Basketball world reacts to ugly 76ers-Knicks battle of offensive futility

The Sixers got a much-needed win on the road despite shooting only 38.8 percent and being without star point guard Tyrese Maxey and reigning MVP Joel Embiid. Kelly Oubre Jr. led the way with 18 points, while Buddy Hield and Paul Reid combined for 29 points off the bench in the lackluster win. 

Only two days after holding the Orlando Magic to 74 points, the Knicks recorded just 73 points on Sunday, the fewest by any NBA team since 2020. New York shot only 32.5 percent from the field in the loss and had just three players finish in double figures. They also took a hit in the standings. At 37-27, they remain four games back of the third-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers (41-23) and hold slim leads over the fifth-seeded Magic (half game) and sixth-seeded Sixers (one game).

Unfortunately, another national audience, TNT, will be subjected to the second half of a home-and-home between the two teams in two days. However, there might be reasons other than basketball to tune in. 

Things got heated during Sunday's contest, leading to a scuffle between Oubre and Reed of the Sixers and Isaiah Hartenstein and Donte DiVincenzo of the Knicks. Afterward, Oubre threw some fuel on the fire, which might draw more eyes to Tuesday's matchup. 

"I don’t got no enemies in this league. It was just funny. All of that stuff is funny to me," Oubre said via Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News. "I don’t know why. I just laugh ‘cause nobody’s finna fight. So at the end of the day, I’ll see you Tuesday, bruv."