Knicks dominate 76ers by 39 in Game 1 of Eastern Conference semifinals

Jalen Brunson scored 35 points and the Knicks beat the 76ers 137-98 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, extending their historic winning streak.

Historic Knicks postseason dominance continues Jalen Brunson poured in 35 points, with 27 coming in the first half, as the New York Knicks overwhelmed the Philadelphia 76ers 137-98 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. This victory marked the first time in NBA playoff history that a team won three straight postseason games by at least 25 points. The Knicks started their surge midway through the first round against Atlanta and maintained it by shooting 63% from the field while leading by 40 points at one point on Monday night. ## Knicks' balanced scoring fuels rout OG Anunoby contributed 18 points on 7-for-8 shooting, while Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges each tallied 17 points. Towns added six rebounds and six assists in just 20 minutes of play, showcasing the Knicks' depth and efficiency. After trailing 2-1 against Atlanta, New York has now won four straight playoff games by a combined margin of 135 points. Over the last three games alone, the Knicks' total victory margin stands at 119 points, the largest per-game differential in NBA playoff history. ## 76ers' struggles deepen in playoff loss The Philadelphia 76ers offered little resistance as they fell to a 137-98 defeat. Paul George led the way with 17 points, but Joel Embiid struggled, shooting just 3 for 11 for 14 points. Tyrese Maxey managed 13 points, failing to make his first basket until five minutes into the second quarter. The 76ers had only one full day off after their Game 7 win in Boston on Saturday, yet they looked sluggish, resembling the team that lost twice by 32 points in the first four games of the series. ## Knicks' first-round ease contrasts 76ers' fight The Knicks breezed through their first round, capped by a 140-89 thrashing of Atlanta in Game 6, setting a postseason record with a 47-point halftime lead. The dominance continued against Philadelphia, with New York building a 57-39 lead midway through the second quarter. Brunson scored their final 11 points of the half, including a 3-pointer with 0.3 seconds left to make it 74-51 at the break. Towns extended the lead to 90-60 early in the third quarter before reserves took over. ## Brunson's playoff mastery haunts 76ers again Jalen Brunson finished with 35 points despite playing only 31 minutes, narrowly missing a fourth straight 40-point game against the 76ers. He averaged 35.5 points in the first-round series against Philadelphia in 2024, closing it with three straight 40-point performances, including a franchise playoff-record 47 in Game 4. The 76ers have yet to find a solution for stopping Brunson, who continues to torch them in high-stakes games. Game 2 is set for Wednesday night in New York before the series moves to Philadelphia, where Embiid has already urged fans not to sell tickets to opposing supporters. ## 76ers' playoff struggles exposed early The 76ers' lone full day of rest after their Game 7 comeback in Boston did little to help their cause against New York. Their lackluster performance mirrored their struggles in the first four games, where they lost twice by 32 points. Embiid's poor shooting night and Maxey's delayed scoring debut further highlighted the team's offensive woes. This defeat adds to the 76ers' inconsistent postseason run, leaving them searching for answers against a red-hot Knicks squad.