The New York Knicks are on fire, and they're not cooling down anytime soon. Jalen Brunson delivered another masterclass performance as the red-hot Knicks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 108-94 on Friday, pushing them to the brink of the NBA Eastern Conference finals with a commanding 3-0 series lead.
This victory marks the Knicks' sixth straight win, a streak that began after they rallied from a 2-1 deficit in their first-round playoff series against Atlanta. The team hasn't lost since, and they're now just one win away from their first conference finals appearance since 1999—a drought that has fans buzzing with excitement.
Brunson was the star of the show once again, pouring in 33 points and dishing out nine assists with the poise of a seasoned veteran. After nudging New York across the line in a tense Game 2, he looked even more composed under pressure this time around. But it wasn't just Brunson's offense that stole the spotlight; the Knicks' defense was equally impressive. Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart combined for 23 rebounds, providing a muscular presence in the paint that kept Philadelphia at bay.
The Sixers came out swinging in front of their raucous home crowd for the first time this series, with Paul George exploding for 15 points in the first quarter alone. Philadelphia led by 12 points early, taking advantage of a Knicks side missing the injured OG Anunoby. But New York refused to back down. They tightened up defensively and shot a blistering 57 percent in the second quarter, scoring 33 points to take the lead at halftime.
The game turned into a physical battle, with Towns and a returning Joel Embiid locked in a feisty duel that resembled a wrestling match at times. Both players committed three fouls before the break, setting the tone for a gritty contest. The Sixers briefly closed the gap to two points late in the third quarter, but then missed six straight shots—including a couple of ugly airballs from VJ Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes—allowing the Knicks to seize control.
Powered by another clutch late show from Brunson, New York pulled away in the final quarter, and the Sixers' hopes faded. Remarkably, George didn't score a single point after his first-quarter blitz, a testament to the Knicks' defensive adjustments. With a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, history is on New York's side: no NBA team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit. The Knicks have cemented their status as the bookmakers' favorites to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in over two decades.