In Tuesday’s Game 5, the 76ers found themselves trailing by six points with only 28 seconds left in regulation, giving them a mere 4.6% chance of winning. Against the odds, they managed to secure a thrilling 112-106 overtime victory over the New York Knicks, keeping their postseason hopes alive.
This comeback brought back memories of the Knicks’ own comeback in Game 2 of the series when they overcame a five-point deficit. Remarkably, the 76ers became the first team in the last 25 playoffs to come back from a deficit of at least six points in the final 30 seconds of regulation.
Tyrese Maxey was the standout performer for Philadelphia, scoring an impressive 46 points, a new playoff career high. His late-game heroics were instrumental in the victory, particularly at the end of regulation, where he either scored or assisted on the Sixers’ final 11 points, including two clutch 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to force overtime. Maxey’s performance even caught the attention of sports icons like LeBron James and Patrick Mahomes.
Maxey continued his dominance into overtime, scoring the Sixers’ first points with a remarkable 25-foot step-back jumper and later sealing the win with two crucial free throws.
Adding to the spectacle, Joel Embiid recorded his first playoff triple-double with 19 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists. Maxey and Embiid’s combined efforts made them only the fifth pair of teammates in NBA history to achieve a 40-point game and a triple-double while facing elimination.
Despite this incredible win, the Knicks still lead the series 3-2 as it heads back to Philadelphia for Game 6 on Thursday.
