Knicks BLOW OUT 76’ers to Sweep Series. NY 144 Philly 114

May 11, 2026 LouV 2025-26 0
Jose Alvarado celebrates another Knick bucket. Photo courtesy NY Knicks.

The Knicks came out with a BLISTERING 3-pt barrage and STIFLING Defense and blew the 76’ers off their home court to a RAUCHOUS Knick crowd that overwhelmed Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia on a Sunday afternoon — Mother’s Day — sweeping the 4-game Eastern semifinal series.

Knick Defense led to fast breaks, ball movement, and rhythm 3’s and the Knicks seemed to hit them all in the 1st quarter — Miles McBride especially who hit 4 consecutive 3’s to put NY up 20-6 in the early going. McBride would finish 7-9 from 3 for the game for 25 pts.

But McBride was only part of the Knick action — Josh Hart was hitting his 3; Karl-Anthony Towns was absolutely dominating with his passing game, and scoring inside and out; Mikal Bridges was defending, and slashing and scoring, Landry Shamet was 4-6 from 3; and Jalen Brunson was on another level — his fancy footwork on display as he scored in every which way.

In one highlight of the game, Brunson broke the ankles of his defender and split the Philly defense for a reverse layup, then received the ball off a McBride inbounds steal and hit a 3 from the corner — scoring 5 pts in 3 seconds.

NY led by 81-57 at the half, and by 122-81 after 3 quarters. NY led by 39 pts in the 3rd quarter and by 44 pts in the 4th quarter until Philly reserves made a run against NY reserves late in the game to make the final score as close as it was — Philly down only 30.

Bridges and NY double teams limited Tyrese Maxey to 17 pts on 6-16 shooting (1-7 from 3). VJ Edgecombe was limited to 8 pts on 4-14 shooting (0-6 from 3). Paul George had 7 pts on 3-7 shooting (1-4 from 3). Only Joel Embiid shot well — 8-8 (2-2 from 3) for 24 pts — but it was lost in the blowout.

“Just a heck of a game by our guys,” said coach Mike Brown afterwards. “Their focus, their attention to detail, while bringing energy and effort — not just tonite but during the course of the series — was at a pretty high level.”

“If I had to say one thing, it’s the spacing,” added Brown about all the 3’s. “Those guys are so quick, they’re so athletic.”

1. Knicks Rain 3’s on Philly in 1st

When OG Anunoby was declared out of game 3 with the slight hamstring pull, Miles McBride — when interviewed — said the Knicks were ready to go with a ‘next-man-up’ mentality.

McBride was the next man — assigned to step in to the starting rotation for OG and guard Paul George.

McBride stepped up and gave NY everything that OG could have.

The Knicks hit 7 of their first 8 3-pt attempts — including 4 straight by Miles McBride to take a 25-13 lead. “Their ball movement is sensational,” said Stan Van Gundy on the national broadcast.

“Miles McBride tweet below in 2021,” noted NBA Analyst Ross Kreines. “Miles always defends hard, doesn’t take any play for granted, competes hard, stays ready, shot ready, shot confident make or miss and he was hot tonight but what you love is that even when his shot isn’t falling his effort and activity never change.”

Josh Hart hit his first 3, Jalen Brunson was hitting 3’s, and Karl-Anthony Towns hit a 3.

When they weren’t hitting 3’s, Karl-Anthony Towns was driving and scoring inside with ease. or penetrating and passing to Bridges or Mitchell Robinson for buckets inside. Robinson came in to play alongside KAT with 3 minutes left in the quarter.

Landry Shamet and Jordan Clarkson came in with 2 minutes left in the quarter — and Clarkson immediately took a 3 and was fouled for 3 free throws, making 2 for a 37-20 lead. Then Shamet hit consecutive 3’s and NY wet up 43-23.

The Knicks were 11-12 from 3 — tying the NBA record for 3’s in a quarter.

2. Knicks Go Up by 27 in 2nd Quarter

The 2nd quarter was more of the same. A Josh Hart rebound led to a fast break to Jordan Clarkson who hit Landry Shamet for another 3 from the corner.

KAT a Passing MACHINE

KAT was a passing machine — penetrating constantly and finding Knicks inside or out.

When Shamet missed a 3, Clarkson grabbed an offensive rebound who fed KAT who touch-passed it to Josh Hart, fouled underneath.

“Karl Anthony Towns with a great touch pass here,” pointed out NBA Analyst Ross Kreines. “As he continues to show his good court and unselfishness whether he’s making passes like this, making doubles pay, swing passes, off the dribble which not only makes the game easier for others but it also makes the game easier for him.”

Knicks Own Offensive Boards

Jose Alvarado came in to continue the high pace.

Alvarado missed a 3 — but Mitchell Robinson grabbed the offensive rebound and fed McBride for a 3 and NY was up 59-32. “Knicks right now LIGHTING IT UP” exclaimed Van Gundy on the broadcast. Philly timeout. Philly coach Nick Nurse was shown imploring his team on the sidelines, screaming with hoarse voice to pass the ball and play harder.

McBride missed a 3, but Bridges grabbed an offensive rebound, and — double-teamed inside — snaked in for a layup. On the other side of the court, Bridges knocked the ball away from Embiid and dove on it for a jump ball. The Knick defense was INTENSE.

Philly Goes to Hack-a-Mitch — And Mitch Hits His FT’s

Philly went to Hack-a-Mitch with 2:47 left in the half, with NY up 69-47 — and Mitchell Robinson hit both free throws to a ROAR from MSG West.

Robinson grabbed an offensive rebound off a missed Brunson drive on next possession and was fouled — missed both free throws but grabbed his own offensive rebound.

Miles McBride hit his 6th 3 pointer with under a minute to go in the half to put NY up 78-52, then Josh Hart hit a 3 to make it 81-53 — both again a wide-open 3’s off great Knick passing that kept Philly scrambling.

3. Knicks Go Up by 43 in the 3rd Quarter

The Knicks really revved it up in the 3rd quarter.

More intense defense, more KAT passing off inside drives, more ball movement, more rhythm 3’s.

A highlight was Jalen Brunson using his handle and footwork to break the ankles of XXX for a drive and reverse layup — then a McBride steal of the inbounds and pass to Bridges who found Brunson for a corner 3 — 5 pts in 3 seconds for Brunson.

The Knicks kept pushing it from there, going up by 39 pts by end of the quarter.

4. Reserves Play the 4th

Both teams emptied their benches late in the 3rd with NY up by 39 pts. NY soon pushed the lead to 44 points off a Jose Alvarado 3.

Ariel Hukporti manned center, Tyler Kolek came in for the point, Pacome Dadiet, Jeremy Sochan and the rest of the 3rd team got burn.

NY was up by 40 at 136-96 with 5 minutes left when a 11-1 Philly run pulled them within 30 with 2:20 left.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401871162

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*