Jalen Brunson put on a show in Philadelphia on Friday night, dropping 33 points and delivering clutch buckets down the stretch that had Knicks fans roaring. His heroics powered New York to a 109-94 victory over the 76ers, giving the Knicks a commanding 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The game had a special feel, with Villanova's 2016 and 2018 national championship banners hanging in the arena. The so-called "Nova Knicks" — a nod to the college's pipeline to New York — took turns wearing down the Sixers in the fourth quarter, turning a slim four-point lead into yet another double-digit win.

Josh Hart stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Mikal Bridges chipped in 23 points. Together, they helped first-year coach Mike Brown push the Knicks within one win of their second straight conference finals appearance. With this cushion, New York can afford to be cautious with forward OG Anunoby, who sat out with a strained right hamstring. Anunoby, averaging 21.4 points per game this postseason, remains day-to-day.

On the other side, Joel Embiid returned for the Sixers after missing Game 2 with a sprained right ankle and sore right hip. He scored 18 points, but it wasn't enough to spark a comeback. Embiid's earlier return from an appendectomy had fueled Philadelphia's rally from a 3-1 deficit in the opening round to stun the Celtics. Now, the Sixers face a much steeper climb — needing four straight wins, two in New York, to keep their season alive.

Kelly Oubre Jr. led Philadelphia with 22 points, and Tyrese Maxey added 17, but the Knicks' depth and poise proved too much. For fans of the game, this series is a masterclass in playoff basketball — and a reminder that every bucket counts.