The New York Knicks are headed back to the Eastern Conference finals after dismantling Philadelphia in four straight games, capping a dominant performance Sunday with a 144-114 rout that left 76ers fans watching from the sidelines while Knicks supporters took over their own building.
New York's offensive explosion started from the opening tip. The team connected on 11 three-pointers in the first quarter alone, matching an NBA postseason record. That barrage set the tone immediately, with the Knicks leading 20-6 after just minutes of play as fans chanted for Deuce McBride, who became the first Knick since 1997 to drain four consecutive threes in a playoff first quarter.
McBride finished with 25 points on seven made three-pointers. Jalen Brunson added 22 points and six threes of his own, while Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns each contributed 17. The Knicks finished the night with 25 three-pointers, tying the postseason record for makes in a single game.
The offensive display was so overwhelming that by halftime, New York had already scored 54 points from beyond the arc. Philadelphia managed just 57 points total in the first half. The Knicks' 81-57 halftime advantage essentially ended any drama for the second half, which played out as a ceremonial victory lap.
This marks the Knicks' first series sweep since 1999, when they defeated Atlanta in the Eastern semifinals. The victory sends New York to the conference finals for the second consecutive season, though this team looks far more potent than last year's squad that reached the finals for the first time in 25 years before losing to Indiana.
New coach Mike Brown has overseen seven straight playoff wins, including this entire dominating run against the Sixers. The team will face either Cleveland or Detroit, with the Pistons currently leading their series two games to one.
Knicks fans didn't simply attend Game 4 in Philadelphia, they essentially occupied the building. Supporters lined the streets outside with brooms, signaling the sweep, then filled the arena with blue and orange while drowning out the home crowd. The takeover was so complete that Knicks chants regularly drowned out 76ers noise throughout the evening.
The Philadelphia roster, meanwhile, heads home with little consolation. Joel Embiid finished with 24 points in another season marred by injury. Tyrese Maxey had 17. Despite a gutsy first-round comeback against Boston, the 76ers remain stuck in second-round purgatory, unable to advance past that stage since 2001.
Adding insult to injury, two of Philadelphia's own draft picks from 2018, Mikal Bridges and Landry Shamet, are still playing in these playoffs, only they're wearing Knicks uniforms.
Author James Rodriguez: "The Knicks are legitimately dangerous now, and watching them dismantle Philadelphia with that three-point barrage was a reminder that New York basketball is back in a serious way."
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