The match was a real battle, no doubt about it.
The Knicks found themselves trailing in the first three quarters. Without Joel Embiid, the 76ers seemed more relaxed. Jalen Brunson was definitely making his mark.
Then, the NBA’s best fourth-quarter team showed up.
This was something they hadn’t needed recently. In fact, their starters hadn’t played a single minute in the fourth quarter over the past two games, mostly due to the large margins in those wins.
But this time was different, no records being set or extended garbage time. This was their first real late-game challenge since the first round, and they came out on top.
In a tightly contested game, the Knicks took down the 76ers 108-102 in Game 2 at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night, giving them a strong 2-0 series lead.
With the score close, Brunson knocked down a step-back jumper with 5:06 remaining to put the Knicks ahead by two. Just moments earlier, Josh Hart had tied it up with a three-pointer. Brunson hit another jumper, twirling in both directions before sinking a shot to extend the lead to four points with 3:46 left. Mikal Bridges then pushed the lead to six points at 2:56. Tyrese Maxey managed to make one free throw with 1:33 remaining, narrowing the deficit for the 76ers to five points. Brunson got fouled on the other end and made two free throws, extending the Knicks’ advantage to seven with just over a minute to go.
At that point, it felt pretty secure. The 76ers simply ran out of time to respond.
Remarkably, the Knicks nearly pulled it off without OG Anunoby, who was still in the locker room at that stage.
In the fourth quarter, the Knicks outscored the 76ers by seven points, limiting them to only 12 points. Once the Knicks took the lead—marking the 25th lead change of the game, a record for playoffs in over a decade—they kept it.
This postseason has been something pretty special so far. The Knicks had lost close games two and three against the Hawks, and all their victories prior were by wide margins. This was their first narrow win ever in the playoffs.
Brunson scored eight of his 26 points in that critical fourth quarter. On the flip side, Maxey, who ended with 26 points, only managed seven in the second half.
Karl-Anthony Towns was a force to be reckoned with—yet he was occasionally his own worst enemy. He picked up his second foul with 4:29 left in the first quarter. With Mitchell Robinson ruled out, Ariel Hakpolty replaced him. Towns then got his third foul shortly after returning at the start of the second quarter. He had 10 of the Knicks’ first 16 points in the second half but struggled to make stops defensively. He faced his fourth foul with 4:31 left in the third quarter and had to sit out. Ultimately, he finished with 20 points, 20 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Anunoby also had a strong outing, contributing 24 points before being ejected late in the game.
