The New York Knicks are back in the Eastern Conference finals after a dominant performance, setting an NBA postseason record with 11 three-pointers in the first quarter in front of a raucous crowd that largely supported the road team in Philadelphia.
The Knicks' 144-114 victory on Sunday completed their series sweep of the 76ers. Deuce McBride hit seven of New York's NBA postseason record-tying 25 three-pointers and scored 25 points. Jalen Brunson contributed 22 points, while Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns each added 17 points in the Knicks' latest lopsided playoff win.
The Knicks advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for the second consecutive season and will face the winner of the Cleveland-Detroit series, which the Pistons lead 2-1.
Last season, the Knicks reached the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years before losing to Indiana. Following that loss, the team fired coach Tom Thibodeau and replaced him with Mike Brown, who has since guided the team to seven straight playoff victories, starting with the final three games against Atlanta.
Knicks fans have consistently purchased thousands of tickets at the 76ers' arena for playoff games over the years, and in Game 4 they made perhaps their loudest statement yet. Fans raised brooms outside the arena and waved 'Always Knicks' towels inside, effectively silencing the 76ers supporters in attendance.
The home fans had little to cheer about from the 76ers. Game 4 was a one-sided affair from the start, with the Knicks using the three-point arc as their primary weapon. With Knicks fans on their feet chanting 'Deuuuce,' McBride hit four consecutive three-pointers to give New York a quick 20-6 lead, putting the Sixers on their heels. McBride became the first Knick since play-by-play tracking began in 1997 to hit four three-pointers in the first quarter of a playoff game.
New York's three-point barrage continued as Brunson added two more in the first quarter, helping the Knicks go 11 of 13 from beyond the arc, tying the NBA record for most three-pointers in a quarter. The Knicks totaled 18 three-pointers in the first half, scoring 54 points from long range compared to the 76ers' 57 total points. This gave the Knicks an 81-57 halftime lead, propelling them toward their first best-of-seven series sweep since the 1999 Eastern Conference semifinals against Atlanta.
The Knicks scored 80 or more points in the first half twice in five road playoff games this season. The second half was a mere formality, and the Sixers head home after a gutsy 3-1 series comeback to beat Boston in the first round.
Joel Embiid ended another injury-plagued season with 24 points, Tyrese Maxey had 17, and the Sixers have not advanced past the second round since 2001. Adding insult to injury, Philadelphia's two first-round picks from the 2018 draft, Mikal Bridges and Landry Shamet, are still playing—for the Knicks.
