PHILADELPHIA — The Knicks had been lacking their KAT, whereas the 76ers had been and not using a a lot bigger portion of their litter.
With Karl-Anthony Cities sidelined with a sprained proper thumb — and as The Put up first reported, additionally a bone chip in the identical digit — the Knicks flushed a 16-point first-half lead earlier than barely pulling out a 125-119 time beyond regulation win Wednesday evening over the Sixers at Wells Fargo Middle.
Jalen Brunson scored eight of his game-high 38 factors within the additional session, whereas fellow Villanova alum Mikal Bridges contributed 23 because the Knicks improved to 27-15 forward of Friday’s house conflict towards Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and the Timberwolves on the Backyard.
Josh Hart additionally registered his fifth triple-double of the season with 10 factors, 17 rebounds, 12 assists and 4 steals for the Knicks.
Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond had been among the many rotation regulars sidelined for Philly (15-23), though Tyrese Maxey (33 factors) and Paul George (26) returned after sitting out the earlier evening’s loss to the Thunder.
The Knicks linked on 10 of 19 from lengthy distance (52.9 p.c) and led by as many as 16 within the first half earlier than taking a 60-47 lead into intermission. Reserve guards Miles McBride and Cam Payne added two treys apiece within the first two quarters.
Hart fed fill-in starter Jericho Sims (eight factors) for a dunk early within the third, however a transition bucket by Maxey drew the Sixers inside 9. A Maxey 3-pointer shaved the Knicks’ cushion to 6 halfway by means of the quarter, however OG Anunoby responded with a triple and Bridges added a driving layup to push the lead again into double digits.
Sims flushed one other jam with barely two minutes remaining, however three consecutive buckets by George closed the hole to 1. A Brunson scoop put the Knicks up by three, however Jeff Dowtin Jr. banked in a 3-pointer for an 85-85 knot coming into the ultimate interval.
The sport was nonetheless even with 9 minutes to play, however the Knicks scored the following seven, together with a pleasant bounce on a nook 3 by McBride for a 96-89 edge.
After Justin Edwards’ mid-range jumper and 3-point blast reduce it to 2, McBride hustled again for a pickpocket steal resulting in close-range buckets by Hart and Brunson for a 100-94 sport on the 5-minute mark.
Lengthy-range baskets by Maxey and Edwards evened issues once more, however Hart stripped Kelly Oubre and soared in for a dunk to generate roars from the boisterous Knicks followers in attendance.
Valuable Achiuwa then rejected Maxey on the rim, and Anunoby drilled a triple from the proper nook to make it 107-102 with 1:26 to go.
the 76ers. NBAE through Getty Photographs
Brunson sank a right-side runner after a Maxey three-point play, however he coughed up the ball with seven seconds to go and Anunoby was referred to as for goaltending towards Maxey for an additional tie with 3.2 ticks left in regulation.
Anunoby missed an 18-footer on the fourth-quarter buzzer, however he drove the baseline for a two-handed jam to kick off an 8-0 run to open time beyond regulation. Brunson additionally sank a 3-pointer and added 5 free throws to loud chants of “MVP” for a 119-111 sport.
