Knicks' 137-98 rout of Sixers reveals a team in offensive flow state

Key facts

• Knicks defeated 76ers 137-98 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on May 17, 2026.
• New York shot 63.1% from the field and 51.4% on 37 three-point attempts.
• Jalen Brunson scored 35 points on 12-of-18 shooting in 30 minutes, 42 seconds.
• OG Anunoby scored 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting; Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns each shot 7-of-10 and 7-of-11, respectively.
• Sixers stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey combined for 6-of-18 shooting in the first half.
• Paul George was the only Philadelphia starter who appeared unaffected, scoring 17+ points.
• Knicks have outscored opponents by 135 points over the last four games dating back to Game 4 against Atlanta.
• New York recorded 34 assists as a team, with Josh Hart contributing 8 points and 6 assists.

A systematic dismantling at Madison Square Garden

The Philadelphia 76ers did not merely lose Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal against the New York Knicks on Monday night. They were ambushed, outclassed in every phase, and left searching for a pulse. The final score, 137-98, reflected a game that was never competitive after the opening minutes. Sixers coach Nick Nurse offered a blunt assessment: “We were just kind of stuck in mud at both ends. They put it on us.” The defeat came just 48 hours after Philadelphia survived a grueling first-round series against Boston, a stretch of three do-or-die games in five days. But that context offered little solace against a Knicks team that played with surgical precision.

New York's offense reaches a new level of cohesion

The Knicks’ attack has evolved into something beyond mere execution. Coach Mike Brown described it as a system where “guys are trying to play the right way” and “sacrificing” for the collective. On Monday, that philosophy produced 53 made field goals on 84 attempts, a 63.1% clip that left the Sixers helpless. “It’s a lot of fun when you have concepts on either end of the floor and guys are trying to embrace those concepts at the highest level,” Brown said. The offense, which struggled with consistency early in the season, has now found its rhythm at the perfect moment. Over the past four games, dating back to Game 4 against Atlanta, New York has outscored opponents by 135 points, scoring 125 or more in three of those contests.

Brunson leads a balanced scoring attack

Jalen Brunson was the engine, scoring 35 points on 12-of-18 shooting in just over 30 minutes. But the Knicks’ destruction was not a solo act. OG Anunoby hit 7 of 8 shots for 18 points, Mikal Bridges went 7-of-10, and Karl-Anthony Towns added 7-of-11. Every starter except Josh Hart scored at least 17 points, and Hart contributed 8 points and 6 assists. The Knicks shot 51.4% from three-point range on 37 attempts, a display of efficiency that left the Sixers without answers. “They shot the [crap] out of the ball,” said Paul George, the only Philadelphia starter who looked comfortable. “It’s a game of adjustments. We’ll make adjustments, see what we need to get better at.”

Philadelphia's defensive vulnerabilities exposed

The Sixers’ problems began on defense, where they could not contain Brunson’s penetration or close out on shooters. New York’s stars entered halftime shooting a combined 23-of-33 from the field, building a 23-point lead. On offense, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey combined for 6-of-18 in the first half, a performance that underscored the team’s lack of rhythm. Nurse faces a daunting list of issues. Brunson’s 35 points were damaging, but the bigger concern was the supporting cast’s efficiency. Anunoby, Bridges, and Towns all shot better than 63%, a level of balance that suggests Philadelphia’s defensive scheme — reliant on drop coverage with Embiid — is ill-suited to stop this iteration of the Knicks.

A series of adjustments awaits before Game 2

The Sixers have shown resilience before. In the first round, they lost two games by 32 points each yet still advanced. That history buys them some benefit of the doubt, but the margin for error is thin. Game 2 is Wednesday, giving Philadelphia just one day to recalibrate. “They don’t get any points [in Game 2] for going up big tonight,” George said, echoing the rallying cry. The Knicks, meanwhile, are riding a wave of confidence. “We’re being unselfish,” Hart said. “With where we’re at right now, everyone is unselfish. We’re willing to sacrifice individual numbers and stats for the betterment of the team. When we do that, we’re playing our best basketball.”

The broader implications for both teams

For New York, the offensive explosion validates Brown’s system, which took months to implement. The Knicks now look like a team that can challenge for the conference title, with a starting five that complements each other seamlessly. For Philadelphia, the loss raises questions about whether Embiid’s health and the team’s defensive structure can withstand a seven-game series against a team this deep. The Sixers must find a way to disrupt Brunson without leaving Towns, Anunoby, and Bridges open. That may require switching more aggressively or blitzing the pick-and-roll — adjustments that carry their own risks. As Nurse said, “This was a game that defies diagnoses. Even the greatest of doctors needs to first find a pulse.”

The bottom line

• The Knicks shot 63.1% from the field and 51.4% from three, with five starters scoring 17+ points.
• Jalen Brunson’s 35 points on 12-of-18 shooting highlighted Philadelphia’s inability to contain him in drop coverage.
• Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey combined for 6-of-18 in the first half, reflecting a systemic offensive struggle.
• New York has outscored opponents by 135 points over its last four games, signaling a peak offensive form.
• The Sixers have one day to adjust before Game 2, with history showing they can bounce back from large deficits.