Knicks rout 76ers by 39 in series opener, push record win streak
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NEW YORK — The New York Knicks overwhelmed the Philadelphia 76ers 137-98 on Monday night at Madison Square Garden, claiming Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals and stretching a postseason surge that is rewriting NBA record books.
Guard Jalen Brunson fueled the early onslaught with 27 of his 35 points before halftime, helping New York build a 23-point cushion by the break. The Knicks shot 63% from the field and led by as many as 40 while becoming the first team in league history to win three consecutive playoff games by at least 25 points.
Head coach Mike Brown’s club has outscored opponents by 135 points during its current four-game winning streak, which began after the team trailed 2-1 to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round. The Knicks’ 119-point differential over their past three contests is the largest three-game margin in NBA postseason history.
Philadelphia, coming off a grueling seven-game victory over the Boston Celtics that ended 48 hours earlier, showed signs of fatigue. Coach Nick Nurse removed his starters midway through the third quarter with the deficit surpassing 30.
Key contributions and matchups
Forward Karl-Anthony Towns and center Mitchell Robinson dealt with early foul trouble while defending MVP center Joel Embiid, yet the plan held. Embiid went 3-for-14 from the floor and finished with nine points. Tyrese Maxey, who averaged 27 points against Boston, did not register a field goal until the second quarter.
OG Anunoby provided 18 points on eight shot attempts, and Mikal Bridges added 17 while hitting three three-pointers. The quartet of Brunson, Towns, Anunoby and Bridges has logged well over double the minutes together this season compared with the Sixers’ primary group of Maxey, Embiid, Paul George and rookie VJ Edgecombe.
Quotes from the floor
“It’s a lot of fun when you have concepts on either end of the floor and the guys embrace those concepts at the highest level,” Brown said. “When they do, it doesn’t really matter what you call or who initiates the action.”
Brunson pointed to the season-long adversity that shaped the club’s chemistry. “That’s why you play a season,” he noted. “You find things to make you the best team possible by the end of the year.”
Maxey looked ahead despite the rough opener: “I don’t think I shot once in the first quarter. I’m just trying to read and figure it out. I’m not too worried about it.”
Brunson cautioned teammates that Philadelphia rebounded from a similar Game 1 loss in Boston. “I don’t think we’re going to see that team from Game 1 to Game 2,” he said. “They’ll be ready to go.”
Game 2 is set for Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.
Source: ESPN
