go right ahead! We've seen this before. After all, in each of the first four games, the Sixers got out of the gates quickly while the New York offense faltered. Every time, the Knicks were able to battle their way back. They were simply traveling the same path that had been paved thrice already.

Tyrese Maxey had 11 points in the opening frame, and Philly closed the quarter out with eight straight. Hell, even Tobias Harris was joining in on the fun. 26-17 at the end of one.

The Knicks held up their end of the bargain, though, and reacted accordingly in the second frame. Much like the previous games, the boys in orange and blue punched right back.

The second quarter couldn't have gone off to a better start. Jalen Brunson was starting to get to his spots. Deuce McBride was knocking down some tough buckets. The Knicks were tightening the strings on defense, and Mitchell Robinson was sonning Joel Embiid again.

A run stretched to 20-5 in favor of the good guys, and when it was all said and done, the Knicks led at the half, 49-43.

The vibes were impeccable. Philly was hanging around, but Joel Embiid couldn't get anything going, and without a favorable whistle, he limped his way to 8 points on 3-10 shooting. This was noticeably his worst first half of the series. Meanwhile, JB had 15 points, 13 of which came in the second frame. The offense was starting to open up a bit, and New York was able to get out in transition. After a volatile first half, there was reason to think the Knicks could stay on course heading into the third.

Man plans and Tyrese Maxey laughs.

The third quarter got off to a tough start, and after a 10-2 Sixers run to open it up, Thibs burned his second timeout of the half with 8:09 to go in the third. Not ideal. The rest of the frame was a true tug-of-war, a back-and-forth affair. The Knicks would hit a big three. Philly would respond. So on and so forth.

At the end of three: Knicks 70, Sixers 69.

The fourth quarter looked like it would come down to the wire. After two Sixers buckets put the Knicks down four with ten minutes remaining, the Knicks locked in, as they usually do. Once again; everything was going according to plan.

These are the kind of plays that make you want to run through a wall for this team. The Garden was ELECTRIC. The fellas were hustling their behinds off, and Philly couldn't keep up. Reigning MVP Joel Embiid actually subbed out halfway through the fourth, unable to get up and down the floor.

Brunson was doing this kind of stuff, and fans were starting to dream of ticker-tape in the not-so-distant future.

With five minutes to go, the Knicks were up six. But wait. Not so fast. Tyrese Maxey, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Joel Embiid weren't quite ready to leave yet, and all contributed some hard-earned buckets. I wasn't too keen on them overstaying their welcome, but I'm not the one calling the shots around here.

Luckily, OG Anunoby was born to put an end to things like this. And he's doing it with New York written across his chest.

After buckets from Brunson and McBride in the following minute, the Knicks were up 96-90 with 28.2 seconds left to go. Philadelphia was seemingly ready to wave the white flag on their season. New York was already scheming up a game plan against Indiana. The guys did their job. Game. Set. Match.

What transpired next makes me too sick to write about. Words can't do it justice. Maybe watching it can. (Trigger warning: bad.)

Well, that'll put a damper on things.

The good news? It wasn't done yet. Five minutes of free basketball for all involved. Could the Knicks scrap this one out?

In a word, no.

Five early Jalen Brunson points were quickly scratched out by a 9-0 Philadelphia run. With the Knicks down four with 1:22 left in OT, Embiid committed the kind of foul that some states might consider a felony. A Brunson free throw and three-pointer tied the game. But it was not meant to be, and if you weren't sick to your stomach already, just watch this possession at the end of the game.

Fittingly, it was Tyrese Maxey at the line to ice the game, who collected points 45 and 46 of the night at the charity stripe, respectively. For as much crap as Embiid deserves, Maxey has been a baller this series. Respect.

Maxey has been blossoming into a star for some time now, but just mere days after winning Most Improved Player, his 46 points and 9 assists will forever be etched into Knicks lore. He shot 17-30 from the floor. He shot 7-12 from downtown. 17 of those points came in the fourth quarter. 5 more came in OT. He put forth a performance that NBA fans will remember for years to come. Perhaps an inspired Philadelphia returns to the floor once more on Thursday night, and we're facing a Game 7 at MSG this weekend. Perhaps the Sixers fold like a cheap suit and the Knicks stomp any hopes and dreams at a series comeback out. Either way, for one night, Maxey was immortal.

Despite the heartbreak, the Knicks still played hard up until the final buzzer. They left everything and more out on the court, and it's still the same team we've been watching all year. Winning Game 6 on the road at MSG 2 will just be that much sweeter.

Some things:

• DiVincenzo continues to struggle from beyond the arc. Once again, it was Deuce getting run down the stretch instead of Ragu. Something to monitor.
• 53 minutes for Hart. 51 minutes for Brunson. 50 minutes for Anunoby.
• Only six offensive rebounds for the Knicks this game. They lost on the glass tonight, 46-40.
• Knicks not named Jalen Brunson shot 6/25 from deep tonight.
• Do the Knicks stick to a seven man rotation Thursday night after such extended minutes for the starters? Knowing Thibs, no. But a couple stopgap Burks minutes could plug a hole that's in need of plugging.

Not to be dramatic, but this is one of the most deflating Knicks losses of the century and I want to cry. We're still up 3-2 in the series, but boy. That'll sting. This is the kind of loss that makes you sick for years to come.

The good news? Tomorrow's a new day. Two more chances to win one. Let's right our wrongs. Go get some sleep, if you can.

Go Knicks.