Knicks Dominate The Sixers in Game 1

By Daniel Feuerstein | New York, NY | May 4th, 2026

The second round of the NBA Playoffs began at Madison Square Garden, as the New York Knicks hosted the Philadelphia 76ers in a rematch from last season’s first round matchup. Once again from the opening tip to the end, the Knicks dominated the Sixers on swarming defense and clutch shooting all over the floor and from behind the three point line. The never relinquished the lead going over 100 points before the third quarter ended with over two minutes remaining. The fourth was for the bench players again holding the fort as the Knicks defeated the Sixers 137-98

Jalen Brunson was dominating the entire game for the Knicks. He found plenty of space and used the mismatch against Joel Embiid, Karl Anthony Towns was dictating the passing lanes finding his teammates and when he needed to call his own number, converted multiple buckets. Mikael Bridges has finally turned it on and has converted chances on the floor. All starters and bench players were locked in and dominating the floor against the Sixers. Brunson was the leading scorer with 35 points, O.G. Anunoby was second on the Knicks with 18 points with both Karl Anthony Towns and Mikael Bridges with 17 points. Paul George led all Sixers with 17 points.

First Half: The start of the game was even until the Knicks rampaged through

With the opening tip the Knicks and Sixers would exchange the lead a few times until the Sixers had a 19-18 lead, but lost the game from there as the Knicks took over and never looked back. Towns missed his original shot, but got his own rebound and scored. He was good at finding his teammates when he was at the top of the key, as Jose Alvarado broke towards the hoop, Towns found him and converted the layup. Bridges was on fire and when he missed a three pointer, Josh Hart got the rebound and found Bridges again from the corner and hit the three for the second time. Both Towns and Mitchell Robinson earned three fouls in the first half and was forced to sit down with 2:40 left in the first half. But Jalen Brunson was able to get the last shot after the shot clock buzzer was beaten on a bad shot, then nailed the three with two tenths a second left in the half.

Second Half: The Sixers had a bad start as the Knicks continued to dominate

As soon as the third quarter began the Sixers just made too many bad passes, rushed their shots from behind the three-point line and just couldn’t find a way to cut the massive deficit the Knicks put on them in the enter second half. Towns continues to play with the hot hand and nailed a three, Bridges also showed some great moves and hit some important buckets. With 2:04 remaining in the third quarter, the Knicks reached 100 points before starting the fourth quarter. The bench players entered the game towards the end of the third quarter and were rotated with other bench players for the entire fourth quarter. For the fourth straight playoff game, the Knicks held their opponents under 100 points this time two points behind 100.

KEY STATS:
PHILADELPHIA: 30 FOR 73 FG’S, 11 FOR 30 3PTS, 27 FOR 34 FG’S
NEW YORK: 53 FOR 84 FG’S, 19 FOR 37 3PTS, 12 FOR 17FT’S
MOST POINTS: KNICKS WITH 41 POINTS IN THE SECOND QUARTER
LARGEST LEAD: KNICKS WITH 35 POINTS IN THE THIRD QUARTER

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