In an electrifying turn of events at the Madison Square Garden, Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers single-handedly saved his team's season in Game 5 of the NBA playoffs against the New York Knicks. With only seconds remaining on the clock and his team trailing by six points, Maxey displayed an unprecedented level of determination and skill, scoring a remarkable seven points in just 28.9 seconds to force overtime.
Maxey's heroics began with a clutch three-point shot that cut the Knicks' lead to just one point. Mitch Robinson was then called for a foul on Maxey during this play, allowing him to make a free throw and tie the game at 106 all.
With time running out, Josh Hart missed one of his two free throws, giving the 76ers an opportunity to take the lead. However, it was not until Tom Thibodeau's decision not to foul that Maxey was able to make a potential game-winning shot from beyond the arc.
Maxey's late burst came after he had vowed to make up for his mistakes in Game 2, which had contributed significantly to the Sixers' loss. This was the second time within ten days that a team had recovered from a deficit of at least five points inside the final 30 seconds and won the game in this series.
The 76ers went on to win in overtime, keeping their Eastern Conference playoff hopes alive with a score of 112-106. Maxey finished the game with a career-playoff-high of 46 points, while Joel Embiid contributed a triple-double with 19 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists.
The Knicks had led for much of the game despite Joel Embiid's struggles due to various injuries. Jalen Brunson top-scored for the Knicks with 40 points but missed a crucial free throw late in the game that could have sealed their victory.
Game 6 is set to take place in Philadelphia, with both teams looking to capitalize on their recent performances and secure a spot in the next round.
