Just when it looked as though the Sixers would wrap up a victory in Game 2, ignored timeout calls, missed fouls, and an untimely offensive rebound by the Knicks put Philadelphia into a two-games-to-zero hole, 104-101.
After appearing to survive a Joel Embiid injury scare, the Sixers got beat on the effort plays and lost their bet against Josh Hart hitting threes as the Knicks took Game 1, 111-104.
The Sixers have no choice but to face demons in the 2024 postseason. They will face one on Wednesday when the Miami Heat come to Philadelphia in a Play-In game for the right to battle the New York Knicks in the first round of the 2024 playoffs.