This is how fragile it all is. This is how tenuous it can be. The Knicks were going to survive this wicked counterpunch from the 76ers after a long and trying night of the soul. Philly looked poised to steal Game 2 all night long until the Knicks reached back to 1999 or so and simply forbade the Sixers from scoring anymore — just 12 points across the 12 minutes of the fourth quarter.
It ended 108-102. The house was jazzed. The house was pumped. The Knicks had finally proved they know how to win a close game, which is certainly a useful tool in the playoffs. Maybe a few of the 19,812 had noticed that they’d done it the last few minutes without OG Anunoby but it hadn’t occurred to anyone to show concern.
The concern would come later.
And the concern has arrived now.
