AP – An eight-point lead was gone. The Knicks’ edge in the series and home-court advantage seemed about to follow. Madison Square Garden had fallen nearly silent.
“I mean, it wasn’t a good feeling,” Donte DiVincenzo said.
Moments later, it was bedlam.
DiVincenzo made a go-ahead three-pointer with 13 seconds remaining after a desperate scramble, and New York beat the Philadelphia 76ers 104-101 yesterday to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round play-off series.
The Knicks trailed by five points within the final 30 seconds before one of the most stunning rallies in playoff history, starting when Jalen Brunson finally got a shot to fall during an otherwise miserable shooting night. Brunson’s three-pointer from the corner bounced on the rim and fell in, cutting it to 101-99 with 27 seconds remaining. Josh Hart stole the ball from Tyrese Maxey to get the ball back for the Knicks, but DiVincenzo missed a three-pointer.
Isaiah Hartenstein grabbed the rebound and passed it to OG Anunoby, who got it back to DiVincenzo, who hit that one to make it 102-101.
“It was crazy, it was hectic, but at that point we had nothing to lose,” Hart said. “Got to get as physical as we can and it panned out.”
Hartenstein then blocked Maxey’s drive, Anunoby made two free throws, and the Knicks held on when Joel Embiid missed a three-pointer at the buzzer.
Brunson finished with 24 points despite going eight for 29 from the field. Hart had 21 points and 15 rebounds, and DiVincenzo scored 19 points.
