The Philadelphia 76ers are hoping to shake off a rough Game 1 performance as they head back to Madison Square Garden for Game 2 against the New York Knicks on Wednesday night. After a demoralizing 137-98 loss on Monday, the Sixers find themselves trailing 1-0 in this second-round playoff series—a deficit they're eager to erase.

Monday's game was a tough watch for Philly fans. The team seemed drained from the start, lacking the spark that carried them through an epic Game 7 victory over the Boston Celtics in the first round. That emotional series win, where they rallied from a 3-1 hole, left little time to recover. With just one day off between games, fatigue was an unavoidable factor—and it showed on the court.

Head coach Nick Nurse isn't making excuses, though. "You can't make excuses," he said firmly. "We knew it might be difficult, but you never go into a game expecting this to happen. You have to see it play out. I thought we were okay at the start, but they hit us hard toward the end of the first quarter."

The Knicks were nearly unstoppable, shooting an incredible 63.1% from the field. Their pick-and-roll game, led by Jalen Brunson, carved up the Sixers' defense with ease. Nurse knows that has to change—and fast. "Six straight mid pick-and-rolls were just too easy," he explained. "We didn't challenge them at the rim or on the 3-point line. We couldn't get around screens or get back in front of them. They had too many wide-open threes and a couple of dunks behind us. We've got to clean all that up."

For the Sixers, Game 2 is about regrouping and rediscovering the grit that got them this far. A bounce-back win on the road would not only even the series but also shift the momentum heading back to Philadelphia. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. EDT at Madison Square Garden—a familiar stage where the Sixers will look to prove they're ready to move on.