The Knicks appeared to have Game 5 and their series against the 76ers all wrapped up on Tuesday night at the Garden — before they didn’t.
And their fans, Stephen A. Smith among them, were left completely stunned.
With the Knicks up by six points and 25.1 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Tyrese Maxey drilled a 3-pointer and was fouled by the Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson, leading to a four-point play.
After Josh Hart made just one of his two free throws on the other end, Maxey took a deep trey from 34 feet out, which tied the game at 97-97 with 8.1 seconds left.
Knicks’ loss. Stephen A. Smith/X
Jalen Brunson was blocked on his last-second attempt, and the 76ers rolled to a 112-106 overtime win to force a Game 6 in Philadelphia.
Smith, the ESPN “First Take” personality and Knicks fan, posted to X shortly after the heartbreaking loss and appeared to be a mix of frustrated and distraught.
After about eight seconds of heavy breathing and exasperation, Smith let out a loud: “Dang!”
“Why did Mitchell Robinson foul Tyrese Maxey on that 3-point shot?” Smith questioned. “Why did Josh Hart make the turnover on the outlet pass? Why did he not convert both free throws instead of just one? Why did he seem so erratic throughout the game?”
Robinson, after the game, didn’t mince words about the foul against him on Maxey.
“Just take it like a man. I f–ked up. S–t, just got to be better next game,” Robinson told reporters.
Then, Smith shifted his diatribe toward Jalen Brunson, who finished the game with 40 points.
“As great as Jalen Brunson was overall with his 40-point performance, did you not notice you had four teammates on the court with you in overtime to pass the ball to instead of taking every damn shot?”
Brunson took all but two shots in overtime and went 3 of 7 from the field as the Knicks lost the game by six.
The ESPN talking head said the Knicks, who are without Julius Randle, can’t afford to play like they did at the end of the game.
The Knicks now have to play Game 6 in Philadelphia on Thursday after coming so close to ending the series on home court.
An exasperated Smith only had one word to end his rant.
“F–k!” Smith yelled.
It’s not unlikely a that similar refrain was said throughout much of the New York metro area Tuesday night.
