The New York Knicks crushed the Philadelphia 76ers 137-98 in Game One of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Building a big lead early, they led by 23 at halftime and then cruised, with all starters resting in the fourth quarter. Jalen Brunson poured in 27 of his 35 points in the first half, while Tyrese Maxey didn’t score his first bucket until a few minutes into the second period.
The win extends New York’s strong postseason momentum from their First Round series with the Hawks and gives them a chance
to go up 2-0 at home on Wednesday. In a powerhouse performance, the whole team earned an A+. Here are their individual marks.
Jalen Brunson
31 minutes, 35 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 12-18 FG, 3-6 3PT, +27
Brunson was unstoppable from the jump, exploding for 27 points in the first half alone to set an aggressive tone and help build a commanding lead. He dictated the pace with elite ball-handling, repeatedly attacked mismatches, knocked down tough mid-range jumpers and floaters, and remained efficient even as the game turned into a rout. Defensively, he added two steals and set a tenacious tenor for the team, refusing to let Philadelphia build any steam. O Captain! My Captain!
Grade: A+
Karl-Anthony Towns
20 minutes, 17 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 turnovers, 4 fouls, 7-11 FG, 3-5 3PT, +11
Towns was highly effective in limited minutes, showcasing excellent spacing with three made treys while battling Joel Embiid in the paint. He was a playmaking hub with six assists, grabbed important rebounds on both ends, and was a steady presence in the paint. Though he picked up four fouls and had some turnovers, his efficiency and all-around impact helped the Knicks pull away comfortably. Totally made Embiid look overpaid.
Grade: A
OG Anunoby
30 minutes, 18 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, 7-8 FG, 2-2 3PT, +22
Anunoby delivered a classic two-way masterclass. On defense, he locked down Philly’s perimeter threats and disrupted passing lanes; offensively, he was surgical with near-perfect shooting and ferocious in attacking his opportunities in the lane. His athleticism in transition and +22 plus-minus highlighted his massive impact in the blowout. Sometimes OG simply looks like an apex predator among a frantic herd of scattering sheep.
Grade: A
Mikal Bridges
27 minutes, 17 points, 5 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 7-10 FG, 3-5 3PT, +19
Bridges continued his seamless fit with the Knicks, providing efficient two-way production. He scored in a variety of ways (slashing, spotting up, and creating off the dribble) while adding five assists and strong perimeter defense (including tormenting stints on Maxey). His unflappable shot-making was key to multiple Knicks scoring stretches. This is the Bridges we like! This is the Bridges we need!
Grade: A-
Josh Hart
26 minutes, 8 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 3-7 FG, 1-2 3PT, +24
Hart provided his customary high motor with relentless energy on both ends. He loaded the stat sheet with eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals, excelling at connectivity and hustle. His defensive stops and rebounding sparked several fast breaks and second-chance opportunities that powered the Knicks’ first-half surge. Note that despite playing some of the toughest defense of his career this postseason, Josh committed just one foul last night. Are you not impressed? And by keeping his minutes low, Josh should have fresh legs for Game Two.
Grade: B+
Mitchell Robinson
12 minutes, 2 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 fouls, 1-1 FG, 0-4 FT, +6
Robinson provided rim protection and rebounding in his limited stint before sitting with foul trouble (he picked up four fouls while battling Embiid). He finished an alley-oop dunk efficiently on offense but Philly’s Nick Nurse targeted him with hack-a-Mitch, and the strategy worked because Mitch whiffed on four attempts. Overall, his defensive anchor role was still felt in the paint during his limited time in the blowout win. It’s a bummer about the fouls and the free throws, though.
Grade: B-
Ariel Hukporti
13 minutes, 5 points, 9 rebounds, 1 turnover, 4 fouls, 2-2 FG, +22
Hukporti was thrust into meaningful action early due to Robinson’s quick foul trouble against Embiid. The young center held his own in the paint, grabbing a game-high 9 rebounds (including key offensive boards) and providing solid rim presence and hustle. He finished efficiently with a layup and free throw, and his +22 plus-minus reflected the blowout. He saw extended garbage-time minutes as the Knicks pulled away comfortably. We saw glimpses of good Huk and bad Huk throughout the season. Oh baby, this was definitely the good version. Remember: 58th pick!
Grade: B+
Miles McBride
16 minutes, 8 points, 2 assists, 1 foul, 3-6 FG, 2-5 3PT, +16
Deuce delivered reliable bench scoring and perimeter spacing, knocking down two threes (including a corner three off a Brunson assist early) that helped New York to build some separation on the scoreboard. He provided solid perimeter defense and helped maintain the Knicks’ momentum during bench stretches and garbage time, contributing to the dominant victory with efficient shot-making and positive energy.
Grade: B
Jordan Clarkson
14 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds, 0 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks, 4 turnovers, 3 fouls, 1-2 FG, 0-1 3PT, +11
Clarkson saw bench minutes in the blowout and provided a bit of spark with a nice floating jumper off an OG Anunoby assist. However, he struggled with ball security (four turnovers) in his limited role. He added a steal and a couple of rebounds but was quiet otherwise and made little impact as the Knicks cruised to victory.
Grade: B–
Bench / Rotation Notes
The Knicks’ bench was outstanding. They seamlessly maintained and extended the massive lead while the starters rested throughout the fourth quarter. Besides Hukporti and Deuce, Tyler Kolek chipped in eight points and four assists, while Jose Alvarado, Landry Shamet, Pacome Dadiet, and Mohamed Diawara all delivered positive minutes. Overall, New York’s depth overwhelmed Philadelphia’s bench, dominating in energy, shooting, and second-chance opportunities to turn the game into a rout early. Depth was a factor in the Game One victory, for sure.
Grade: B
Coach Mike Brown
Brown had his team ready for a high-stakes playoff opener and orchestrated one of the most dominant performances of the young postseason. The Knicks came out aggressive on both ends, built a massive first-half lead, and executed an efficient, motion-based offense that generated high-quality shots all night. He effectively managed rotations, especially after Mitchell Robinson got into early foul trouble, and wisely gave Ariel Hukporti meaningful minutes that paid off. The bench was fresh and productive in the second half, allowing the starters to rest in the fourth quarter of a 39-point blowout. After a few shaky moments early in the Atlanta series, Mike has regained our confidence.
Grade: A
The Knicks are locked in, but you know Philly will come back with a big counterpunch in Game Two on Wednesday. Can’t wait. Go Knicks!
