The New York Knicks stormed the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday to take a 3-0 lead in the NBA Playoffs conference semifinals with a 94-108 win, leaving them just one win away from the East Finals.
After defending Madison Square Garden in the first two games of the series, the Knicks gave a test of strength in Philadelphia against the 76ers, who did not have enough with the return of their leader Joel Embiid after missing the previous game. Never in NBA history has a team managed to come back from an 0-3 deficit in a playoff series.
Brunson makes history, puts Knicks on the brink of glory
Jalen Brunson became the player with the most games of 30 or more points in Knicks playoff history with 24.
He shined at Xfinity Mobile Arena with 33 points, five rebounds and nine assists.
Mikal Bridges poured in 23 points for the Knicks, who shot 50 percent.
Despite a lackluster scoring night from Dominican Karl Anthony Towns, who was held to just eight points on 3-of-8 shooting from the field.
On a night when OG Anunoby was out, the New York bench gave a valuable contribution, with 29 total points.
Landry Shamet (5 of 6 shooting) made 15 of them.
The 76ers’ substitutes contributed 11 points, but the first points came in the fourth period, when the Knicks already had the game on track.
Philadelphia left on the ropes
Embiid reappeared with 18 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Tyrese Maxey had 17 points and seven assists on a night when he failed to lead his teammates against an in-form Knicks.
Kelly Oubre Jr. was Philadelphia’s leading scorer with 22 points, while Paul George contributed 15.
The 76ers started the game on a 9-0 run and built a 12-point lead at 20-8 in the first quarter, but the Knicks’ comeback was strong.
3-0 lead in the conference semifinals
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Knicks impose their physical power
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And it started with aggressiveness on both sides of the court.
The New Yorkers imposed their physical power and also had a great contribution from less expected players.
Like a Landry Shamet who helped the Knicks reach their first lead at 38-35 with 8.20 to play in the second quarter.
The physical battle also involved Towns, who had to sit on the bench after committing his third foul midway through the second half following a fight in the paint with Joel Embiid.
With ten points from Towns and ten from Bridges, the Knicks took control of the game.
And after being up 54-42, they took an eight-point lead into halftime (Filed as: Knicks vs 76ers).
Brunson sentences Sixers and brings Knicks closer to the finals
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The script did not change in the third period.
The Knicks continued to impose their physical strength and even Mitchell Robinson showed offensive success from the free throw line, which is normally his weakness.
Embiid, with eight points in the third quarter, led the Sixers’ comeback.
But Brunson took care of cutting that momentum by leading a 7-0 run to close the half that gave the Knicks a nine-point lead.
In the fourth period, the New Yorkers continued to press the accelerator and increased their lead to 16 units.
With 2.05 minutes to play and 106-91 on the scoreboard, Sixers coach Nick Nurse took his starters off the field.
And he accepted a defeat that leaves his team on the brink of the abyss (Filed under: Knicks vs 76ers).
With information from EFE
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