The New York Knicks (37-26) rode into tonight’s game on a high, having held the Orlando Magic to their fewest points of the season on Friday. The win regained New York’s hold on fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Tonight’s opponent, the Philadelphia 76ers (35-28) had lost three straight games, would be playing without their two leading scorers (Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey), and had already lost twice to the Knicks this season. As such, New York was heavily favored to clean Philly’s clocks.
And yet. The Knicks and 76ers struggled offensively and barely managed to tie the game at 15 apiece by the end of the first quarter.