The New York Knicks are proving they can win any way necessary. After a blowout in Game 1, they showed their grit in a nail-biter, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 108-102 on Wednesday night to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Jalen Brunson was the hero once again, scoring 26 points and delivering when it mattered most. With the game tied in the final minutes, Brunson knocked down the go-ahead basket with 5:06 remaining, then added another jumper to push the lead to 103-99 with 3:45 to play. Mikal Bridges followed with a key bucket to make it a six-point game, sealing the victory for New York.
This was a far different contest than the Knicks' 137-98 demolition in Game 1. Playing without the injured Joel Embiid, the 76ers showed heart and fight, leading to a game that featured 25 lead changes, 14 ties, and neither team leading by more than seven points. It was the kind of playoff battle that tests a team's composure, and the Knicks passed with flying colors.
OG Anunoby added 24 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns stuffed the stat sheet with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. The Knicks' Game 1 win made them the first team in NBA history to win three straight postseason games by at least 25 points, and their ability to grind out a close game shows they're more than just a high-octane offense.
Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 26 points, but Philadelphia now faces a familiar uphill climb. They fell behind 3-1 against Boston in the first round before rallying, and they'll need that same resilience starting with Game 3 on Friday in Philadelphia.
The series now shifts to the City of Brotherly Love, where Embiid will find out if the arena is filled with passionate Sixers fans or if Knicks supporters travel well. Either way, the intensity is only going to ramp up.
In other playoff action, the San Antonio Spurs evened their Western Conference semifinal series at 1-1 with a dominant performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Victor Wembanyama posted 19 points and 15 rebounds, while Stephon Castle led all scorers with 21 points. The Spurs shot 50% from the field and 41% from deep, handing Minnesota the worst postseason loss in franchise history. Games 3 and 4 are up next, and the Timberwolves will need Anthony Edwards—who came off the bench again while managing a hyperextended left knee—to find his rhythm quickly.