'This game is crazy': Stars weigh in on 76ers-Knicks ending
-
Brianna Williams, ESPN
Trailing 101-96 with just under 50 seconds remaining, the New York Knicks had a win probability of just 4% and needed a little bit of playoff magic to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers.
And the “Nova Knicks” were happy to oblige.
New York went on an 8-0 run in the final 30 seconds to win Game 2 against Philly, 104-101.
According to Elias Sports Bureau, the Knicks are the fourth team in the past 25 seasons to win a playoff game after trailing by at least five points in the final 30 seconds of regulation. They are the first to win in regulation.
Here’s how they made history:
With 30 seconds left in regulation, Donte DiVincenzo dished the ball to Jalen Brunson, who scored on a 3-pointer from the wing to shrink the deficit to two points.
On the very next play, chaos ensued on the Sixers’ inbounds attempt. Josh Hart came up with the ball and tossed it to an open DiVincenzo, who missed a go-ahead 3-point attempt with 15.1 seconds remaining — but that was plenty of time for the Knicks.
Isaiah Hartenstein grabbed the offensive board and passed to OG Anunoby, who found DiVincenzo at the top of the arc, and this time he cashed in on the 25-foot jumper to put the Knicks up 102-101 with 13.1 seconds left.
As if the Knicks needed any more momentum, Hartenstein blocked Tyrese Maxey‘s go-ahead layup attempt.
Anunoby sank two free throws to wrap up the victory — and the Madison Square Garden crowd celebrated accordingly.
“There’s no building in basketball that sounds like Madison Square Garden.”
Mike Breen after the Knicks THRILLING Game 2 win! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/rOdRyvGHcT
— NBA (@NBA) April 23, 2024
That celebration also spilled over to the internet, where Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson and other famous NBA fans shared their thoughts on the Knicks’ late-game heroics.
Bro this game is crazy!!!!! #NBAPlayoffs
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) April 23, 2024
Oh MY! What a wild 30 Seconds!!! This is a great game! @NYKnicks vs @Sixers
— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) April 23, 2024
Our guys @jalenbrunson1 and @Divincenzo with two HUGE 3s to seal the Win in Game 2😤@jalenbrunson1 24 pts | 8 reb | 6 ast@Divincenzo 19 pts | 4 reb@joshhart 21 pts | 15 reb pic.twitter.com/dY3NKXVMHr
— Villanova MBB (@NovaMBB) April 23, 2024
that game was crazy!!
— Nino (@qdiggs6) April 23, 2024
Wut. Wild sequence in MSG.
— JJ Redick (@jj_redick) April 23, 2024
Hartenstein is the hero of the Knicks with his 14 point, 8 rebound performance! Both the game-winning offensive rebound that led to DiVincenzo’s game-winning 3 AND the block that secured the victory?!🔥 What a wild, fun, and exciting playoff game!!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 23, 2024
KKKKKKNNNIIIIIIIIIIIICCKKKKKKSSSS
— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) April 23, 2024
Oh My God 🧡💙
— Josh Hart (@joshhart) April 23, 2024
