The New York Knicks have hit never-before-seen heights of dominance through their Eastern Conference semifinals opener against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Knicks gave the Sixers a public spanking on Monday at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, N.Y. The home team outscored the visitors by at least eight points in every quarter of the 137-98 Game 1 beatdown just a few blocks off Broadway.
The victory marked the Knicks’ fourth straight double-digit playoff win dating back to their first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks, and their third straight by at least 29 points. The result made New York the first team in NBA history to record three consecutive playoff wins by 25 or more points.
The Knicks are the first team in NBA history to win three-straight playoff games by 25+ points 🔥
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) May 5, 2026
In fact, the two highest scoring games in Knicks postseason history have been the last two they've played 😲 pic.twitter.com/vZAQl7hcJr
The Knicks have been firing on all cylinders on both ends of the floor. New York has posted 137 and 140 points in its last two games, marking its two highest point totals in postseason history. They’ve done it while also limiting their opponents to below 100 points in each of their last four games.
Jalen Brunson was once again at the center of the offense for the Knicks in Game 1 against the 76ers. The All-Star guard finished with 35 points on 12/18 shooting and a perfect 8/8 from the free throw line.
Brunson’s teammates followed suit, with all 14 Knicks players to take the floor scoring at least one field goal.
The playoffs often come down to which team gets hot at the right time, and the Knicks have been setting the nets ablaze for over a week now. With the Boston Celtics no longer in the picture, New York has become the heavy favorite to emerge out of the East.
