The New York Knicks are on the verge of reaching the NBA conference finals after defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 94-108 on Friday, moving within one win of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Jalen Brunson once again delivered a stellar performance, leading the surging Knicks to their sixth consecutive victory. The team hasn’t lost since overcoming a 2-1 deficit against Atlanta in the first round of the playoffs.
After being the decisive factor for New York in Game 2, Brunson remained composed and finished with 33 points and nine assists.
The Knicks’ impressive defense was a key factor, with Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart combining for 23 rebounds. This strong effort allowed New York to take a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. No NBA team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in a seven-game series.
For the first time in the series, the 76ers played in front of their home crowd, which created an electric atmosphere from the opening tip. Paul George started strong for Philadelphia, scoring 15 points in the first quarter alone, and the 76ers led by as many as 12 points. The Knicks were without the injured OG Anunoby.
However, New York responded quickly, improving on defense and scoring 33 points on 57% shooting in a brilliant second quarter, allowing them to take a lead into halftime. Towns and the returning Joel Embiid engaged in a physical battle, each picking up three personal fouls before the break, with moments that resembled a wrestling match.
The 76ers cut the deficit to just two points at the end of the third quarter but then missed six consecutive shots, including two airballs from VJ Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes. Powered by another clutch performance from their leader Brunson, the Knicks pulled away in the fourth quarter, extinguishing any hope for the 76ers. Notably, George failed to score after his spectacular first quarter.
With this win, the Knicks have solidified their status as favorites to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, according to sportsbooks.