The New York Knicks proved once again that grit and determination can overcome even the ugliest of games. On Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, they clawed their way to a 108-102 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, taking a commanding 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference playoffs. And while the final score looks clean, the path there was anything but.
This was a game defined by chaos: 43 fouls, 31 turnovers, a flagrant foul, and a technical foul. The Knicks shot just 27% from three-point range, while the 76ers connected on 38%. Jalen Brunson struggled, going 9-for-21 from the field for 26 points and committing three turnovers. Karl-Anthony Towns spent most of the first half on the bench due to foul trouble, logging only eight minutes before halftime and 27 total in the game. And with three minutes left and the Knicks up by six, OG Anunoby appeared to get hurt, threatening to derail their momentum.
In the regular season, that combination of poor shooting, foul trouble, and injury would have been enough to break the Knicks' focus. But this is the playoffs, and something has shifted in New York. It started after their Game 3 loss to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round—a moment that seemed to crystallize just how quickly a promising season can slip away. Maybe it was the sting of that defeat, or maybe it was the realization that every possession matters more than ever. Whatever it was, the Knicks haven't been the same since.
They've now won five straight games, including two of the most lopsided playoff victories in franchise history. But what's truly impressive isn't just the winning streak—it's their ability to adapt. No matter what the 76ers throw at them, the Knicks find a way to adjust their offensive approach and attack a different weakness. On Wednesday, that meant countering a faster, more frenetic Philadelphia team that had turned its offense over to young guards Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, especially with Joel Embiid sidelined by ankle and hip injuries.
The 76ers came out with fire in their eyes, pushing the pace from the opening tip. But the Knicks, playing their brand of playoff basketball, found a way to weather the storm. It wasn't pretty, but in the postseason, style points don't matter—survival does. And right now, the Knicks are proving they're built for the fight.