Knicks Dominate 76ers, Take 3-0 Series Lead

PHILADELPHIA — It was nearly overwhelming.

The Knicks, at times, seemed to toy with the 76ers, who briefly dared to believe they could turn the series around. But the Knicks quickly tightened their grip, almost like an older sibling enjoying the moment.

After trailing by double digits early on, the Knicks seized control in the second quarter. The 76ers once managed to cut the lead to four points late in the third and then again at the start of the fourth. Yet, they couldn’t hold on, as the Knicks swiftly regained a double-digit lead both times.

When that happened, the Xfinity Mobile Arena erupted in chants of “Let’s go Knicks.” The 76ers’ PA announcer, sensing the energy, tried to rally the home crowd with a call for support, but to no avail. The Knicks soon went on a 13-3 run to stretch their lead to 16 points, turning the arena into a celebration for Knicks fans.

They wrapped up Game 3 with a 108-94 victory, taking a commanding 3-0 lead in the series and inching closer to the conference finals for the second consecutive year.

This victory was the Knicks’ sixth straight win in the postseason, a feat they haven’t achieved since 1999.

They managed this triumph without OG Anunoby, who was sidelined with a right hamstring strain. Karl-Anthony Towns also played a minimal role, spending too much time on the bench due to foul trouble.

Jalen Brunson, despite a shaky start—going 0-of-4 and 2-of-8 from the field—led the Knicks with a game-high 33 points on 11-of-22 shooting, adding nine assists. Mikal Bridges stepped up in Anunoby’s absence, scoring 23 points, with ten of those coming from a strong second quarter.

Miles McBride started in place of Anunoby, but it was Landry Shamet, who returned to the lineup, who made a more significant impact, contributing 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting, particularly excelling in the fourth quarter. The Knicks’ bench proved crucial, outscoring the 76ers’ reserves by 18 points.

The Knicks fell behind by as many as 12 points in the first quarter; Paul George led the 76ers with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting early on. The Knicks committed six turnovers, putting themselves in a precarious position, but managed to end the first quarter with a four-point edge.

Things shifted quickly in the second quarter when they regained the lead within just a few minutes. They dominated that quarter, outscoring the 76ers by 12 points, thanks in part to key defensive changes.

A pivotal moment came when Mitchell Robinson dunked over Joel Embiid on a lob from Brunson, giving the Knicks the momentum and a five-point lead with just over seven minutes left in the second quarter.

From that moment on, the Knicks maintained their lead and never looked back.

Robinson’s free-throw shooting played a key role throughout the third. The 76ers tried to exploit his weaknesses at the line, and he managed to score three layups and convert 4 of 8 free throws in that period.

For the 76ers, Embiid scored 18 points, while Maxey added 17. Yet, for the Knicks, those contributions became sidelined in the broader narrative.

Each game, they find different ways to win. They pull contributions from various players, marking their historical progression.

And their momentum shows no signs of slowing.