The New York Knicks are ready to defend home court as they host the Philadelphia 76ers for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference second round, holding a commanding 1-0 series lead. After a dominant 137-98 victory in the opener, the Knicks are looking to keep the momentum rolling at Madison Square Garden.
Jalen Brunson was the star of Game 1, dropping 35 points to lead New York to a blowout win. Paul George paced the 76ers with 17 points, but Philadelphia struggled to keep pace with the Knicks' high-octane offense. The Knicks finished the regular season as the third seed in the East with a 53-29 record, while the 76ers earned the seventh seed at 45-37.
New York has been tough to beat in division play, going 14-3 against Atlantic rivals this season. The Knicks average 116.5 points per game and boast a solid +6.4 point differential. Meanwhile, the 76ers are 9-7 in division matchups and rank eighth in the Eastern Conference in points in the paint, averaging 50.1 per game, led by Tyrese Maxey's 14.0.
When it comes to scoring, the Knicks put up 116.5 points per game, slightly more than the 116.1 points the 76ers typically allow. On the other end, Philadelphia scores 115.9 per contest, which is 5.8 more than New York's defensive average of 110.1. This sets up an intriguing battle of strengths.
For the Knicks, keep an eye on Karl-Anthony Towns, who has been on fire lately, averaging 16.7 points and 9.6 rebounds while shooting an impressive 58.1% over his last 10 games. For the 76ers, Quentin Grimes is shooting 45.0% from the field and averaging 13.4 points, while Paul George has been a threat from beyond the arc with 3.0 made 3-pointers per game in his last 10 outings.
Looking at recent form, the Knicks are 7-3 in their last 10 games, averaging 116.4 points while holding opponents to just 101.1. The 76ers are 6-4 in that same stretch, scoring 105.5 points per game but allowing 108.3. With the series lead in hand, New York has the edge, but Philadelphia will be hungry to even things up. Expect a high-energy showdown as these two teams battle for conference supremacy.