Cameron Payne went from Knicks antagonist to ‘It’s all love’

Across both conferences and all four rounds, Knicks-Sixers was the scrappiest of all playoff series in 2024.

The Joel Embiid stuff generated the headlines because it included Mitchell Robinson being reinjured after getting dragged to the court, prompting New Yorkers to adopt the series soundtrack, “F–k Embiid.” Yankees fans even chanted it after a Game 1 playoff victory over the Royals in this year’s MLB playoffs.

Synergy!

Less memorable was an exchange between Cameron Payne and Jalen Brunson in Game 5, when the star Knicks point guard felt he was hacked a little too hard on a drive and confronted the Sixers guard. The flare-up was diffused within a second and there was never really a threat of an actual fight — when is there ever in the NBA anymore? — but it was noteworthy because Brunson, normally the poster player for maintaining focus, took a step toward Payne as if eager to throw down.