Maxey magic helps Sixers stay alive
NEW YORK—Tyrese Maxey produced a 46-point gem as the Philadelphia 76ers stunned the Knicks, 112-106, in overtime to keep their National Basketball Association (NBA) Eastern Conference playoff hopes alive on Tuesday.
Maxey led the Sixers back from the brink of defeat in the fourth quarter with a late burst of scoring before dominating in overtime to ensure a Game 6 back in Philadelphia.
Still leading the best-of-seven series 3-1 heading into Tuesday’s game, the Knicks had looked poised to clinch after Jalen Brunson helped the second seeds take a six-point lead with 29 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
But Maxey drained a three-pointer from 24 feet and then hit a stunning 34-footer from the logo with nine seconds left to send a pulsating duel into overtime.
Other ideas
It looked as if the Knicks had reclaimed the initiative after Brunson scored five points to give New York a five-point lead before a raucous Madison Square Garden crowd.
Yet Maxey and NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid had other ideas, launching a 9-0 run to give the Sixers a 106-102 advantage. New York pegged it back to 106-106 but the Sixers regrouped and pulled clear again to seal victory.
“Season on the line, we fought for 53 minutes and never gave up,” Maxey said. “Even when we were down late, guys still went out there and made plays—that was big time.” —AFP
