Josh Hart’s 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter in the Knicks’ Game 1 win on Saturday night sent Madison Square Garden into a frenzy.
It also brought out a fantastic call from play-by-play announcer Mike Breen.
The Knicks led the 76ers by four points with just over a minute to go and had the ball with the shot clock expiring when Miles McBride dished a pass off to Hart.
Hart pump-faked, and McBride then set up a screen to get Joel Embiid off the ball.
And then Hart made some magic happen, taking an off-balance deep 3-pointer, knocking down a perfect shot from beyond the arc to put the Knicks up by seven before they rolled to a Game 1 victory.
Breen, who was working the game for ESPN, didn’t use his signature “bang,” though he still rolled out a terrific call of the play.
“Shot clock at 4, and Hart fakes,” Breen said as the play unfolded. “Hart tries another 3-pointer, uh-oh it’s good! Knocks down another!”
Breen let the game breathe and let the boisterous Garden crowd be heard on the ESPN broadcast
“Seven-point lead, under a minute to play,” Breen said. “Hart hasn’t sat the entire second half.”
Hart led the way for the Knicks with 22 points, and Breen’s call echoed just how important the shot and the performance were in a statement Game 1 win in New York.
