Philadelphia 76ers star Stephen A. Smith believes his team was unfairly denied a victory in their Game 2 loss to the New York Knicks. With 47 seconds remaining and the Sixers leading 101-96, the Knicks staged an improbable comeback. Jalen Brunson sank a three-pointer, Donte DiVincenzo drained two more, and Isaiah Hartenstein secured the offensive rebound before DiVincenzo’s game-winning shot. Smith, despite being a Knicks fan, claims the officials missed several key calls, including a potential foul on Tyrese Maxey. However, Sixers fans took to social media to challenge his opinion, arguing that Maxey committed a foul on Josh Hart and that both teams had missed calls.
The Sixers’ late-game collapse was a bitter pill to swallow, especially considering their strong start. They led by as many as 15 points in the third quarter, but the Knicks chipped away at the lead and eventually took control in the final minutes. Smith believes the officials played a role in the Sixers’ downfall, but fans were quick to point out that both teams had missed opportunities.
The Sixers will now look to bounce back in Game 3 on Friday night. They will need to find a way to slow down the Knicks’ potent offense, which has averaged 114.5 points per game in the series. The Knicks, meanwhile, will be looking to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the series.
