To describe game 2 between the Knicks and Sixers we must necessarily start from the end, from the 30 seconds that decided the game. Before those 30 seconds there had been a solid performance from Philadelphia, who with the usual Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey on the front line were about to score an away goal and bring the series back to parity. Jalen Brunson, once again inaccurate at shooting (24 points and 8/29 from the field) was perhaps the symbol of a willing but wasteful New York who found themselves at -5 with half a minute to play.
With his team below him 96-101 Brunson finds the only triple of his game with 30 seconds left. On the next throw, Brunson himself and Hart pressure Maxey, who perhaps suffers a foul and loses the ball, Philadelphia is unable to call a time out and DiVincenzo has a first opportunity to score the pass but his triple ends up on the rim. Hartenstein snatches the attacking rebound and the ball reaches DiVincenzo again, who without hesitation takes another triple and sets off a roar in Madison Square Garden.
In game 1 the hero for the Knicks was Miles “Deuce” McBride, while in game 2 DiVincenzo took the spotlight. The guard from New York has the courage to take a second triple at the end after just missing one, finishing at 19 with 4/8 from three, in complete contrast with his team which shoots 33.3% from long range but manages in any case to take a 2-0 lead.
If it weren’t for that final turnover that kickstarted the Knicks’ comeback, Maxey’s game 2 would be a true masterpiece. The Philadelphia guard almost achieved a triple double with 35 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds, shooting 54.5% from the field and playing just under 45 minutes.
For Embiid, the regret of Game 2 lies in the triple at the final siren which could have taken the game to overtime, but the Sixers star still finished with 34 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists, demonstrating that even in less than optimal physical conditions he is capable of able to make a difference.