The tension during Game 2 of the Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks series briefly melted away in a lighthearted moment during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden.

The ball got stuck in the framing below the shot clock with 7:54 to go in the third, with the Sixers leading 74-71. Philadelphia big man Andre Drummond, listed at 6-foot-11, was handed a floor mop but his attempts to dislodge the ball with it proved to be unsuccessful.

Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns, listed at 7-foot, took the mop from Drummond and managed to dislodge the ball on his first attempt, to great cheers from the Madison Square Garden crowd.

KAT to the rescue 😂@RealChalamet was fired up after the NBA All-Star retrieved the ball! pic.twitter.com/El2MT0ks7t

— NBA (@NBA) May 7, 2026

The 76ers, playing without Joel Embiid, led 90-89 after three quarters.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Karl-Anthony Towns saves ball in funny moment during 76ers vs Knicks