The New York Knicks are struggling in the playoff series. They faced a significant defeat against the Atlanta Hawks, losing by 51 points in Game 6 of their first-round matchup. Now, they’re gearing up for a challenging next game against the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
In a surprisingly dominant performance, the Knicks secured a 144-114 victory, tying three different NBA records for the most 3-pointers made in a postseason game, covering the first quarter, first half, and total game. This win pushes them ahead to the Eastern Conference Finals.
In the opening quarter, the Knicks shot an impressive 11 of 13 from beyond the arc, leading 43-24. Miles “Deuce” McBride started strong, hitting all of his first four attempts, setting the stage for New York’s significant lead.
The Knicks continued their strategy into the second quarter. McBride notched two more 3-pointers, wrapping up the half with a team-high 20 points, having made 6 of 7 shots. He, however, was not the only contributor.
Jalen Brunson, the Knicks’ standout point guard, went 4 of 8 from deep, while Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Landry Shamet also made significant contributions with their shooting. By halftime, the Knicks had hit 18 3-pointers in total, leading 81-57 and tying the playoff record for the first half.
Shamet seemed on the verge of breaking the record in the first quarter, but missed a late try that hit the rim just before the buzzer.
In contrast, the 76ers struggled offensively, only making 4 of 15 attempts from beyond the arc and finishing with an overall shooting percentage of 51% (21 of 41). The Knicks managed to score 12 points off six turnovers, maintaining pressure throughout the game.
As the second half unfolded, the Knicks continued to dominate, and soon all starting players were resting at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Some late-game efforts by Jose Alvarado and Pacome Dadiette brought the Knicks closer to breaking the game’s total, before ultimately securing the win.
New York shot an impressive 57% from three-point range and 54% overall, solidifying their place in the Eastern Conference Finals. It’s a significant moment for them, marking their return to this level of competition since the 2024-25 season when they were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers.
Currently, the Knicks are awaiting the outcome of the series between the Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Detroit leads the series 2-1 heading into Game 4 on Monday night, and fans are eager to see how this plays out.
With the right shots and strategy in the upcoming games, who knows what other records might be within reach?
