Knicks Extend Series Lead After Tense Win Over 76ers. The New York Knicks secured their second victory against the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The game was played without Joel Embiid and turned out to be one of the most intense in recent years. Jalen Brunson made the decisive contribution.
The second game of the Eastern Conference semifinal series between the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers took place in New York, ending in a home victory with a score of 108:102. This game was one of the most intense playoff matches in the past decade: the lead changed hands 25 times, and the point difference never exceeded seven. According to AP NBA, the Knicks now lead the series 2-0.
Key moment
The main figure of the evening was Jalen Brunson, who scored 26 points and made the decisive shots at the end. It was his basket with five minutes left that put the Knicks ahead, and his next shot solidified their lead. OG Anunoby also made a significant contribution, adding 24 points, but spent the end of the game on the bench—the reasons for his absence on the court remain unclear.
Challenges for the 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers took the court without their leader Joel Embiid, who could not play due to a hip and ankle injury. Despite this, the visitors looked much more confident than in the first game, when they lost by 39 points. Tyrese Maxey was the top scorer for the 76ers with 26 points, 15 of which came in the second quarter. Paul George and Kelly Oubre Jr. each added 19 points, and VJ Edgecombe scored 17. The last time Philadelphia led was after a three-pointer by Oubre, but then the Knicks took over.
Match details
The game was held at Madison Square Garden with a full house—19,812 spectators. Karl-Anthony Towns recorded a double-double (20 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists), while Mikal Bridges stood out not only on defense against Maxey in the second half, but also scored 18 points. Despite a hand injury, Josh Hart returned to the court and made a crucial three-pointer at the end. According to AP NBA, the 25 lead changes set a playoff record since 2015.
What's next
The series moves to Philadelphia, where the 76ers will play two home games—on Friday and Sunday. The question of Joel Embiid’s return remains unresolved. In the first round of the playoffs, Philadelphia already had to come back from a 1-3 deficit, and now they again find themselves in a difficult situation.
