Knicks rout 76ers 137-98 in East semifinals opener

The New York Knicks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 137-98 on Monday, May 4, 2026, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, with Jalen Brunson leading all scorers with 35 points in a sharp all-around performance at Madison Square Garden. New York controlled the game early and never gave the lead back.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter

New York opened with a strong offensive rhythm and took a 33-25 lead after one. The Knicks moved the ball cleanly and found quality looks from the perimeter, while Philadelphia had trouble matching New York’s pace in the half court.

Second Quarter

The Knicks created real separation in the second, outscoring the 76ers 41-26 to take a 74-51 lead into halftime. That 23-point margin reflected how efficient New York was on nearly every trip, especially as Brunson directed the offense and the supporting cast converted from deep.

Third Quarter

Any chance of a Philadelphia push was limited in the third. The teams played at a high scoring pace, but New York still won the quarter 35-27 and extended its lead to 109-78. The Knicks continued to generate open shots, and their ball movement kept the 76ers from settling defensively.

Fourth Quarter

With the outcome well in hand, New York closed the night by outscoring Philadelphia 28-20 in the fourth. The Knicks stayed disciplined, avoided extended scoring droughts, and finished off a complete 48-minute effort in front of a crowd of 19,812.

Key Performers

Jalen Brunson, Knicks: Brunson led all scorers with 35 points and set the tone for New York’s offense from the opening quarter. He was also the game’s top overall performer by ESPN’s rating measure and consistently kept the Knicks organized.

Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks: Towns did not lead New York in scoring, but his impact showed up in the flow of the offense with a team-high six assists. His playmaking from the frontcourt helped the Knicks reach 34 total assists.

Ariel Hukporti, Knicks: Hukporti led New York with nine rebounds as the Knicks finished with a 39-28 edge on the glass. That extra possession battle supported an offense that was already operating efficiently.

Paul George, 76ers: George paced Philadelphia with 17 points, the only 76ers player to lead the team in a major scoring category. But the Knicks held the 76ers to 41.1% shooting overall and 15 assists as a team, making sustained offense difficult to find.

NerdSports Stat: The Knicks scored 137 points on just 84 field-goal attempts, averaging 1.63 points per shot attempt while also assisting on 34 of their 53 made baskets.

Game Analysis

This game swung on efficiency and connectivity. New York shot 63.1% from the field and 51.4% from three, hitting 19 of 37 from long range. Those numbers alone would be enough to put pressure on any opponent, but the Knicks paired that shot-making with crisp decision-making and a clear rebounding edge.

Philadelphia had some success getting to the line, going 27-for-34 on free throws, but that was not enough to offset the difference in shot quality and overall execution. The 76ers made just 30 field goals all night, while New York made 53. That gap, combined with the Knicks’ 34 assists, explains why the margin continued to grow in every quarter.

From a playoff standpoint, the Knicks looked prepared and balanced. They did not rely on one scoring run or one hot stretch to take control. Instead, they built the lead steadily: plus-8 in the first quarter, plus-15 in the second, plus-8 in the third, and plus-8 again in the fourth. That kind of quarter-to-quarter consistency is often the clearest sign of control in a postseason opener.

Closing Context

With the win, New York takes a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series. The Knicks also improved their postseason momentum after a 53-29 regular season and protected home court in the opener, while Philadelphia now heads into Game 2 needing a much sharper defensive response before the series shifts.

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