Key Knicks starter OG Anunoby has been diagnosed with a hamstring strain, is day-to-day, and will be listed as questionable for Game 3 against Philadelphia on Friday night, according to multiplereports out of New York.
The key question is just how serious a strain is this? If it's just a tweak, then Anunoby may only miss a game or two, if that. However, if this is an actual Grade 1 strain, the standard recovery timeline is at least a week and maybe two, which would mean he might not return for this second-round series against the 76ers, which the Knicks lead 2-0.
The injury appeared to occur in the final minutes of the game, when Anunoby took a quick step. He still went up for a dunk a few seconds later — Paul George blocked it — and he seemed in pain when he landed. Anunoby instantly asked out of the game at that point.
Ugh… looks like a right hamstring injury for OG Anunoby.
You can see him grab at the back of his right leg on a cut with 3:00 mins remaining in the 4Q. Stays in the play got a few seconds but then immediately motions to the bench that he needs to come out pic.twitter.com/Pn9rPJvVtq
Any time he misses with this injury is a blow to the Knicks. He is averaging 21.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in these playoffs, is shooting a lights-out 53.8% from 3-point range (on almost five attempts a game) and is the team's best defender. The Knicks cannot afford to be without him for an extended period.
Expect Miles McBride and Landry Shamet to get more run while Anunoby is out. Also, Mike Brown could go with more double-big lineups with Mitchell Robinson, if he is healthy next game.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 2: Rhett Lowder #25 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on May 2, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cincinnati Reds look to salvage a game from this brutal series against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday afternoon in a vintage Wrigley Field matinee.
Rhett Lowder starts for the Reds opposite Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga, and the Reds have tweaked their lineup according. Elly De La Cruz also gets his first start at DH today, so Matt McLain will slide over and man shortstop duties for the day (with Sal Stewart at 2B).
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MAY 01: Christian Scott #45 of the New York Mets pitches against the Los Angeles Angels during the second inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 01, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Mets lineup
Juan Soto – DH Bo Bichette – 3B Mark Vientos – 1B Austin Slater – RF Marcus Semien – 2B Andy Ibanez – LF Francisco Alvarez – C Tyrone Taylor – CF Vidal Brujan – SS
DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 01: Starting pitcher Jose Quintana #52 of the Colorado Rockies throws against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Coors Field on May 01, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Colorado Rockies are one a bit of a skid, having lost six games in a row dating back to their series in Cincinnati. After a brief break for some snow, the Rockies now find themselves on the verge of being swept at home by the New York Mets for their seventh consecutive loss. The very same New York Mets the Rockies swept in Queens just over a week ago.
The left-handed José Quintana will be making the start for the Rockies. Quintana is coming off one of his best starts of the season against the Atlanta Braves. He pitched six innings while giving up just one earned run on a solo home run with three strikeouts. Quintana would unfortunately see the Rockies bullpen give up the lead he left the game with in an eventual loss.
On the mound for the visiting Metropolitans is Christian Scott. The 26-year-old righty made his debut in 2024 with a 4.56 ERA over nine starts. Unfortunately, he missed the entirety of the 2025 season needing Tommy John surgery with internal bracing.
Now healthy, Scott started the season with the Triple-A Syracuse Mets but has been called upon twice to start for the big league squad. His first outing of the season ended after just 1.1 innings when he walked five of the ten batters he faced, as well as hitting a batter and balking. Scott’s second start went much better. He struck out eight batters without any walks and gave up three runs—two earned—on three hits.
Scott has faced the Rockies once before, where he gave three earned runs on seven hits—two of which were home runs—in 4.1 innings. This season he is working with a five pitch arsenal: a mid-90s four-seam fastball, a cutter, a sweeper, a sinker, and a split finger.
The men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments will grow to 76 teams starting next season, following a vote by the NCAA selection committees, Thursday, May 7.
It’s the first time the NCAA tournament will expand on the men’s side since it went for 65 to 68 teams in 2011, and the women’s side followed suit in 2022. However, it’s the first major expansion since the men went from 53 to 64 in 1985, and the women’s jumped from 48 to 64 since 1994.
The move has been anticipated since conversations began in 2025 as NCAA president Charlie Baker has strongly vouched for expansion. Multiple college athletic directors and coaches confirmed to USA TODAY Sports on April 28 there’s an “expectation” for it to grow after ESPN reported it was in the final stages of being approved.
The proposal was accepted by the men's and women's basketball committees on May 7, and now the men's and women's basketball oversight committees, the Division I Cabinet and DI Board of Governors approval is all that's needed to finalize the move.
With eight more spots, the new NCAA tournament will have a First Four play-in that will go from eight teams in four games to 24 teams playing 12 games to advance to the first round of the tournament. It has yet to be determined where the games will be played, but it is expected to take place Tuesday and Wednesday prior to when the first round begins on Thursday.
The first round of 64 and ensuing rounds remain intact.
While the major bracket stays the same and keeps the excitement of it, the main issue with expansion is it waters down the potential field, allowing Power conference teams with subpar records in, while still keeping quality mid-major teams out.
Another factor is the expanded field will require mid-major conference tournament champions that are high seeds to play their way into the first round. In the 68-team format, the four-lowest seeded automatic qualifiers (No. 16 seeds) played in the First Four to advance to the first round.
It was not announced if there will be any changes to the selection format. The 2027 men’s NCAA Tournament is scheduled to begin on March 16 and the women’s on March 17.
Keeping Ousmane Dembélé quiet will be tough but Mikel Arteta’s side have tools to disrupt defending champions
There is no better player to watch in world football right now than Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, who manages to blend an unorthodox style with the decisive certainty of a winner. At times he was unplayable over the two legs of the semi-final with Bayern Munich and he would have crowned his showreel if, after a dazzling spin and run late in the second leg, he had beaten Manuel Neuer. Arsenal need a plan to deal with the Georgian, who brutally exposed Konrad Laimer and Dayot Upamecano in Munich. He left them both floundering when setting up Ousmane Dembélé’s goal and Arsenal’s one-on-one defending must be immaculate.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: Colin Holderman #35 of the Cleveland Guardians pitches against the Athletics in the bottom of the ninth inning of a major league baseball game at Sutter Health Park on May 02, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here’s the Guardians’ lineup:
Guardians 5/7
S. Kwan LF C. DeLauter RF J. Ramírez DH K. Manzardo 1B D. Schneemann 3B T. Bazzana 2B B. Rocchio SS B. Naylor C P. Halpin CF
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - AUGUST 12: Mascot DJ Kitty of the Tampa Bay Rays waves a flag after defeating the Cleveland Guardians at Tropicana Field on August 12, 2023 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This is what everyone expected at the start of the season. Solid pitching. Good defense. Runs on offense. The Sox head home after their first sweep of 2026, taking all three games from the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers are now under .500 at 18-20, barely better than the disaster of a start 16-21 Red Sox.
Now they welcome in the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays, sellers in the offseason, once again are finding ways to win. Shockingly at 24-12, they join the Yankees as the only AL teams over .500. And the Yankees lost (they’re still 25-12) putting the Sox, uh, 9.0 games back in the AL East and 1.5 in the Wild Card.
Thursday night, the Rays are starting Griffin Jax. Acquired from the Minnesota Twins, Jax has been a reliever but the Rays are converting him to the rotation. He’s made 2 “starts” on the season – 2.1 innings and 2.2 innings – against the Twins and Giants, respectively. He didn’t allow a run either time and struck out 4 against 2 walks. Tampa is trying to build up his arm strength and stretch him out in the majors, so don’t expect a long outing this series. He’ll be opposed by Jake Bennett making his second career major league start. His first outing was a 5-inning, 5-hit, 1-run, 2-walk, 3-strikeout performance against the Houston Astros.
Tampa doesn’t have any other starters listed as of yet. FanGraphs suggests Mason Englert, Nick Martinez, and Drew Rasmussen could be the probables. Englert is a reliever and would presumably be the opener. He’s currently on the IL so they’ve have to make a move. He hasn’t pitched since April 19 and had a 7.11 ERA when he went down. Connelly Early will look to bounce back from an off day last time out against Englert or whoever opens and bulk relieves.
The Rays picked up Nick Martinez for a year this winter and he’s been great. 1.71 ERA / 3.45 FIP over 42 innings. Only 28 Ks but also just 10 walks. So it’s a mixed bag.
Drew Rasmussen is a starting pitcher, another righty (they all are) which helps with all the lefty bats the Sox have on hand. Rasmussen doesn’t tend to go more than about 90 pitches, which can get him through 6.0 innings. A 2.95 ERA / 3.74 FIP an about a strikeout per inning? He could be a tough customer. He has issued just 6 walks on his 36.2 innings this year – as many walks as home runs allowed.
Junior Caminero has 9 homers and Jonathan Aranda 7 to lead the team.
Chandler Simpson has 12 steals already but also has been caught 4 times.
Yandy Diaz is getting on base at a .406 clip.
Boston is still waiting for news on Ranger Suárez to plan out the rest of the weekend.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Thursday, May 7: Griffin Jax (5.14 ERA / 5.86 FIP) vs Jake Bennett (1.80 ERA / 5.74 FIP)
Friday, May 8: TBD (— ERA / — FIP) vs. Connelly Early (3.79 ERA / — FIP)
Saturday, May 9: TBD (— ERA / — FIP) vs. TBD (— ERA /— FIP)
Sunday, May 10: TBD (— ERA / — FIP) vs. TBD (— ERA /— FIP)
The Red Sox and Rays open a weekend series tonight at Fenway Park. Tampa Bay takes the field playing as well as anyone in baseball while Boston is looking to build on their recently completed sweep of the Tigers in Detroit.
The Rays arrive in Boston having won 12 of their last 13 and allowing three runs or fewer in all 13, a franchise-record. Their bullpen has been especially sharp, extending a scoreless streak of over 17 innings and giving up just one run in the last 32 innings. With elite pitching, Tampa has not needed too much offense but they are hitting a respectable .254 as a team.
Boston, meanwhile, has shown signs of life since firing manager Alex Cora, going 6–4 over their last ten games including that sweep of Detroit. Rookie starter Jake Bennett gets the ball tonight. It is a small sample size but he has been impressive in limited action, posting a 1.80 ERA. The Red Sox offense came alive in Motown scoring 19 runs over the three games. Because the top of the American League East has been so dominant, though, the Sox still sit 8.5 games behind the Rays and a full nine games back of the first place Yankees.
Bennett will be opposed tonight by Tampa Bay’s Griffin Jax (1–2, 5.14 ERA). Jax has struggled out of the pen but when starting the proverbial bullpen game he has allowed but two hits and no runs (faced 16 batters). He has yet to pitch three full innings in any capacity this season.
Overall, the matchup tilts slightly toward Tampa Bay given their dominant pitching, superior record, and recent form, but Boston’s home-field advantage and improved play make this a more compelling matchup than it might have been ten days ago.
Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Red Sox vs. Rays
Date: Thursday, May 7, 2026
Time: 7PM EST
Site: Fenway Park
City: Boston, MA
Network/Streaming: ESPN
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Latest Odds: Red Sox vs. Rays
The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Boston Red Sox (-115), Tampa Bay Rays (-105)
Spread: Red Sox +1.5 (-186), Rays -1.5 (+153)
Total: 8.5 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers: Red Sox vs. Rays
Pitching matchup for May 7:
Red Sox: Jake Bennett Season Totals: 5 IP, 1-0, 1.80 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 3K, 2 BB
Trevor Story had his 6-game hitting streak snapped yesterday
Willson Contreras is 1-11 over his last 3 games
Junior Caminero is 4-18 (.222) in May
Chandler Simpson has hit safely in 7 of his last 8 games (9-32)
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Top Betting Trends & Insights: Red Sox vs. Rays
The Rays are 10-8 on the road this season
The Red Sox are 6-10 at home this season
The Rays are 23-13 on the Run Line this season
The Red Sox are 13-24 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 18 times in Boston games this season (18-18-1)
The OVER has cashed 16 times in Rays’ games this season (16-17-3)
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions: Red Sox vs. Rays
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Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s game between the Red Sox and the Rays:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Rays on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Run Line
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Yet, as New York has taken a 2-0 lead over the Philadelphia 76ers in the conference semifinals, Anunoby has been diagnosed with a right hamstring strain and is listed as day to day, per a May 7 social media post by ESPN's Shams Charania.
Late in the fourth quarter, Anunoby attempted to cut to the basket when he pulled up and grabbed his right leg, near his hamstring. In the moments that followed, Anunoby remained on the floor and even attempted a dunk when the ball found him down low.
OG came up gimpy on this cut. Then tried and missed a dunk. Then asked out.
It became clear, however, that Anunoby was hobbled by the injury and limped fairly significantly once he tried to jog to the other side of the court. He asked to be subbed out and left the game with 2:31 to play, replaced by backup guard Miles McBride.
Anunoby did not return to the bench for the remainder of the game.
Anunoby has emerged as a multi-purpose threat for the Knicks in the playoffs and is integral to their title hopes, so the injury is a bit of a setback.
Not only has he been tasked with guarding a premier offensive player — on May 6 he was the primary defender on Paul George — but he has ramped up his effort on rebounding. Anunoby is also a reliable perimeter shooter, the Knicks now must find how to replace him.
OG Anunoby injury: who steps in?
New York could slide Josh Hart, who plays all over the floor, to fill his immediate assignment if Anunoby misses time. That could free up backup guard Miles McBride to start alongside Jalen Brunson in the backcourt.
Given that McBride stepped in for Anunoby in the clutch of a tight game, logic dictates that he would be the first player up. McBride, however, plays a very different game than Anunoby, giving up size and strength.
New York could also deploy some combination of Jose Alvarado, Jordan Clarkson and Landry Shamet to contribute, or spell McBride once he heads to the bench.
“Next man up,” Knicks forward Mikal Bridges said Wednesday night after the game. “That’s really it.”
OG Anunoby stats
In 67 games this season, Anunoby averaged 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Known for being an excellent two-way player and one of the better wing defenders in the NBA, Anunoby has elevated his play in the postseason; over New York’s last six games (including May 6), he’s averaging 23.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game and has totaled 12 steals and 8 blocks over that span.
The Philadelphia Phillies will try to complete a series sweep as they host the Athletics on Thursday night.
Philadelphia has been on fire under interim manager Don Mattingly, and my A's vs. Phillies predictions are backing that streak to continue.
Read on for more analysis of tonight’s matchup in my free MLB picks for Thursday, May 7.
Who will win A's vs Phillies today: Phillies moneyline (-130)
The Philadelphia Phillies are riding a four-game winning streak, outscoring their opponents 23-6 in that span.
FanGraphs still gives the Phillies a 57.6% chance of making the playoffs despite the rough start to the season, a reflection of the talent level on the Philadelphia roster.
Phillies starter Andrew Painter hasn’t yet gotten the results he wants in his rookie season, but he has an elite 36.3% chase rate. His FIP of 3.59 suggests his raw numbers will improve naturally moving forward.
With the Athleticslosing four of five and Philadelphia in form, I like the Phillies to win tonight.
COVERS INTEL: The A’s have a 15.4% pull rate on balls hit in the air against Painter’s arsenal, which ranks 24th in MLB this year.
A's vs Phillies Over/Under pick: Over 9.5 (+100)
Runs haven’t been scarce between these two teams, with Over 9.5 runs per contest across the first two games of the series. Both teams have trended towards the Over lately, which has hit in each of Philadelphia’s last four games, and four of the last five for the A’s.
Athletics starter J.T. Ginn is walking more batters and striking out fewer than at any time in his career, posting a 1.64 strikeout-to-walk ratio on the season. The Phillies offense has averaged 5.0 runs per game under Mattingly, showing dramatic improvement since he took over the team.
With the A’s being no slouches at the plate themselves — they have a .322 wOBA on the year — I’m expecting enough runs to hit the Over.
Ed Scimia's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 6-11, -5.31 units
Over/Under bets: 5-10, -5.43 units
A's vs Phillies odds
Moneyline: A's +110 | Phillies -130
Run line: A's +1.5 | Phillies -1.5
Over/Under: Over 9.5 | Under 9.5
A's vs Phillies trend
The Phillies are 5-0 straight-up in their last five home games. Find more MLB betting trends for A's vs. Phillies.
How to watch A's vs Phillies and game info
Location
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Thursday, May 7, 2026
First pitch
6:40 p.m. ET
TV
NBC Sports California, NBC Sports Philadelphia
A's starting pitcher
J.T. Ginn (0-1, 4.30 ERA)
Phillies starting pitcher
Andrew Painter (1-3, 5.28 ERA)
A's vs Phillies latest injuries
A's vs Phillies weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Philadelphia Flyers have managed to score just three goals over the course of their last three playoff games, and if they continue to struggle, they will suffer a swift exit at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes.
Already down 2-0 in the series and dealing with multiple injuries, the Flyers need a group of their stragglers to both up their game and account for their fallen teammates.
Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen leads the Flyers in playoff points so far with five in eight games, while his fellow blueliners, Travis Sanheim and Jamie Drysdale, are two of the team's three total players with multiple goals this postseason.
That might have worked against a mediocre team like the Pittsburgh Penguins, but it certainly won't fly against a Stanley Cup contender like the Hurricanes.
The obvious place to start with these struggles is at wing, where Tyson Foerster, despite playing in all eight playoff games for the Flyers thus far, is stuck in second gear with zero points.
Defenseman Emil Andrae is the only other Flyer without a point, and he's played in just three games averaging 11:06 of ice time. Foerster averages a whopping 18:31.
The reason Foerster has so much to prove, especially right now, is because of how many other options the Flyers have at his position.
Alex Bump always looks like such a dynamo with the puck on his stick, and Denver Barkey is quickly becoming a coach's favorite due to his competitiveness, mobility, and positional versatility.
Foerster has one year remaining on his contract at a $3.75 million cap hit and has yet to develop his playmaking and skating, and he has to compete with the likes of Owen Tippett, Matvei Michkov, Porter Martone, Bump, Nikita Grebenkin, Jack Berglund, and more for a spot in the lineup, both now and in the future.
The hallmark of the 24-year-old's game is his shot; Foerster scored 13 times in just 29 games this season and tallied 45 goals over the previous two years.
The playoffs, though, are exposing Foerster's one-dimensionality, and as a young player, he will need to evolve and show the Flyers something before the end of the postseason to re-solidify his future in Philadelphia.
Continuing at the winger position, we have to put Travis Konecny in the spotlight.
The Flyers' highest-paid player with an $8.75 million cap hit, Konecny has just one goal and four points in eight games this playoff run, and notably came up short on a breakaway in overtime in Game 2 that would have otherwise sent the Flyers back to Philadelphia with a series tied at 1-1.
Konecny, 29, has always been in the crosshairs of fans due to his historic playoff struggles, producing just two goals and 12 points in his 30 career postseason games to date.
It's a bit odd, too, considering that Konecny has scored 30 goals twice in his career and has recorded no fewer than 60 points in each of the last four seasons.
He, more than anyone, should be a player the Flyers can rely on in crunch time, but he is not the one driving the bus for the team.
Last but certainly not least is Matvei Michkov, whose struggles have been well-documented at this point.
The 21-year-old looked great in overtime in Game 2 and helped produce the game-winning moment in Game 6 against the Penguins, but one point in seven games is objectively not strong enough for a player with his talents.
Noah Cates, Michkov's center for most of the season, is out for the rest of this series against the Hurricanes, so the odds favor Michkov playing on a more offensively-oriented line for the last few games.
The Russian phenom will probably never be a player who creates offense with his own legs, but he always know where to be and when in the offensive zone and constantly seeks open ice and advantageous scoring positions.
With the Flyers dying for offense, now is the time for Michkov to arrive and prove himself.
Fans of the Detroit Red Wings who were used to watching Hall of Fame defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom regularly win the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman will have to wait at least another year for a Red Wings player to capture the award.
The NHL announced on Thursday afternoon that Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, and Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin are this season's finalists for the Norris.
Conspicuously absent from the finalists was Moritz Seider, who not only enjoyed the best season of his NHL career but also posted numbers that were more than worthy of Norris consideration.
The James Norris Memorial Trophy finalists are in! 🏆 #NHLAwards
The trophy is presented annually to the defenseman who demonstrates the greatest all-around ability at the position. pic.twitter.com/krWLsUybFh
Seider reached career highs in goals (10) and assists (50), along with plus/minus (+15). Additionally, he led all Red Wings skaters in average ice time per game with 25:39, routinely playing in all situations against the opposition's top players.
Seider finished the season as one of the NHL’s leaders in goals against (2.22) per 60 minutes, while the numbers also highlighted just how much the Detroit Red Wings struggled defensively whenever he was off the ice.
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NEW YORK, NY - MAY 6: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the game against the New York Knicks during Round Two Game Two on May 6, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Throughout the first two games of this series the Knicks have been able to slow down the Sixers’ offense in a way they really hadn’t experienced in their first-round series against Boston. On top of the 4-of-19 shooting performance that sunk them in the fourth quarter of Game 2, they’ve really struggled to take care of the basketball.
It’s starts at the very top. After turning it over nine times throughout the entirety of the seven games against the Celtics, Tyrese Maxey has already given it away 10 times in the first two games against New York. VJ Edgecombe has given it away at a rate more expected for a rookie, but his four turnovers in Game 2 were just as costly.
With stops having come at such a premium for the Sixers, they haven’t been able to afford giving away free possessions. The inability to “keep the scoreboard moving,” as Nick Nurse would put it, is what the difference was in Game 2. Live ball turnovers obviously compound the issue, giving the Knicks fast break opportunities. The Sixers conceded 23 points off their 18 turnovers in Game 2.
“They were active… they were blitzing some,” Nurse said after the game. “I think they got their hands on a couple, we made a couple mistakes on inbounds [passes.] That was certainly one negative of the game and then they turn those into points.”
To Nurse’s first point, the Knicks have thrown a lot of ball pressure at Maxey, especially in Game 2 with Joel Embiid sidelined. Maxey attributed New York’s double teams for their ability to turn him over, but also felt like he was trying to go too fast at times.
“They did a good job of kind of taking away certain passes that I like, like to make when I get trapped,” he said, “and then it was a couple times we didn’t just execute our trap offense.”
Maxey also said that he jammed his right pinky at some point in the second quarter, the same finger he sprained back in March, and that impacted his confidence dribbling around and splitting double teams.
With OG Anunoby’s upcoming status suddenly in doubt, those double teams on Maxey aren’t going anywhere. Neither are the immediate pinky concerns either — Maxey confirmed earlier in the playoffs he’ll have to wear a brace on it the rest of the season.
Something the Sixers will have to do away with though is unforced errors. A specific turnover Maxey and Edgecombe both got asked a lot about was an inbounds pass to no one. After a basket and a stop that had them up two, Edgecombe tried to get the ball in quick and to get the ball back with no one guarding him.
None of the other Sixers picked up on this and continued running the play, letting Edgecombe’s pass sail across the court and out of bounds on the other sideline.
“I was trying to run the play, and I just wasn’t looking,” Maxey said. “It happens.”
Miscommunications do happen, but the Sixers can afford them less and less as the stakes get higher. Another series deficit will be impossible to climb out of if they keep shooting themselves in the foot.
“We know we got to cut down on turnovers. That’s not who we are as a team,” Edgecombe said. “We all can protect the ball, pass the ball, so we just got to be more responsible with the ball.”
Now that they’ve played a game in this series without Embiid, they’ve seen how the Knicks will guard Maxey as the primary scoring threat.
“They just want someone else to beat them, regardless of who it is, just not Tyrese,” said Edgecombe. “I’m gonna do my part, create for everyone, and go from there.”
Now that the Sixers have seen how the Knicks will defend both versions of this team, it’s up to them to adjust accordingly.
The 76ers put up a much more valiant fight in Game 2 against the Knicks, but one of their final shots was not at all ideal in the closing seconds of a game they had a chance to win to tie the conference semifinal series.
With the Knicks up by five points as 30 seconds remained on the clock, Paul George got the look after a dribble handoff from VJ Edgecombe and launched an off-balanced, heavily contested 3-pointer.
Quentin Grimes confronts Paul George after putting up an airball shot in the closing seconds of their Game 2 loss to the Knicks in the semifinal series on Wednesday night. The Knicks lead 2-0. X @HaterReport
Following the shot, Grimes confronted George about his shot selection when the 76ers had 18 more seconds on the shot clock to find a better look. The nine-time All-Star seemingly defended his decision.
Grimes walked away looking deflated and disappointed at the lost opportunity.
However, George’s shot wasn’t the one thing that sealed the loss for Philadelphia.
The 76ers struggled as a group in the fourth quarter, scoring just 12 points versus the Knicks’ final 19 on the board. They shot just 21.1 percent in the fourth quarter.
They scored at least 28 points in all the previous quarters.
“I thought we just might’ve ran out of gas a little bit in the fourth,” George said after the game. “We could’ve did a better job of getting some easier ones, but I think we did just run out of gas a little bit in the fourth.”
Quentin Grimes slumps in disappointment and frustration after Paul George’s airball shot during the final seconds of Game 2 against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
The 36-year-old finished the night with 19 points, shooting just 5-for-13 from beyond the arc. He also logged six rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks.
Grimes, a fifth-year guard and former Knick, came off the bench to score seven points while adding three rebounds, three assists and one steal.
The series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Friday where the 76ers will try to get their first win of the series.
“We like where we’re at. We played good defense, I thought, all the way until the fourth quarter,” George said. “We just didn’t make shots, but a lot of positives coming out of the game tonight.”
COVERS INTEL: The A’s have a 
