Knicks Blow Out Sixers by 30, Advance to Eastern Conference Finals
The New York Knicks crushed the Philadelphia 76ers 144-114, setting a record for three-pointers in a half (18) and sweeping the series 4-0. Deuce McBride scored 25 points.
Main Event
The evening of May 10, 2026, will go down in NBA playoff history as a moment of absolute humiliation of one title contender by another. The New York Knicks didn't just beat the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 4 of the second-round series — they turned the opponent's home arena into a satellite of Madison Square Garden, routing the hosts 144-114 and securing a 4-0 sweep.
The game at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia was effectively over after the first quarter. The Knicks took the floor with a mindset best described as "leave no chance for the opponent" and executed it with surgical precision. A 44-point lead during the game is something rarely seen even in regular-season matchups, let alone the playoffs, where every game is supposed to be a battle for survival.
Thousands of New York fans filled the stands of the Philadelphia arena, creating a unique atmosphere — they waved blue-and-orange towels, chanted Deuce McBride's name, and effectively turned an away game into a home show. Sixers center Joel Embiid honestly admitted after the game: "Frankly, New York was better than us in every aspect."
Details and Statistics
The numbers from this game shatter conventional notions of playoff basketball statistics. The Knicks made 11 three-pointers in the first quarter, tying the NBA record for a single period in postseason games. By halftime, the visitors had 18 made three-pointers — another historic achievement, matching the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers' record.
The final three-point tally stopped at 25 — tying the all-time playoff record. For comparison, Philadelphia scored 57 points total in the first half, while the Knicks scored 54 points from beyond the arc alone.
The hero of the night was Miles "Deuce" McBride, who replaced the injured OG Anunoby in the starting lineup. The Knicks guard made four consecutive three-pointers in the first quarter — the first Knicks player since 1997 to do so in the playoffs. McBride's final stat line: 25 points on 7-of-9 shooting from three-point range.
"I'm always confident I'll make them," McBride said after the game. "I trust my work, I trust my preparation, and they left me open." Knicks head coach Mike Brown was more emotional: "Deuce is incredible. His ability to stretch the defense and create space for his teammates is unmatched."
Jalen Brunson added 22 points and 6 assists, making 6 three-pointers. Karl-Anthony Towns recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 assists. Josh Hart also scored 17 points. In total, six Knicks players finished the game in double figures.
For Philadelphia, Joel Embiid was the best with 24 points and 5 rebounds. The center made all 8 field goals and 6 of 7 free throws, playing through hip and ankle injuries while recovering from an appendectomy in April. Tyrese Maxey added 17 points, but it was catastrophically insufficient for a team that had sensationally eliminated Boston (the second seed) in seven games in the first round.
Quarter-by-quarter scoring: 43-24, 38-33, 41-26, 22-31 — the Knicks won three of four quarters, losing only the final period when both teams' reserves were on the floor.
Context and Significance
The significance of this result extends far beyond a single game or series. New York recorded its first sweep in a best-of-seven series since 1999, when the Knicks similarly swept Atlanta in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The average margin of victory throughout the series was 19.4 points in favor of the Knicks — the largest margin for two rounds of the playoffs since the tournament expanded to 16 teams in 1984. Simply put, no one has ever dominated two rounds of the NBA playoffs to this extent.
New York has won seven straight games in the current playoffs and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second consecutive year. Before this, the team had not reached this stage for 24 straight seasons. Now the Knicks are a legitimate championship contender, not just a likable team with a rich history.
For Philadelphia, this elimination is another disappointment. The franchise has not advanced past the second round since 2001 — a quarter-century of failed attempts to overcome the barrier separating a solid team from a true contender. This despite the fact that in the first round, the Sixers sensationally eliminated Boston — the second seed and considered one of the East's favorites.
Adding symbolic weight to the event was the fan invasion from New York. Joel Embiid had urged Philadelphia fans not to sell tickets to visiting supporters before the game, but his plea went unheeded. The Wells Fargo Center stands were painted in blue and orange, and chants of "Deuce" drowned out local fans' attempts to support their team.
McBride said of the fans after the game: "I've never seen anything like it. It really gives us energy. When guys feel a slump, the fans immediately lift us up."
What's Next / Next Game Preview
In the Eastern Conference Finals, the New York Knicks will face the winner of the Detroit Pistons (1) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (4) series, where the Pistons lead 2-1.
The exact start date of the Eastern Conference Finals has not yet been determined — the schedule will be announced after all second-round series conclude. However, it can already be assumed that the Knicks will have home-court advantage if they face Cleveland (as the higher seed) and will start the series on the road if the opponent is Detroit (the top seed).
Jalen Brunson, despite the euphoria of the blowout, remains businesslike: "One game at a time. I think we still have a lot to do, and our focus needs to get better."
Deuce McBride was even more specific: "Our expectations are a championship, nothing less. This series is over — enjoy it. But we still have a long way to go."
The main question ahead of the Eastern Conference Finals is the status of OG Anunoby, who missed the last two games with a hamstring strain. His return could provide an additional boost to an already powerful Knicks rotation. However, the game against Philadelphia showed that New York's reserves are deep enough to handle losses even in high-intensity playoff games.
The 144 points scored set a Knicks playoff record — the team enters the conference finals at the peak of its offensive efficiency. It remains to be seen whether anyone in the East can stop this freight train hurtling toward a championship.
— Editorial Team
