Stephen A Smith couldn’t help himself.
The Knicks outlasted a difficult test from the 76ers on the road in Philadelphia of Game 4, bumping their series lead to 3-1 while heading back to Madison Square Garden for Game 5 on Tuesday.
The famed ESPN host — a native of Queens — took to social media to celebrate the victory for who he claims are “his Knicks.”
Smith screamed before unleashing the Knicks fan battle cry of “Go New York, Go New York, Go!”
Smith continued, “Three down, one to go!” referring to the Knicks needing one more win to send the 76ers home and advance to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
A win for the Knicks would mark a return to the Eastern Conference semifinals for the second straight season.
It would be the first time the Knicks have made back-to-back such runs since 1999 and 2000.
The Knicks were defeated by the No. 8 seed Miami Heat in six games in last year’s East semifinals, ending their season, which marked their first trip to that round since the 54-win Carmelo Anthony-led team of 2012-13.
The Knicks would face the winner of the Bucks-Pacers series in the next round.
Indiana leads 2-1.
In the game, which the Knicks won 97-92, Jalen Brunson scored a Knicks playoff record 47 points and did so on 18 of 34 shooting.
The Knicks again attacked the glass and out-rebounded the 76ers 52-42.
Sixers star Joel Embiid did have 27 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, but he was limited to 7-of-19 shooting and scored just one fourth-quarter point.
