Preview: New York Looks to Close Out Series Against Philadelphia in Game 4 of the NBA Playoffs
On May 10, the New York Knicks will face the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 4 of the second round of the NBA playoffs. After a convincing 108-94 victory, the Knicks lead the series 3-0 and are one step away from the conference finals.
Main Event
On May 10, 2026, at the Xfinity Mobile arena in Philadelphia, Game 4 of the second round of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs will take place, where the New York Knicks will attempt to close out the series against the Philadelphia 76ers and secure a spot in the conference finals. Following a confident road win in Game 3 with a score of 108-94, the Knicks lead the series 3-0 and are one step away from reaching the decisive stage of the East for the second consecutive season.
The game is scheduled to start at 3:30 PM ET (9:30 PM CET). Bookmakers have listed the visitors as slight favorites with a -1.5 point spread, highlighting analysts' confidence in Mike Brown's team's ability to finish the series without returning to the home court at Madison Square Garden.
Details and Statistics
Game 3 of the series, played on May 8, exposed all the fundamental problems of the Sixers. Jalen Brunson scored 33 points and added 9 assists, becoming the chief architect of the victory. Notably, the Villanova alumni — Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges — turned a shaky +4 lead into a double-digit advantage in the decisive fourth quarter, silencing the Philadelphia crowd.
The statistical picture of the series looks grim for the home team. The Knicks have won all three games by double digits: 137-98, 108-102, and 108-94. The team leads the playoffs in offensive efficiency (117.6 points per game), while the Sixers, without a healthy Embiid, have catastrophically declined on defense, especially in the paint. Joel Embiid himself, who missed Game 2 due to a sprained right ankle and hip issues, scored only 18 points in Game 3, and his mobility was clearly limited.
An additional headache for the Philadelphia coaching staff was Mikal Bridges' defense against Tyrese Maxey. The Sixers' backcourt star made only a fraction of his shots in Game 3, scoring 17 points, and could not impose his usual pace. Kelly Oubre Jr. led the home team with 22 points, but his individual efforts were not enough against the Knicks' systematic play.
Context and Significance
A 3-0 lead in an NBA playoff series is practically a death sentence. In league history, no team has ever come back from such a deficit in a best-of-seven series (0 wins in 156 attempts). This means Philadelphia faces not just the task of winning one specific game, but of achieving a historic feat by winning four straight games, two of which would be on the road.
The psychological states of the teams are polar opposites. The Knicks approach the game loose: even a loss leaves them with a comfortable safety net and the chance to close out the series at home in Game 5. Moreover, OG Anunoby's hamstring strain, which caused him to miss Game 3, is not being rushed — the coaching staff is deliberately giving him extra recovery time, knowing his presence will be critical in the conference finals.
For the Sixers, this game is about saving face. Being eliminated in the second round after last year's comeback against Boston (from 1-3) would be a massive disappointment. Joel Embiid openly asked fans before the series not to sell tickets to away fans, yet the arena in Game 3 was still filled with chants of "Let's go Knicks!" It is expected that the battle in the stands will be just as intense in Game 4.
Computer projections from analysts give a score of 116-111 in favor of the Knicks, with a total predicted at 227.6 points — noticeably higher than the bookmaker's line of 212.5. Betting market experts note that historically, teams trailing 0-3 have an 18-3 record in Game 4 on their home court, so the Sixers look slightly more competitive for purely statistical reasons.
What's Next / Preview of the Next Game
Game 4 of the New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers series will tip off on May 10 at 3:30 PM ET at the Xfinity Mobile arena in Philadelphia. The broadcast will be available on ABC and ESPN in the US.
If the Knicks win, Mike Brown's team will advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they will face the winner of the Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers series (currently the Pistons lead 2-0). If the Sixers manage to extend the series, Game 5 will be in New York, giving the visitors another chance to close out the series in front of the home crowd at Madison Square Garden. However, all analysts without exception agree: the question of the winner of this matchup is already practically decided, and the main intrigue is whether the Knicks will let up after three straight wins or finish off the opponent at the first opportunity.
— Editorial Team
