Tyrese Maxey (Photo via @sixers/Twitter)
Tyrese Maxey was a thorn in the side of the New York Knicks and their fan base.

The Philadelphia 76ers guard angered celebrity row at The Garden in Game 5 of the Knicks-Sixers first-round playoff series Tuesday night. Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia 76ers were staring down what felt like the closing seconds of their 2023–24 season. However, the star guard had other ideas.

Trailing the New York Knicks 3–1 in their first-round playoff series and 96–90 in Game 5 with less than 30 seconds to play, 76ers coach Nick Nurse called a timeout and Maxey took over from there.

Coming out of the timeout, Maxey was fouled by Mitchell Robinson as he drilled a three-pointer. He knocked down the free throw to complete the four-point play.

After Josh Hart missed one of two free-throw attempts at the other end, Maxey splashed a three-pointer from near half-court.

Tie game.

Comedian Tracy Morgan was at the Garden to watch the game, and he had a front-row seat to watch his dreams go down in flames as the game got set to head to overtime.

Morgan flashed his right middle finger in the direction of Tyrese Maxey after the 23-year-old celebrated saving Philadelphia’s season with his game-tying three at the end of regulation.

Tyrese Maxey Saves The 76ers Season & Destroys The Knicks Plans

Tyrese Maxey (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Tyrese Maxey finished with 46 points, including seven three-pointers and the game-tying three to force OT.

Maxey carried the 76ers to the 112-106 overtime win against the Knicks, but still trail the series 3-2. The Knicks-Sixers first-round playoff series shifts back to Philadelphia for Game 6 at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday.

With his heroics, he stopped the Knicks from moving on to the next round and getting some much-needed rest for the next round.

The victory would’ve given the Knicks their second playoff series win since 2013.