The New York Knicks are on fire—and we mean that literally. In a stunning display of three-point shooting, they demolished the Philadelphia 76ers 144-114 on Sunday, sweeping their way into the NBA Eastern Conference finals for the second straight year. This marks a monumental turnaround for a franchise that hadn't reached this stage in 24 seasons.
From the opening tip, the Knicks made it clear they came to play. They tied a playoff record with 11 three-pointers in the first quarter alone, then followed it up with 18 in the first half—another record-tying feat. By the final buzzer, they had drilled 25 treys, matching the all-time playoff mark, and extended their postseason winning streak to seven games.
"One game at a time," said Knicks star Jalen Brunson, who drained six three-pointers and finished with 22 points. But the real showstopper was Miles McBride, who erupted for a game-high 25 points on seven triples. Six Knicks scored in double figures, and the team didn't miss a beat without forward OG Anunoby, sidelined for a second straight game with a hamstring strain.
The energy was electric from the jump. The Knicks stormed to a 43-point first quarter, drilling 11 of 13 three-point attempts. Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse tried to rally his team during a timeout, urging them to "play harder," but the 76ers had no answer—especially with a sea of raucous Knicks fans turning the Xfinity Mobile Arena into hostile territory.
By halftime, New York led 81-57, and the game was all but over. The Knicks pushed the lead to as many as 44 points before resting their starters in the fourth quarter. Joel Embiid, battling through hip and ankle injuries after an April appendectomy, led the 76ers with 24 points on perfect shooting (8-for-8 from the field, 6-for-7 from the line). Tyrese Maxey added 17, but it wasn't nearly enough against a Knicks squad that looked unstoppable.
Next up for New York: a showdown against either the top-seeded Detroit Pistons or the fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line. If this performance is any indication, the Knicks are ready for the challenge.