The New York Knicks secured a 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals with a hard-fought 108-102 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2. Unlike their dominant Game 1 performance, this contest remained tight until the final minutes, as the Sixers—playing without injured star center Joel Embiid due to ankle and hip issues—fought valiantly but ultimately ran out of steam in the fourth quarter.
Jalen Brunson once again delivered in the clutch, scoring 8 of his game-high 26 points in the final period to lead the Knicks. Tyrese Maxey matched Brunson’s output with 26 points for Philadelphia, but the Sixers’ 18 costly turnovers at Madison Square Garden proved to be their undoing. The series now shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Friday.
OG Anunoby endured one of his worst shooting nights of the playoffs, connecting on just 9 of 17 attempts for 24 points—a ghastly 53% from the field—while still providing elite defense. However, concerns arose when Anunoby limped off the court with 2:30 remaining in the game and headed to the locker room. Knicks coach Mike Brown said postgame, “I haven’t talked to anybody. He looked like he was hopping.” The status of New York’s defensive anchor, who has been their top playoff performer, remains uncertain.
The 76ers managed to keep Game 2 close by riding an early hot streak from beyond the arc, but their offense sputtered late, scoring just 12 points in the fourth quarter. Neither Tyrese Maxey, Paul George (19 points), nor VJ Edgecombe (17) could ignite the scoring burst needed. The Knicks dominated the paint throughout the game, and Philadelphia’s three-point shooting went cold. Coach Nick Nurse and his squad will need to solve their late-game issues to make this a competitive series.
