The New York Knicks are one win away from a playoff sweep after taking a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Philadelphia 76ers with a 108-94 victory on Friday night. And once again, the loudest cheers in the building came from the visiting fans.
Jalen Brunson led the charge with 33 points and nine assists, while Mikal Bridges added 23 points and Josh Hart chipped in 12. The trio, all Villanova products, combined for 68 points and gave Knicks fans plenty to celebrate. New York's bench also dominated, outscoring Philadelphia's reserves 28-11, with Landry Shamet contributing 15 points off the pine.
Despite the 76ers' best efforts to keep them out, Knicks fans flooded Xfinity Mobile Arena once again. Celebrities like Spike Lee, Tracy Morgan, Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller, and Fat Joe were among those who made the trip, turning Philadelphia's home court into what felt like Madison Square Garden East. The sea of blue and orange was impossible to ignore, and their energy fueled the Knicks throughout the night.
Joel Embiid returned to the lineup after missing Game 2 but couldn't swing the momentum in Philly's favor. Early on, he and Karl-Anthony Towns battled fiercely in the post, with Towns using his perimeter game to pull Embiid away from the basket and open up driving lanes. Sixers coach Nick Nurse adjusted by putting Dominick Barlow on Towns, allowing Embiid to roam near the rim for defense and rebounds.
The physical play between Embiid and Towns was a recurring theme. The two big men hit the floor multiple times while jockeying for position, drawing comparisons to a WWE match. That aggression paid off for the Sixers when Towns picked up his third foul with eight minutes left in the second quarter, forcing him to the bench.
But the Knicks didn't flinch. At the 8:20 mark of the second quarter, Jose Alvarado drilled a 3-pointer to give New York its first lead at 38-35. That sparked an 11-3 run capped by a thunderous poster dunk from Mitchell Robinson over Embiid on a lob from Brunson. The Knicks outscored the Sixers 26-20 in the second quarter and never looked back.
For Knicks fans, this series has been a dream come true. With a 3-0 lead, they're now just one win away from advancing. And if the energy in Philadelphia is any indication, Madison Square Garden will be absolutely electric when the series returns to New York.