The New York Knicks have extended their impressive postseason run by winning the first road game of their second-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers. A dominant fourth-quarter performance once again proved decisive, with Jalen Brunson stepping up when it mattered most, leading his team to a 108-94 victory.
Brunson was the standout player on the court, finishing with 33 points and 9 assists. He single-handedly outscored the Sixers’ entire starting five in the final quarter, dropping 9 points compared to their combined 7. This came despite Philadelphia welcoming back Joel Embiid for the home game.
The former MVP, who missed Game 2 due to hip and ankle issues, failed to score in the last 12 minutes. He ended the night with 18 points and went 0-for-4 from beyond the arc, though he did contribute defensively with 3 blocks. Overall, the Sixers struggled mightily on their home floor, shooting under 43% from the field and connecting on just 9 of 32 three-point attempts. The Knicks also had an off night from deep (9-for-27), but it didn’t matter as they controlled the game’s crucial moments.
Philadelphia started strong, jumping out to a 9-0 lead and later a 20-8 advantage in the first quarter. However, the lead evaporated to just four points by the end of the period, and the Knicks took a 38-35 lead early in the second, a deficit the Sixers could never fully overcome. A late third-quarter layup by Embiid briefly sparked hope, trimming the gap to 76-78, but Brunson and the Knicks took over from there, even without the injured OG Anunoby. Mikal Bridges stepped up with 23 points, Josh Hart contributed 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Landry Shamet added 15 points off the bench on 5-of-6 shooting. Karl-Anthony Towns was again limited by foul trouble.
For Philadelphia, Kelly Oubre Jr. led the way with 22 points and 8 rebounds, while Tyrese Maxey chipped in 17 points and 7 assists. Paul George scored all 15 of his points in the first quarter and missed all nine of his remaining shots. The Sixers now face a daunting task, needing to win four consecutive games to reach the conference finals. Their first must-win game is scheduled for Sunday, again in Philadelphia.