Jalen Brunson scored 26 points and made the go-ahead basket late as the New York Knicks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 108-102 to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the report says.
Playing without the injured Joel Embiid, the 76ers provided a far stronger test than they did in New York’s 137-98 blowout in Game 1. The game featured 25 lead changes and 14 ties, with neither team leading by more than seven points, per the report.
Brunson’s tiebreaking basket came with 5:06 remaining and he added a jumper that pushed the Knicks in front 103-99 with 3:45 to play, the report says. OG Anunoby scored 24 points for New York but was not on the floor at the end of the game; it was unclear if he had been hurt. Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, the report adds.
Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 26 points after managing 13 in Game 1, scoring 15 in the second quarter and 19 in the first half on Wednesday, the report says. Philadelphia also got 19 points each from Paul George and Kelly Oubre Jr. and 17 from VJ Edgecombe as it nearly overcame Embiid’s absence. Josh Hart hit a 3-pointer with 6:52 remaining after leaving the game earlier with what appeared to be a left hand or wrist injury, the report says.
The series moves to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Friday and Game 4 on Sunday, when Embiid will learn whether the arena will be filled with Sixers fans or if New Yorkers will make their way in, per the report. The Knicks’ Game 1 victory made them the first team to win three straight postseason games by at least 25 points, the report adds.
