Tyrese Maxey’s Late Surge Leads 76ers’ Stunning Overtime Victory Over Knicks

In an electrifying turn of events, Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey redeemed his earlier NBA playoff missteps with a remarkable comeback in Game 5 against the New York Knicks, pushing the series back to Philadelphia with a 112-106 overtime win at Madison Square Garden.

Maxey, who had been pivotal in the 76ers’ ups and downs this series, scored seven points in the final 28.9 seconds of regulation Tuesday night. His explosive finish included consecutive 3-pointers, the first accompanied by a foul for a rare four-point play, erasing a six-point deficit and setting the stage for overtime.

Reflecting on his performance, Maxey said, “Our season was on the line. I trusted my work, found my spot, raised up, and knocked it down.”

This game’s dramatic conclusion was reminiscent of Game 2, where the Knicks made a similar last-second comeback. Now, history had reversed, with the 76ers pulling off a miraculous recovery, marking the second such comeback in this series within just a 10-day span.

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau expressed frustration over the loss, emphasizing the need for toughness in maintaining leads.

“We had a lead. We’ve got to play tougher with the lead,” Thibodeau stated. “We fouled in a situation we didn’t want to foul in, and then Maxey makes a big shot. We’ve got to do better.”

On the opposing bench, 76ers coach Nick Nurse kept the mood hopeful during the tense moments before the comeback, strategizing the play that led to Maxey’s game-tying 3-pointer.

“It’s still a two-possession game,” Nurse recalled telling his team during a crucial timeout.

The game continued its high stakes into overtime, with Jalen Brunson scoring all nine of New York’s points in the extra period. However, Maxey, along with Joel Embiid—who despite health challenges achieved his first playoff triple-double—secured the win with crucial plays in the final moments.

As the series now moves back to Philadelphia for Game 6, both teams are preparing for another intense matchup.

“I’m trying to flush the game,” Maxey said, looking ahead. “We can’t let this roll over. We have to watch this like a whole new game. Our season is back on the line again come Thursday.”

This series has proven to be a nail-biter, with Philadelphia and New York closely matched, the total score over five games favoring the 76ers by only two points. Fans can expect another thrilling finish as the teams regroup for the next showdown.