Knicks rise to ‘challenge’ to squeak out win in shakily-officiated game

PHILADELPHIA — By the skin of their teeth. 

That was how the Knicks escaped Saturday in Philly with a 112-109 victory, just before the snow hit blanketed the Northeast, after the free-throw shooting was yucky, the officiating was terrible, OG Anunoby emerged as the clutchest player and Mike Brown won the biggest challenge of his Knicks career. 

The challenge occurred with 33.3 seconds left and the Knicks, who were leading by three points but also careening toward collapse. They had been up by eight just nine seconds earlier, and Brunson was whistled for an offensive foul that would’ve given the 76ers a possession to tie. 

But Brunson knew the call was wrong. He vehemently called for a challenge, just as he had earlier in the game for an out-of-bounds mistake by the refs that was reversed.