April 23, (THEWILL)- The New York Knicks overcame a late deficit to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 104-101 in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference playoff series. The Knicks now hold a commanding 2-0 lead as the series shifts to Philadelphia.
With 47 seconds remaining, the 76ers held a five-point advantage. However, the tide turned swiftly as Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo drained consecutive three-pointers for the Knicks, the latter coming after a crucial turnover by Tyrese Maxey. DiVincenzo’s go-ahead triple with 13 seconds left proved to be the dagger, capping a remarkable comeback.
Despite Joel Embiid’s valiant effort of 34 points and 10 rebounds, and Maxey’s 35-point performance, the 76ers could not hold on to their late lead. The Knicks’ resilience and timely shooting proved decisive, even as Brunson struggled with his shot, finishing just 29% from the field over the first two games.
The 76ers intend to file a complaint with the NBA regarding officiating decisions in Games 1 and 2, citing two calls from Game 1 that disadvantaged them, according to a team spokesperson. They will also argue that a timeout should have been granted after Brunson’s three-pointer, which could have prevented the costly turnover leading to DiVincenzo’s game-winner.
With the series now shifting to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Thursday, the 76ers find themselves in a precarious position, facing the prospect of an early playoff exit once again in the Embiid Era.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
