A once-comfortable eight-point lead had evaporated, leaving the Knicks on the brink of relinquishing their series advantage and home-court dominance, as the atmosphere at Madison Square Garden fell eerily silent.
Donte DiVincenzo recalled the tense moments, acknowledging the unsettling shift in momentum.
However, in a dramatic turn of events, bedlam ensued.
DiVincenzo’s clutch 3-pointer with a mere 13 seconds remaining, amidst a chaotic scramble, propelled New York to a thrilling 104-101 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night, securing a commanding 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series.
The Knicks found themselves trailing by five points with less than 30 seconds remaining, before embarking on one of the most stunning comebacks in playoff history. Jalen Brunson kickstarted the rally with a crucial 3-pointer, reducing the deficit to 101-99. A steal by Josh Hart and subsequent missed 3-pointer by DiVincenzo seemed to spell doom for New York, until a crucial offensive rebound and assist from Isaiah Hartenstein set the stage for DiVincenzo’s heroics.
Following Hartenstein’s crucial block on Tyrese Maxey’s drive and two clutch free throws from OG Anunoby, the Knicks clinched victory as Joel Embiid’s desperation 3-pointer fell short at the buzzer.
Despite Brunson’s resilient 24-point performance, marred by a challenging 8-for-29 shooting night, and Hart’s impactful 21-point, 15-rebound contribution, it was DiVincenzo who stole the spotlight with his pivotal play.
The remarkable comeback marked only the fourth instance in the play-by-play era, dating back to 1996-97, where a team secured a playoff win after trailing by at least five points in the final 30 seconds, according to Sportradar.
Maxey delivered a stellar performance with 35 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds, despite battling illness earlier in the day. Embiid added 34 points and 10 rebounds in a valiant effort.
With Game 3 scheduled for Thursday in Philadelphia, Embiid exuded confidence, vowing to bounce back and seize control of the series.
For the Knicks, the rollercoaster of emotions culminated in a euphoric celebration, with DiVincenzo’s heroic shot propelling them to their first 2-0 series lead since 2013.
As the spotlight shines on DiVincenzo, Hartenstein, and Anunoby, the Knicks prepare to face their former Villanova Wildcats teammates in hostile territory for the next two games.
Despite Embiid’s resilience and Maxey’s brilliance, the Knicks capitalized on their depth and resilience to secure a pivotal victory, setting the stage for an electrifying remainder of the series.
