The New York Knicks showed why defense wins championships, clamping down on the Philadelphia 76ers in a thrilling fourth quarter to secure a 108-102 victory in Game 2 on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. The win gives the Knicks a commanding 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and it was a masterclass in closing out a game when it mattered most.

Playing without their superstar Joel Embiid (hip and ankle issues), the Sixers simply ran out of gas in the final period. After trading blows for three quarters, Philadelphia’s offense completely stalled, shooting a frigid 4-for-19 (21.1 percent) from the floor in the fourth. The Knicks took full advantage, outscoring the visitors 19-12 and finishing the game on a decisive 12-3 run over the last 6:50 of action.

This wasn’t the blowout we saw in Game 1. For most of the night, neither team could build a comfortable lead—the largest advantage was just seven points for the Sixers and three for the Knicks. The fourth quarter started sloppily for New York, with three turnovers and a missed jumper in their first four possessions. But then, Miles McBride stepped up, hitting his first jumper in four tries to tie the game as Philly went ice cold (1-for-6 to start the quarter).

That’s when the Knicks’ stars took over. Jalen Brunson drained a mid-range jumper, and OG Anunoby followed with a tough layup, pushing their totals to 20 and 24 points, respectively. The burst forced a Sixers timeout as the Garden crowd erupted. Josh Hart, who had struggled all night, finally found his range, knocking down his first three-pointer to halt a 5-0 Philadelphia run. After four straight empty possessions from the Sixers, another timeout was called with 4:01 left and the Knicks up by two.

The drama kept building. Brunson hit a turnaround jumper, and another missed Sixers bucket (they were 3-for-16 in the quarter) led to yet another timeout with 3:14 to play. New York nearly turned it over and missed a dunk, but Mikal Bridges—having a stellar game—sank a jumper to give him 18 points and extend the lead to nine. The Sixers finally ended their drought with a free throw, but Brunson calmly answered with two of his own with just 66 seconds left, sealing the win and sending the Garden faithful home happy.

For Knicks fans, this was a night to remember—a gritty, defensive effort that showed the heart of a team built for the playoffs. And for anyone looking to rep their squad in style, this is the kind of performance that makes you proud to wear the orange and blue.