Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia 76ers were staring down what felt like the closing seconds of their 2023–24 season.
Trailing the New York Knicks 3–1 in their first-round playoff series and 96–90 in Game 5, 76ers coach Nick Nurse called a timeout with 28.2 seconds left. Maxey took the reins from there.
Coming out of the timeout, Maxey was fouled by Mitchell Robinson as he drilled a three-pointer. He knocked down the free throw to complete the four-point play.
After Josh Hart missed one of two free-throw attempts at the other end, Maxey splashed a three-pointer from 34 feet, launching from the “E” in New York’s logo at center court.
Tie game.
Maxey himself outscored the Knicks 7–1 in the final 28 seconds to send it to overtime, where the 76ers edged New York 15–9 to win 112–106 and force Game 6 on Thursday at Wells Fargo Center.
The 76ers’ season lives on.
Maxey’s Herculean effort in crunch time had the entire sports world buzzing, from Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and everyone in between.
