Brunson Burns Sixers Again; Knicks Push 76ers To The Brink In ECSF

Last Updated:May 09, 2026, 08:48 IST

Jalen Brunson dropped 33 points as the Knicks beat the 76ers again to take a 3-0 series lead, leaving Philadelphia staring at playoff elimination.

The New York Knicks are one win away from the Eastern Conference Finals. And once again, Jalen Brunson was the man steering the chaos.

Brunson delivered another clutch postseason performance on Friday night, dropping 33 points and nine assists as the Knicks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 109-94 to grab a commanding 3-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

At this point, the numbers are brutal for Philly. No NBA team has ever recovered from a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series.

The Knicks, now riding a six-game winning streak dating back to their first-round comeback against Atlanta, absorbed Philadelphia’s early punch before slowly squeezing the life out of the game with defense, rebounding and Brunson’s late-game brilliance.

The Sixers came flying out in front of a deafening home crowd, desperate to shift momentum in the series. Paul George looked unstoppable early, pouring in 15 first-quarter points as Philadelphia built a 12-point lead against a Knicks side missing injured forward OG Anunoby. But New York barely blinked.

Tom Thibodeau’s side immediately tightened up defensively and exploded for 33 points in the second quarter while shooting a blistering 57 percent from the field to take control before halftime.

Karl-Anthony Towns and Joel Embiid spent most of the first half battering each other in the paint, with both stars picking up three fouls apiece in an increasingly physical contest. Embiid, returning after missing Game 2 with ankle and hip issues, finished with 18 points but never truly looked comfortable.

Philadelphia briefly threatened late in the third quarter, trimming the deficit to just two points. But the momentum disappeared almost instantly after a disastrous scoring drought that included multiple airballs from Quentin Grimes and rookie VJ Edgecombe.

And once Brunson smelled blood, it was curtains.

The Knicks guard took over in the fourth quarter with a series of tough buckets that silenced the crowd and crushed any lingering Sixers hope. Remarkably, Paul George, who was electric in the opening quarter, failed to score another point for the remainder of the game.

Mikal Bridges added 23 points while Josh Hart delivered another classic all-action display with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Now, the Knicks head into Game 4 with history firmly on their side.

(with agency inputs)

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