By Daniel Feuerstein | Philadelphia, PA | May 8th, 2026
The New York Knicks traveled down the New Jersey Turnpike to face the Philadelphia 76ers at the Xfinity Mobile Arena for Game 3 of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. while they ruled out O.G. Anunoby due to his strained right hamstring, Mitchell Robinson returned from his illness, and Joel Embiid also returned from his injury stint when he was missing Game 2, but not having Anunoby, was never the problem for the Knicks as they played like a team and continued to battle their way against the Sixers and took a commanding lead in this series by winning on the road by the final score of 108-94.
After losing the first quarter to the Sixers, the Knicks turned it around in the second quarter and once again never looked back. Their tough defense and the Sixers’ poor shooting and poor rebounding allowed the Knicks to take advantage and drive down the court to hit several jumpers and three-pointers to take game 3 and clamp down on the series. Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 33 points. Mikal Bridges was second on the Knicks with 23 points. Josh Hart finished with a double-double, scoring 12 points and 11 rebounds. Kelly Oubre Jr. led all Sixers with 22 points. The Knicks’ bench outscored the Sixers bench 29 to 11.
First Half: The Sixers start red hot till the Knicks take over in the middle of the second quarter
The Sixers won the opening tip and immediately delivered consecutive baskets, starting a 9-0 run. They had a 20-8 lead till the Knicks started to cut the deficit and came back inside the opening quarter, but the Sixers led after the end of the first. The Knicks took over in the middle of the second, and they never let it go when Landry Shamet got a big pass and drove to the hoop to jam it down. The Knicks took the lead, as Jose Alvarado hit a huge three-pointer for their first lead at 38-35. A strange play happened when the Knicks kept possession with two seconds remaining on the shot clock. Brunson inbounds the ball from the end and lobbed it towards the hoop. Out of nowhere, Mitchell Robinson was running to the hoop and jammed it down on the alley oop. Brunson also had a shot clock beater when he nailed a three with the lead.
Second Half: The Knicks never lost the lead, while the Sixers nearly came close
Karl Anthony Towns once again got himself into foul trouble and was forced out of the second quarter with three fouls, but at the start of the third, he was a pivotal player, making big offensive rebounds and big passes. He was able to save the ball from a Deuce McBride missed three, gave it back to McBride, and on the second chance, nailed a three-pointer. Or finding Mikal Bridges at the top of the key and flung the ball to him for the layup. Then it was Bridges’ turn to make a big pass, and he found Shamet as he nailed a big three to extend the lead. Of course, when the Knicks were in the bonus, they fouled Robinson every time to force him to take free throws. He was 4 for 8 with one attempt, making both free throws after getting one of two the first two trips.
At the start of the fourth quarter, the Knicks right away scored as Jordan Clarkson had the ball, saw the shot clock winding down towards zero, he took a long two-pointer and converted before the shot clock ended. No matter how many times the Sixers tried to come back, the Knicks continued to pour it on and converted big buckets. Paul George, who had 15 points in the first quarter, went ice cold and never converted again in the second half. As Josh Hart grabbed a rebound, he flung the ball toward Brunson, went through two defenders, and shoveled the ball off the backboard and in on an amazing play. With two minutes left in the fourth, Mike Brown brought in the bench players to finish the night. For the fifth time in six straight games, the Knicks held off their opponents, scoring 100 points.
KEY STATS:
NEW YORK: 38 FOR 76 FG’S, 9 FOR 27 3PTS, 23 FOR 32 FT’S
PHILADELPHIA: 36 FOR 84 FG’S, 9 FOR 32 3PTS, 13 FOR 16 FT’S
LARGEST LEAD: KNICKS WITH 14 POINTS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER
MOST POINTS: KNICKS WITH 33 POINTS IN THE SECOND QUARTER
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