Maxey’s 28-footer with 1:09 left gave the Sixers a 100-96 lead. It grew by one more point. Then, it evaporated.
The pivotal sequence began with 27.1 seconds left. Brunson hit a three-point shot to the cut the Sixers lead to two. The Knicks pressed the subsequent inbounds pass. Nurse tried to call timeout once before the ball went in to a double-teamed Maxey. He tried again as Maxey fought through a grab and some further contact to control the ball. The whistle never blew. Maxey ended up on the ground. The ball ended up in Knicks possession.
“Unacceptable,” Embiid said. “Tyrese got fouled a couple of times. We just had the same thing happen in the game against Miami. That’s just unacceptable to put us in that situation. That’s [bleeping] unacceptable to lose a game like this, especially in the playoffs.”
“Everybody on the floor was trying to call a timeout, myself included. Nico, the coach on the sideline, but they didn’t give it to us. But forget about the timeouts. There was a bunch of fouls. LIke I said, that’s [bleeping] unacceptable.”