The Philadelphia 76ers hosted the New York Knicks on Mother’s Day looking to keep their season alive. Knicks fans flooded Philadelphia once again in game four. New York led the series 3-0 after a double-digit win in game three. They would ride that momentum and keep up their dominance.
Tyrese Maxey drove the baseline for the layup to get the scoring started. Mikal Bridges responded with a tough layup against Kelly Oubre Jr. New York would begin their three point scoring barrage. Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Miles McBride would make six straight threes. McBride would make four threes during the stretch as Knicks fans would chant “DEUCE” every time he shot.
The Knicks led 20-6 after McBride’s four straight threes. Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns traded threes. Brunson made another three which was his fourth of the quarter as New York had their largest lead at 18. Landry Shamet made back to back threes towards the end of the quarter. New York made 11 threes which is the most in a first quarter in a postseason game in the play-by-play era.
The Knicks led 43-24 at the end of the first quarter. Josh Hart spun in an and-one against Embiid. Towns and McBride made back to back threes for New York that forced a Sixers timeout. Maxey raced up the floor and made a sidestep layup in transition. VJ Edgecombe missed a layup but Embiid tipped it on the follow for the and-one. Brunson and Hart made back to back threes. McBride, Hart, and Quentin Grimes each made a three in the final seconds of the half. The Knicks had 18 threes in the first half and led 81-57 at halftime.
Embiid made an elbow jumper earlier in the third quarter. He had yet to miss as Embiid was 8/8 from the field. Brunson threw a lob to Mitchell Robinson. This sequence was one of the highlights of the night and the postseason. Brunson crossed up Dominick Barlow and then finished the reverse layup over Embiid. McBride then deflected the inbound pass as Bridges fired a pass to Brunson for the corner three that had the Knicks fans cheering in “MSG East”. Brunson had five points in seven seconds as Philly called a timeout. McBride rose up and cashed in his seventh three. Jordan Clarkson scooped in a layup with 17 seconds left in the third. New York led 122-83 at the end of the third quarter. Both teams would go to their benches in the fourth quarter. Pacome Dadiet with time winding down in the fourth quarter made the Knicks’ 25th three of the afternoon. New York won 144-114.
The Knicks complete the sweep which was their first since 1999. New York made 25 threes which ties an NBA record. 144 points is the most points scored in Knicks franchise history.
McBride led the way for the Knicks with 25 points and seven threes. Brunson had 22, Hart had 17, and Towns had 17 points along with 10 assists for the double-double. Embiid had 24 points on perfect 8-of-8 efficiency and Maxey had 17 points.
Philadelphia has some questions in the offseason on the next steps for the franchise. They haven’t made the conference finals since 2001. The Knicks advance to their second straight conference finals as they await the winner of Pistons vs Cavs.
