In a heart-stopping turnaround at Madison Square Garden, the Philadelphia 76ers mounted an incredible comeback in Game 5 of their first-round NBA playoff series against the New York Knicks, erasing a six-point deficit with just 28.2 seconds remaining.
Facing elimination, the Sixers displayed the resilience and determination that defines the intensity of playoff basketball.
As the game seemed to be slipping away, Tyrese Maxey transformed his earlier missteps into a defining performance. Reflecting on the critical moments, Maxey revealed that teammate Buddy Hield provided crucial support. “Buddy Hield just kind of grabbed me,” Maxey said, “and said, ‘Listen, dude, you know what you can do. Go out there and just make up for it.'”
Spurred by Hield’s encouragement, Maxey took control. Following a timeout, he and Joel Embiid set up a high pick-and-roll. Maxey executed perfectly, drawing Knicks center Mitchell Robinson into the air with a pump fake, then drawing a foul and sinking a leaning three-pointer. This pivotal play significantly shifted the momentum.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
The Sixers were still down three when Maxey, assisted by an Embiid screen near halfcourt, pulled up from the logo and nailed a game-tying three-pointer. Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse praised Maxey’s decision to take the deep shot.
“We had a little play call that has a counter to it, and one of the options is him just pulling up,” Nurse said. “Now I know that was a deep one, but he raised it up there and took his chance.”
Maxey, reflecting on the moment, said, “Going through my mind right there was just find a way to survive. Season’s on the line. I trust my work, I trust what I’ve done all my life. And just try to get to a spot and raise up and knock a shot down.”
In overtime, when the Sixers initially fell behind by five points, the team didn’t lose composure. “The crowd was into it, we didn’t give up,” Nicolas Batum said. “Stayed cool, relaxed, make some stops, make big plays.”
Maxey hit another critical three, assisted by Embiid, who then made three defensive plays in a row: contesting Hart in transition, followed by a strip and a block against Knicks star Jalen Brunson on consecutive drives.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Embiid, who has been managing injuries and was not at his physical best, reflected on the team’s performance and his contributions. “I don’t think we played great,” Nurse commented. “I think that’s all it was, was guts. We hung in there.”
Embiid was more critical of his own performance, admitting, “I was terrible” and was “careless with the ball” at times, but he maintained he had “good intentions to make the right play.”
Ultimately, Maxey’s 46 points and Embiid’s near triple-double of 19 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists, propelled the Sixers to a 112-106 overtime victory. The win not only kept their playoff hopes alive but also set a tone of fierce determination and capability to overcome adversity.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Maxey remained humble and focused when reflecting on the evening and the comparison to historical performances. After the game, Kevin Johnson, Philadelphia’s head athletic trainer, mentioned Maxey’s performance alongside Reggie Miller‘s legendary feats at MSG.
“I gotta go back and watch it a little bit more,” Maxey said, mindful of the game’s place in history.
The stunning silence of Knicks fans as they exited the arena encapsulated the shocking turn of events, leaving many in disbelief at the dramatic shift in the series.
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