Knicks HC Mike Brown breaks down challenge of first close NBA Playoff win of 2026

The New York Knicks rolled past the Philadelphia 76ers 108-103 on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. After a lopsided Game 1, Game 2 featured constant momentum swings, including 25 lead changes, the most in an NBA playoff game in the last 11 years.

Despite playing without Joel Embiid because of hip and ankle injuries, Philadelphia controlled stretches of the game early. The 76ers led by two after the first quarter and carried a one-point advantage into halftime behind strong outside shooting and aggressive play that generated 20 first-half free-throw attempts.

New York’s perimeter shooting left a lot to be desired, as they finished just 7-for-26 from three-point range, but they made up for it with physical and efficient scoring inside. The Knicks outscored the Sixers 56-30 in the paint and shot 62.3 percent on two-point attempts.

“The shot’s not going to always go in,” New York head coach Mike Brown said reflecting on the close win. “You’ve got to give Philly’s defense some credit, just like you’ve got to give our defense some credit, but we know we miss the shots that we normally make, and they’ve missed some shots that they normally make. So, you know, it’s about trying to figure out a way to get a stop. That’s what you can control more than the ball going in, and I thought our guys did a decent job of that as we were going down the stretch without fouling.”

"It's about trying to figure out a way to get a stop. That's what you can control, more than the ball going in"

Mike Brown was asked about the Knicks getting their first close win of the playoffs: pic.twitter.com/c70SgFZexz

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 7, 2026

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 26 points and six assists in 41 minutes, shooting 9-for-21 from the field. OG Anunoby added 24 points, five rebounds, four steals, and two assists while continuing his strong two-way play throughout the series. Mikal Bridges contributed 18 points on 9-for-13 shooting with five rebounds, while Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists despite dealing with foul trouble that limited him to 27 minutes.

Towns played only 8:17 in the first half due to three fouls, but he made a much bigger impact in the second half. He scored 10 points in the opening five minutes of the third quarter and repeatedly attacked Philadelphia’s interior defenders, helping force Andre Drummond and Adem Bona into foul trouble.

The 76ers stayed competitive behind Tyrese Maxey’s 26 points and six assists along with Paul George’s 19-point effort. However, Philadelphia collapsed offensively in the fourth quarter, shooting just 4-for-19 from the field while scoring only 12 points. Maxey went 2-for-7 in the final period, and George missed all five of his fourth-quarter attempts.

The Knicks closed the game on a 12-3 run over the final 6:50 while holding the Sixers to 21.1 percent shooting in the fourth quarter. New York also converted Philadelphia’s 18 turnovers into 23 points.

The Knicks still have work ahead in the series, but a win Friday on the road at Xfinity Mobile Arena would give them a 3-0 lead, putting them on the verge of the Eastern Conference Finals.

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