Knicks Take 2-0 Lead as 76ers Fade Without Embiid

Sixers fight hard but come up short as Knicks pull away late

Karl-Anthony Towns posted 20 points and 10 rebounds while OG Anunoby added 24 as the Knicks survived a resilient Sixers performance at Madison Square Garden.

Tyrese Maxey stepped up with 26 points in Embiid’s absence, but Philadelphia’s late shooting struggles cost them in a pivotal Game 2 loss...

Jalen Brunson led a fourth-quarter push as the New York Knicks edged the Philadelphia 76ers 108-102 in a tight NBA playoff battle on Wednesday, extending their Eastern Conference semi-final lead to 2-0.

After a blowout loss in Game 1, the Sixers entered as underdogs and were dealt another blow when Joel Embiid was scratched hours before tip-off due to multiple injuries.

Despite that setback, Philadelphia pushed the Knicks hard at Madison Square Garden in a back-and-forth contest that saw 25 lead changes, the highest in a playoff game in over a decade. The Knicks ultimately broke it open late to seal the win.

25 LEAD CHANGES IN GAME 2 😲

The most in any postseason game in 11 years!

Knicks lead the Sixers 2-0 in the East Semis 🍿 pic.twitter.com/nOvFfspAK5

— NBA (@NBA) May 7, 2026

Brunson delivered when it mattered most, scoring eight of his game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter to help secure the Knicks’ win.

“It's a playoff basketball game. You know, the game was ugly offensively,” said Knicks coach Mike Brown.

“You give the Sixers a lot of credit. We knew that they were going to come out, they were gonna be physical.”

Philadelphia came out strong, building a seven-point advantage within the first five minutes that ended up being their biggest lead of the game.

With Joel Embiid sidelined, Tyrese Maxey carried the load with 15 points in the second quarter, helping the Sixers take a narrow one-point lead into halftime. Paul George also provided a spark from beyond the arc, knocking down five threes.

After the break, Karl-Anthony Towns took over for New York, finishing with 20 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. OG Anunoby added 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting.

Tied at 99 with five minutes remaining, Brunson turned up the intensity as Philadelphia’s offense went cold. Two Brunson baskets pushed the Knicks ahead by four, their largest lead of the night at that stage, before Mikal Bridges hit a step-back jumper to cap a 9-0 run and extend it to six.

A TRIO OF KNICKS SHINED IN GAME 2!

Brunson: 26 PTS, 6 AST
OG: 24 PTS, 5 REB, 4 STL
KAT: 20 PTS, 10 REB, 7 AST

New York leads Philly 2-0 in the East Semis 🍿 pic.twitter.com/GaDGr9cYz4

— NBA (@NBA) May 7, 2026

Maxey answered with a driving layup and finished with 26 points, but it wasn’t enough to bring the Sixers back.

“We played good enough defense to win that game, especially in the fourth,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said, while lamenting his team’s late scoring drought. “We played great offense. We just didn’t make shots.”

Embiid’s absence proved decisive. The 2023 MVP was pivotal in Philadelphia’s upset of second-seeded Boston last round, averaging 28 points over four games as the Sixers rallied from a 3-1 deficit. Now they face an uphill climb to advance.

He was ultimately ruled out with right hip soreness and a right ankle sprain, leaving Philadelphia anxious about his status ahead of Friday’s Game 3 in Philadelphia.

PROTECT THE GARDEN pic.twitter.com/PR5D7yzHpT

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 7, 2026