Comedian Jon Stewart sat courtside at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night to watch Game 5 between his beloved New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers.
He cheered on as the Knicks built a substantial lead in the game’s final minute. New York, up by six points, was just 25 seconds away from advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
And then 76ers star Tyrese Maxey took over. Maxey outscored the Knicks 7–1 by himself in the final 25 seconds, forcing Game 5 to go to overtime, where the 76ers outlasted New York and won 112–106. There will be a Game 6 in Philadelphia.
Right before overtime, TNT cameras followed Maxey to the 76ers’ bench after his heroic effort to save his team’s season. But as the broadcast lauded Maxey, cameras captured Stewart looking rather stunned as the 76ers guard strolled past him. The comedian quickly became a meme.
Stewart chimed in about the viral moment on social media.
Like all Knicks fans, Stewart will have to wait until Thursday for New York’s next chance to close out the first-round series. If they do, it will mark the Knicks’ third series win since 2000.
