PHILADELPHIA — It was almost cruel.
The Knicks gave the 76ers a few glimmers of hope. But, just as they kept beginning to believe they could make it a series, the Knicks kept yanking it right away, like a big brother toying with his little brother.
After falling to an early double-digit deficit, the Knicks completely took over in the second quarter. They let the 76ers pull within four near the end of the third quarter and early in the fourth quarter, but quickly re-established double-digit leads both times.
The second time elicited a loud “Let’s go Knicks” chant from the plethora of fans taking over Xfinity Mobile Arena. The 76ers’ PA announcer didn’t even try to hide it – he responded with a “C’mon 76ers fans” plea to drown them out.
But it was a useless effort. The Knicks subsequently rattled off a 13-3 run to take a 16-point lead. Jalen Brunson put the 76ers away. Xfinity Mobile Arena became a Knicks party.
And they brought themselves within touching distance of reaching the conference finals for the second straight year, as they beat the 76ers 108-94 in Game 3 Friday night to take a commanding 3-0 series lead.
It marks the Knicks’ sixth straight postseason win, their most since 1999.
They did it without OG Anunoby, who was out with his right hamstring strain. And they did it with minimal contribution from Karl-Anthony Towns, who again was glued to the bench for large stretches of the game due to foul trouble.
Brunson, after starting 0-for-4 and 2-for-8 from the field, largely carried the offense and finished with a game-high 33 points – on 11-for-22 shooting from the field – along with nine assists.
Mikal Bridges, without Anunoby, stepped up and delivered 23 points – 10 of which came in a dominant second quarter.
Miles McBride started for Anunoby, but it was Landry Shamet – re-entering the rotation – who provided huge minutes in his place. He recorded 15 points on 5-for-6 shooting from the field and closed in the fourth quarter. It was part of a huge bench advantage for the Knicks – they held an 18-point edge in bench points.
The Knicks trailed by as many as 12 points in the first quarter. Paul George had 15 points – on 6-for-9 shooting from the field – in that first quarter. And the Knicks committed six turnovers, as the game threatened to get away from them. But they weathered the storm and only trailed by four heading into the second quarter.
Within four minutes of the second quarter, they took the lead. And they dominated the second quarter – outscoring the 76ers by 12 points. It came with a key defensive tweak – they switched Mikal Bridges onto George, meaning Miles McBride shifted onto Tyrese Maxey and Josh Hart took VJ Edgecombe.
George went scoreless the rest of the way, missing all nine shots he took.
Mitchell Robinson caught a lob from Brunson off an inbounds and dunked all over Joel Embiid to give the Knicks a five-point lead with 7:09 left in the second quarter. It was around then the Knicks took control and never looked back.
After they took the lead with 8:20 left in the second quarter, they led the rest of the way.
Much of the third quarter was defined by Robinson’s free throw shooting. The 76ers went Hack-a-Mitch, and he was also twice going up for a lob and layup. In total, he went 4-for-8 from the line in the quarter.
Embiid had 18 points for the 76ers, while Maxey added 17.
But the Knicks made them footnotes.
They are winning games in different ways every night. Getting contributions from different places. Setting new historical marks.
Their surge keep growing.
