The New York Knicks blow game five against the Philadelphia 76ers 112-106. Grave mistakes and missed free throws down the stretch cost New York the series-clincher.
The New York Knicks let a game-clinching victory slip through their fingers, losing to the Philadelphia 76’ers 112-106. The Knicks held a 6-point lead with 30 seconds left to regulation, but their execution failed.
Mitchell Robinson fouled Tyrese Maxey on a three-pointer in those waning moments, creating a four-point play. Josh Hart missed one of his free throws, then Deuce McBride missed the signal to foul before Maxey hit a game-tying three-pointer. Maxey’s shot forced overtime, during which the Knicks blew another five-point lead before succumbing to the Sixers.
The game played out like a prize fight, with both teams taking their best shots. But the Knicks’ offense ground to a complete reliance on Jalen Brunson isolations late. By contrast, the Sixers rode Tyrese Maxey’s hot hand but always had the threat of Joel Embiid to open things up. It’s a scary loss, but with plenty of silver linings.
So, let’s explore the individual performances, and I’ll explain my reasons for optimism in the closing thoughts.
The Knicks’ starters need a second scorer down the stretch
Jalen Brunson: 40 PTS (15/32 FG, 4/11 3PT, 6/9 FT), 6 AST, 3 REB, 3 STL, 4 TO in 51 mins
Jalen Brunson played a brilliant game but ran out of steam. He played the entire first half and barely rested in the second. Brunson kept New York’s offense chugging along, but he didn’t receive the shooting help that teammates have provided most of the series. That left Brunson taking on two and three defenders at a time to produce offense for the entire team.
Late in the game, Brunson slowed down. The Sixers sent aggressive doubles to get the ball out of his hands. New York’s star had to rush his attempts before help defenders arrived, the shot clock expired, or both. He picked up an ugly turnover in overtime and missed some shots that I’ll blame on tired legs.
Brunson needed more help on offense. The Knicks can’t expect Brunson to shoulder so much while defenses load up to slow him down. If I have one complaint about Tom Thibodeau’s coaching in this series, it’s that he hasn’t figured out any way to generate easy looks for Brunson. New York’s MVP gets a 4 out of 5 for his 40-point outburst.
onte DiVincenzo: 9 PTS (3/10 FG, 1/7 3PT, 2/2 FT), 1 AST, 4 REB, 2 BLK in 26 mins
I’m looking at Donte DiVincenzo as I clamor for the supporting cast to help Brunson. DiVincenzo has shot 29% from the field and 18% from three since his game-winning shot in game two. He got good looks in game five but failed to convert his shots.
To his credit, DiVo finished both of his attempts inside the arc. If the Sixers will sell out to keep the Big Ragu off the three-point line, then he can find rhythm by attacking the paint. But DiVincenzo has to be more aggressive in getting into the teeth of the defense.
DiVincenzo’s effort in the second half sparked positive moments. He had a great trailing block and chased down loose balls. But the Knicks, especially Brunson, need more offense from the second-leading scorer on their healthy roster. DiVo gets a 1 out of 5 for his poor shooting.
Josh Hart: 18 PTS (7/17 FG, 1/6 3PT, 3/5 FT), 4 AST, 9 REB, 1 BLK, 2 TO in 53 mins
Josh Hart played quality ball for most of this game, but his jump shot came back to Earth, and he closed the game poorly. Hart missed a free throw in the final minute that would have put the game out of reach. His miss set the stage for Tyrese Maxey’s game-tying heroics. Then, in overtime, Hart missed a contested layup that led to a Sixers’ transition bucket.
But Hart’s late struggles shouldn’t erase his hard work the rest of the way. The Knicks’ energizer played a ridiculous 53 minutes, battled for boards, and pushed the pace throughout that span. He practically willed his way to 18 points despite his jumper failing him.
We’ve finally seen Josh Hart run out of steam. He looked tired by the end of this game, which was a first. Late-game execution is a blemish on Hart’s performance, but I can’t hit him too hard after his incredible effort. Hart gets a 3 out of 5 for his constant hustle.
OG Anunoby: 17 PTS (7/12 FG, 2/5 3PT, 1/2 FT), 6 REB, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 4 TO in 50 mins
OG Anunoby played well, but his performance left me worried. Anunoby attacked mismatches whenever smaller defenders switched onto him. But as the game wore on, OG turned the ball over and repeatedly grabbed at his elbow after the plays. He seemed more susceptible to strips than normal, and I suspect a sore elbow played a role.
The good news is that OG’s jumper didn’t show ill effects from the elbow. He hit a pair of big threes and knocked down his midrange looks. If the Sixers gave Anunoby space, he cashed in the opportunities.
Anunoby’s defense didn’t steal the show like last time. It was decent but not great, which perfectly describes his entire performance. OG did plenty of good, but never rose above and beyond his role. That’s good for a 3 out of 5 on his performance score.
Isaiah Hartenstein: 6 PTS (1/2 FG, 4/4 FT), 4 AST, 7 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO in 27 mins
Isaiah Hartenstein finally avoided foul trouble while defending Joel Embiid. He did well staying in Embiid’s space without getting his hands close enough for a whistle. But I’m slightly disappointed by I-Hart’s production, even though it wasn’t bad.
My main complaint is that Embiid was clearly hobbled, but Hartenstein only took two field goal attempts. He’d used perpetual motion to get free looks throughout the past two games but didn’t find open spaces this time. It should have been easier for Hartenstein to break free from Embiid, but instead, he flew under the radar.
That said, I want a more aggressive Hartenstein because he made so much from his touches. I-Hart threw 4 assists and turned two attempts into six points. He rebounded and defended well. It’s enough for a 3.5 out of 5 impact, but I think he left some meat on the bone.
New York’s second unit is down to two
Miles McBride: 14 PTS (6/11 FG, 2/7 3PT), 4 AST, 4 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 33 mins
Miles McBride forced his way into a bigger role. The Knicks needed offense, and Deuce wasn’t afraid to shoot. McBride made his own runs, scoring five points in a row on two separate occasions. Both times energized the Garden crowd, though he would have ripped the lid off the arena if he’d hit one more three.
Deuce’s defense wasn’t enough to stop Tyrese Maxey. But watch the replay of some shots Maxey made, and it’s hard to blame our perimeter stopper. McBride does bear some blame for missing Thibodeau’s signal to foul on Maxey’s game-tying three from the logo.
McBride played a great game, though I’m sure he’s kicking himself over the end of regulation. But I can forgive one mistake when he provided the Knicks with a much-needed offensive punch. McBride gets a 3 out of 5 for his strong game.
Mitchell Robinson: 2 PTS (1/2 FG, 0/2 FT), 7 REB, 3 STL, 2 BLK, 1 TO in 25 mins
Mitchell Robinson made it back to the court and turned in an impressive defensive performance. He gave Joel Embiid hell, blocking the big man’s jump shot attempt and forcing him into tough shots all night. Mitch also poked the ball loose from Embiid repeatedly, resulting in a few steals and draining the shot clock otherwise.
Robinson’s offensive output came down to a single impressive alley-oop. If you’re looking for proof he’s still hobbled, it’s in his lack of impact in the offensive paint. But the Block Ness Monster’s defense made up for lack of scoring until one late mistake. He fouled Maxey to create a four-point play, which sparked Philadelphia’s last-minute comeback.
It’s promising that Robinson isn’t completely healthy, yet he still played great defense against an MVP candidate. However, the late mistake and lack of scoring keep Mitch from reaching his potential. He played well but could be better, which earns a 2.5 out of 5.
Tom Thibodeau’s short rotation risk backfires
Tom Thibodeau must have been counting on extra rest for his players. He kept Brunson and Hart on the floor for the entire first half. As the game wound down, that may have come back to bite him. Brunson and Hart had carried the Knicks for most of the action, but their execution wilted down the stretch. Meanwhile, the players that normally step up seemed out of rhythm and over-reliant on Brunson for any playmaking.
Thibs hasn’t done much to get DiVincenzo back on track. He didn’t trust McBride to spell Brunson for even a few minutes despite McBride playing well all series. Hart has been amazing, but Precious Achiuwa could have given the sparkplug some rest. So, I’ll count this loss as one of Thibodeau’s few missteps this postseason.
Closing Thoughts:
That loss was a gut punch, particularly because we were so close to a win. But I’m optimistic that the Knicks can bounce back! The Knicks shot 28% from three-point land, 67% from the free-throw line, and lost the rebounding battle. They still forced Philadelphia to a miraculous comeback in overtime. This game was Murphy’s law embodied, and the Sixers still barely squeaked by.
I don’t expect Tyrese Maxey to shoot impossibly high percentages from ridiculous distances for two more games. I doubt the Knicks will continue to brick open looks from deep or the free-throw line. So, while it feels like the air has been knocked out of this team, I’m confident they’ll get this one back.
Thursday is a chance to erase the bad feelings and close the series out. I suspect the Philadelphia fanbase will put more effort into supporting their home team, but I’m not sure it will matter. The Knicks have every reason to play a motivated game, and I’ll be disappointed if they start flat again. We’ll see how they fare and discuss it here next time.
See you next time, Knicks fam!
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