New York takes down Philadelphia.
The New York Knicks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 111-104 in Game 1 of the first round of the 2023-2024 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Monday (Feb. 21).
The No. 2 seed New York won Game 1 against a tough No. 7 seed Philadelphia. The Knicks were down by as many as 13 points in the first quarter, but stayed focused.
Josh Hart (22 points, 13 rebounds) dominated in the clutch, while Myles McBride (21 points) shot the ball well. Jaylen Brunson (26 points) shot poorer than usual from the field, but still scored a lot of points. A big 23-9 advantage in offensive rebounds was also a key factor in 홀덤 New York’s victory.
Joel Embiid (29 points, 8 rebounds) had nothing to do with the win for Philadelphia. Embiid returned to the court after suffering a knee injury late in the second quarter and led the team’s offense, but his effectiveness was diminished down the stretch. Tyreese Maxie (33 points) also had a strong game but was overshadowed by the loss.
The start was favorable for Philadelphia. Embiid led the way with a three-pointer followed by two end-to-end plays, while Maxi and Tobias Harris were also active from the perimeter. Down by as many as 13 points, New York was able to cut the deficit to 25-34 after McBride hit a three-pointer in the final minute of the first quarter.
With the momentum behind them, New York took control in the second quarter. McBride and Bogdanovic showed off their shooting touch and dominated off the bench to give their team the lead.
To make matters worse for Philadelphia, Embiid left the game in pain after a self-alley-oop dunk. New York, with its ace missing, stifled Philadelphia and ended the second quarter with a 59-46 lead.
Just as things were about to take a turn for the worst, Philadelphia welcomed Embiid back to the court in the third quarter. The veteran scored 12 points in less than three minutes to change the game. His crisp passes and Maxi’s fluid moves, coupled with a shaky defense, allowed New York to close the third quarter with a 79-82 lead.
But in the fourth quarter, New York took advantage of Embiid’s rest and went on the offensive again. Then Philadelphia broke the silence with Harris, who was quiet, and Embiid drew free throws to score.
New York had the last laugh in a back-and-forth battle. Embiid’s offense was less accurate due to the aftermath of his injury, and New York slowly built a seven-point lead behind Josh Hart and OG Anunoby’s outside shooting.
Philadelphia chipped away at the deficit with baskets from Lowry and Maxi, but it wasn’t enough to put the game out of reach. New York solidified the lead with a three-pointer from Hart, who was caught in a shot clock and threw it erratically. Hart dominated in the clutch, even grabbing a crucial rebound.