NEW YORK — Joel Embiid does not think the Philadelphia 76ers are going to lose to the New York Knicks in the 2024 NBA playoffs. It doesn’t look good for the Sixers after they let the Knicks steal Game 2. But even as he stares down an 0-2 deficit, Embiid is steadfast in his belief in his team.

“We should be 2-0. So, we're good,” Embiid said after the 104-101 loss. “We're going to win this series. We're gonna win this. We know what we gotta fix and we did a better job today, so we're going to fix it. But we're the better team and we gonna keep fighting.”

The 76ers led by five points with 30 seconds left and blew it in a matter of 17 seconds. Nick Nurse tried to call timeout but was not granted the stoppage, allowing Donte DiVincenzo to get up a go-ahead triple. He missed it but, as has been huge all series long for the Knicks, an offensive rebound from Isaiah Hartenstein gave him another chance. That time, he connected, sending the Madison Square Garden crowd into a frenzy that shook the building.

Embiid once again played great, tallying 34 points, 10 rebounds and six assists while Tyrese Maxey went off for 35 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds despite being ill. Neither star is close to 100 percent but have to lead the 76ers against a gauntlet of a Knicks team nonetheless.

“This is all mental,” Embiid said. “Obviously, it's not the best-case scenario, but I'm good. No excuses. Play good or play bad, gotta find a way to win.”

Embiid and Maxey were both incredible and the 76ers once again figured out a way to slow down Jalen Brunson, who shot a meager 8-29 from the field. But his Villanova brethren Josh Hart (21 points, 15 rebounds) and DiVincenzo (19 points) saved the day for the Knicks.

The 76ers not only have the next two games of the series coming on their home court but they have two days of rest before both Game 3 and Game 4. When the series resumes on Thursday at the Wells Fargo Center, they will have a lot to back up.

“I'm not frustrated. I'm actually good,” Joel Embiid said. “We're gonna win this.”