The New York Knicks might have once again, blown their chance of showing the Philadelphia 76ers to the door. With intentions to finish the job tonight, the Knicks started with great energy, taking a 22-point lead early in the first half. However, instead of doubling down on the lead, Jalen Brunson’s squad blew their advantage in the second quarter and ended up on the losing side of the score at halftime, trailing by three points. Even Charles Barkley was left in utter disbelief after witnessing the Knicks’ ‘stupid’ strategy.

Frustrated during the half time show on Inside The NBA, Barkley addressed the Knicks’ disastrous meltdown in the second quarter. “The Knicks, I don’t know what the hell they’re doing… That’s just stupid.” Despite clearly seeing that Joel Embiid is not at his 100% and is practically playing on one leg, the Knicks constantly double teamed him in the first half, giving Embiid a chance to dish out easy hockey assists to open teammates. And Barkley could not wrap his head around why the Knicks were doubling Embiid if he wasn’t a threat on offense.

Because of the Knicks’ confusing strategy, Buddy Hield caught fire after coming off the bench, scoring 17 points in the first half. Shooting lights out five of seven from the three-point line, Hield changed the game for the Sixers, helping them outscore the Knicks by seventeen points in the second quarter. Then, the Knicks’ choke job even led New York native Kenny Smith to throw away his Knicks pocket square in embarrassment during the halftime show and replace it with a new one.

The Knicks survive despite their first-half mistake

It looks like Charles Barkley was not the only one who realized that the Knicks’ strategy to double-team Embiid hurt them. Because in the second half, Tom Thibodeau corrected his mistake and helped the Knicks do what they have done best all season: dominate. Then, responding brilliantly in the third quarter, the Knicks tied the game heading into the fourth, which led to a nail-biting finish in the final twelve minutes.

Putting up 41 points on the board, Jalen Brunson proved why he was named an All-Star earlier this year. On top of that, he hit some clutch shots in the closing minutes of the game while also dishing out twelve assists to his teammates. Then, the momentum shifted completely when OG Anunoby put Embiid on a poster, and silenced the Philly crowd. Just when the fans thought the game was over, the Sixers bounced back to tie the game again at 111-111.

But Philly’s hopes shattered after Josh Hart hit a go ahead three-point shot to give his team a three-point lead with less than thirty seconds remaining. Playing hot potato, several Knicks players went to the foul line soon after but the Sixers could not make another comeback. Thus ended the Sixers’ season at the hands of the Knicks and their dream to win a Championship. And it might have been possible if the Knicks stuck to their strategy of blitzing Joel Embiid, as Barkley pointed out.