Another historic rivalry brewed in the Garden last night as the Sixers took on the Knicks for game one in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Philadelphia came off a grueling seven-game series against Boston, where they were down 3-1 before coming back to win the series in seven games. New York came off a 4-2 series win against the Hawks after a historic, dominating win in game six. The Garden crowd was ready as they would echo expletive-filled chants towards Joel Embiid.
Mikal Bridges got the scoring started as Josh Hart found Bridges, who drove baseline for the two-handed slam. V.J. Edgecombe would splash a baseline jumper seconds later. Paul George and Edgecombe made back-to-back threes that gave Philly an 8-7 lead. Jalen Brunson got an and-one midrange jumper against Edgecombe. The Knicks would make three straight threes, including an O.G. Anunoby bank shot. Brunson had 14 points in the quarter, and New York led 33-25 at the end of the period.
Early in the second quarter, Karl-Anthony Towns found Jose Alvarado for the reverse layup. Kelly Oubre Jr. and Hart would trade threes. Tyrese Maxey would drive for the layup, for his first made field goal of the game. Maxey was six for six from the charity stripe. Towns made a top-of-the-key three that forced a Philly timeout. Embiid and Towns would score on each other in back-to-back possessions. Brunson got the mismatch on Embiid, turned him around, and then hit the pull-up jumper over him. Maxey banked in the layup against Towns for the and-one. Brunson hit a three-pointer over George with 0.3 left in the half that had the Garden crowd on their feet. Brunson had 27 points in the first half, as the Knicks led 74-51 at halftime.
Hart got the scoring started in the third with a layup in transition after a Brunson steal. Anunoby hit a three that forced a 76ers timeout as New York led by 27. Bridges hit a corner three that gave the Knicks their largest lead of the game at the time at 31 points. Deuce McBride and Quentin Grimes traded threes at the end of the quarter. The Knicks led 109-78 at the end of the third.
In the fourth quarter, Tyler Kolek would enter the game to an ovation. Both teams would use their bench in the fourth quarter. Kolek had eight points and four assists in the quarter, and New York won 137-98 to take game one.
George led the way for the Sixers with 17 points. Maxey and Embiid struggled from the field. Brunson led the way for the Knicks with 35 points. Bridges and Towns both had 17 points. Anunoby finished with 18 points.
New York leads the series 1-0. Game two is Thursday, May 6, at 7:00 pm.
