The New York Knicks made a statement on Sunday night, and it was loud and clear: they are the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.
In a decisive Game 4 that felt more like a coronation than a contest, the Knicks dismantled the Philadelphia 76ers 144-114, completing a 4-0 series sweep and punching their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second straight year. The win was never in doubt from the opening tip.
From the very first minutes, New York came out firing with an intensity that left the 76ers—and the Philadelphia crowd—stunned. The Knicks opened the game by hitting 9 of their first 10 three-point attempts, burying 11 triples in the first quarter alone. That marked the most three-pointers in a first quarter by any team in the play-by-play era. By the time the first 12 minutes were over, New York led by 19 points, and the arena in Philadelphia sounded eerily like Madison Square Garden.
The onslaught continued in the second quarter. The Knicks connected on 18 three-pointers in the first half on 29 attempts—a blistering 62%—tying the NBA playoff record for most threes in a half. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns were unstoppable, combining to score or assist on 59 of New York’s 81 first-half points. At halftime, the lead was 24, and the game was effectively over.
By the middle of the third quarter, the margin ballooned to 30 points, and the Knicks never let up. They finished the game with 25 made three-pointers, tying the NBA playoff record for most threes in a postseason game. It was a performance that left no doubt about which team was the superior force in this series.
For Philadelphia, the loss marks a bitter end to a season filled with promise but ultimately defined by questions. Joel Embiid and the 76ers now head into an offseason with few easy answers, while the Knicks move on with a seven-game winning streak, winning those games by an average of 26.4 points.
New York’s resurgence has been fueled by a tactical shift that has unlocked their full potential: using Karl-Anthony Towns as a hub in the high post. When teams bring a double team, Towns’ passing ability creates open looks for shooters like Brunson, Josh Hart, and OG Anunoby. That chemistry was on full display against the 76ers, and it’s a formula that looks increasingly difficult to stop.
Next up for the Knicks is a date with the winner of the Detroit vs. Cleveland series, which the Pistons currently lead 2-1. But for now, New York can savor a sweep that was as dominant as it was decisive. The Knicks didn’t just beat the 76ers—they left no doubt.