The Philadelphia 76ers are back home in Philly to take on the New York Knicks in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series after an amazing win on Tuesday night.
The Knicks have to feel some pressure after losing in Madison Square Garden when it looked like they had the game and series secured. In the crucial final seconds with a 6-point deficit, Tyrese Maxey decided he had enough and scored seven points, including a three-pointer from the Knicks logo to tie the game. A Nico Batum block on Jalen Brunson and some clutch overtime play and the Sixers are back home looking to even the series.
76ers vs Knicks game information
Who: New York Knicks (3-2) at Philadelphia 76ers (2-3)
When: 9:00 pm EST
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia PA
Watch: TNT, HBO MAX
76ers vs Knicks betting odds
Moneyline: Philadelphia 76ers -155 | New York Knicks +130
Spread: Philadelphia 76ers -3 | New York Knicks +3
Total: 205
Latest on the 76ers
Much has been said about the 76ers’ supporting cast during the first round and how very little they’ve contributed to the team. Yet, when Joel Embiid was having a bad shooting night and his ball-handling was even worse, the rest of the team stepped up.
In stepped Tobias Harris, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Nico Batum, all of whom had very good games and made plays when the Sixers needed them. Harris, who’s been the invisible man for the entire series, finished with 19 points and 8 rebounds, on 7-11 shooting. He shot 3-6 on his three-pointers and gave the Sixers some life with important points defensive hustle that he hasn’t shown in a long time.
Tyrese Maxey’s sensational night on the national stage would have undoubtedly lit a spark under the Sixers, and one they’ll be looking to carry into this fateful matchup.
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Latest on the Knicks
The Knicks have to be wondering what else they can do to make this Sixers team go away. They’ve had big games from players that you wouldn’t expect and when one isn’t playing well, its seems that others step up. They’ve been the textbook definition of the word “team” in the five games against the Sixers. They’re still led by a star in Jalen Brunson but the team has been doing it all and stepping up, each player, when needed.
Brunson has looked a the star the Knicks haven’t had in years, leading the league during the playoffs in scoring at 34.4 points per game. He’s also averaging 8.4 assists per game and still finding 4.8 rebounds. He’s been all over the court, doing his best to lead the Knicks to victory.
What Bruson has seemed to master is the contact initiation foul call, which he’s been using to his advantage throughout the series. While people may get upset, it’s working and Brunson seems to know when to use it. If it was all game, there wouldn’t be the calls but he’s smart enough to pick and choose when to use it and how to get himself to the line. He’s played brilliantly so far in this series.
The rest of the Knicks have been picking up for one and other all series, while still giving their all in order to win games. When Josh Hart struggled in Game 4, shooting 0-7 form the field, he picked up 17 rebounds to help the team win. In Game 5, Hart came back strong and while only shooting 7-17 from the floor, he scored 17 points and had 9 rebounds. Hart’s biggest mistake may have been missing a free throw at the end of the game but he still played well.
OG Anunoby and Miles McBride finished with 17 and 14 points for the game, adding 10 rebounds between the two of them. Donte DiVincenzo has been quiet since his 19 points in Game 2 but he’s still pressuring and fighting through. If they’re going to close the series out though, they’re going to need the very best from everyone.
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What to watch for tonight
This is the second of three straight do-or-die games for the Sixers and if Tuesday night was any indication, Philadelphia doesn’t look like they’ll be going anywhere. The team rode an eight-game winning streak to end the regular season before beating the Heat. Since then, it’s been tough sledding, yet here they are on the verge of coming back from being down 3-1 in the series when all hope had looked like it was lost.
Tyrese Maxey has only been passed up in hustle and highlights this postseason by Anthony Edwards of the Timberwolves. He took over the game on Tuesday night and is becoming an even bigger star this series than he’d already developed into during the regular season.
While it’s a do-or-die game, you have to imagine that the team will finally deliver a complete game on the back of a late-game surge to raise confidence. They can’t go out like this, at home, after what they had shown at the end of the season.
When the chips were down, instead of folding, they found a way to win as a team. There is still plenty of Meat on the Bone and that should be scary to the Knicks and their fans.
Also, Scott Foster is the referee for tonights game. Take that as you see fit.
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Prediction
Sixers 121 – 109 Knicks
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
