Donte’s 3 Sinks Philadelphia

Photo: Special to the NY Beacon

For the second straight game in the best of seven games between the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers, the Knicks needed someone other than guard Jalen Brunson to get them over the top. Game 1 saw Miles “Deuce” McBride come off the bench raining 3’s en route to a 111-104 victory. Monday night saw Brunson’s college teammate Donte DiVincenzo bail out the team when it looked like Philly would even the series at 1 game each. 

It took a furious finish in order for the Knicks to come away with the 104-101 win on a night when Brunson once again struggled from the floor as the Sixers were hell bent on making sure he worked hard to get a good look at the basket. Said head coach Tom Thibodeau of the Sixers defending Brunson, “look, they are paying a lot of attention to him.” 

New York avoided another slow start similar to game one but still trailed after the first quarter (25-18) as Brunson missed 6 of his first 8 shots. Meanwhile, Sixers center Joel Embiid and guard Tyrese Maxey who were both listed as questionable, paced their team combining for 21 points. Although the Knicks outscored Philly in the second quarter (31-28) they still trailed by 4 at halftime 53-49. 

The Knicks defense stepped up in the third quarter limiting Philadelphia to 21 points taking a 79-74 lead. New York got unexpected offense from center Isiah Hartenstein who scored 10 points after being held scoreless in the first half. But it would be his play on both the offensive and defensive glass that allowed the team to escape with the victory. 

New York was in the driver’s seat after a McBride basket and foul put them up 90-82 but Philly would not fold. Maxey scored 5 points and a Kyle Lowry free throw gave the Sixers a 5-point lead (101-96) with 45.1 left. That’s when Hartenstein came up with the biggest rebound of his career. 

Brunson got a lucky bounce resulting in a 3-ponter cutting the lead to 101-99. With the Knicks pressuring the inbound pass under the Sixers basket, Maxey falls down with Josh Hart coming up with the ball. He passes it off to DiVincenzo who misses the 3-point attempt. Hartenstein muscles his way for the rebound passing it out to OG Anunoby getting the ball back to DiVincenzo at the top of the key who did not miss the second time giving the Knicks a 101-102 lead. Philly had one last chance with 7.1 left.

Maxey gets the ball in his back court and drives left and attempting a lay-up but Hartenstein blocks his shot with Anunoby grabbing the rebound getting fouled. He converts both free throws and then New York sees Embiid throw up a 3-point prayer that was not answered sending the 19,812 frenzied crowd home with a victory. 

Hartenstein talked about the offensive rebound and the block on Maxey. “My mindset was go get the ball. It was just kind of instinct.” Maxey had a running start on his lay-up attempt. Said Isiah, “I was just timing it. I thought he was going to go back to his right so l was timing his right hand lay-up and he went to his left hand and that is how it just kind of played out.”

All 5 Knicks starters scored in double figures led by Brunson with 24. Maxey led all scorers with 35 with Embiid finishing with 34. 

With the Knicks up 2-0, the series moved to Philadelphia for game 3 Thursday night with game 4 taking place Sunday afternoon.