New York shows why they’re championship contenders with historic shooting display at Madison Square
When dominance becomes inevitable
The New York Knicks didn’t just beat the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night—they delivered a masterclass in playoff basketball that will be remembered as one of the most lopsided performances in recent postseason history. With a 137-98 demolition at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks (1) made a statement that transcended a single game: they’ve evolved into a force that few teams can match when they’re playing at peak efficiency.
The ease with which the Knicks dismantled their Eastern Conference semifinal opponent revealed something that’s been building throughout their remarkable playoff run. This isn’t a team that occasionally looks dominant. This is a collection of players who have figured out how to execute at an elite level night after night, regardless of circumstances.
The blueprint for basketball excellence
Jalen Brunson (2) set the tone early with a commanding first half, pouring in 27 points before halftime and eventually finishing with 35. His performance represented more than individual scoring prowess it was a demonstration of controlled aggression that allowed everything else to flow naturally for New York. The Knicks led by 23 points before the break, and the deficit only widened as Philadelphia crumbled.
What made Monday’s victory particularly impressive was the timing. The Knicks (1) had been waiting since Thursday’s Game 6 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, yet they looked sharp and prepared rather than rusty. They shot 63 percent from the field and led by as many as 40 points, establishing themselves as the first team in NBA history to win three consecutive postseason games by at least 25 points.
Building momentum through adversity
The journey to this dominant performance tells a more complex story. Since falling behind 2-1 against Atlanta, the Knicks (1) have won four straight games by a combined 135 points. Over their last three contests, they’ve posted a remarkable 119-point combined margin of victory the largest point-per-game differential across any three-game span in NBA playoff history.
This trajectory of success didn’t happen by accident. The team weathered the up-and-down nature of their regular season to emerge as a cohesive unit capable of executing at the highest level. Karl-Anthony Towns (3), OG Anunoby (4), and Mikal Bridges (5) have played far more minutes together than their counterparts on Philadelphia’s roster, creating the chemistry needed for consistent excellence.
Individual excellence across the roster
Anunoby (4) continued his impressive stretch of playoff basketball, scoring 18 points on just eight shots—a remarkable display of efficiency. Bridges (5), who struggled early in the postseason, broke out with 17 points and three successful three-pointers, shooting 51 percent from distance as a team.
The 76ers (6) entered this series fresh off an exhausting Game 7 victory over Boston that concluded just 48 hours before facing New York. Coach Nick Nurse’s (7) decision to pull his starters midway through the third quarter reflected both the mental and physical toll that grueling series had taken on Philadelphia.
Joel Embiid (8), Philadelphia’s centerpiece, struggled significantly. The 76ers (6) tried to force-feed him early in the game, but the strategy backfired as he missed 11 of his 14 attempts. Tyrese Maxey (9) suffered through an ineffective evening, not recording a field goal until the second quarter after averaging 27 points in the Boston series.
Measured optimism tempered by realism
Despite the lopsided victory, Brunson (2) approached the remaining series with appropriate caution. The 76ers (6) had suffered a similar Game 1 loss to Boston before bouncing back to win Game 2. New York understands that one dominant performance, regardless of its impressiveness, doesn’t determine an entire series outcome.
The Knicks (1) have created something special this season through adversity and perseverance. Whether that translates to a championship remains to be seen, but their capacity to perform at an elite level when it matters most suggests they’ll be competing deep into the playoffs.