The Knicks have cruised to a 3-0 advantage over the 76ers.
Playing Game 3 in Philadelphia did little to deter the surging New York Knicks on Friday after another triumphant victory led the Knicks to a 108-94 victory on Thursday.
Jalen Brunson led the game in scoring once again with a 33-point performance on 1-22 shooting from the field and 3-8 shooting beyond the arc while Mikal Bridges, who has steadily found his rhythm over the course of the postseason, followed with 22 points of his own.
Karl-Anthony Towns had a quiet game offensively with just eight points, but he more than made up for that with his off-ball contributions, playing lockdown defense both in the paint and on the perimeter and adding 12 rebounds, eight of them defensive, and eight assists.
Josh Hart similarly thrived in a supporting role with a 12 point, 11 rebound double-double.
Surviving Philadelphia's Strong Start
Philadelphia was definitely feeling the support of the home crowd at least in the first quarter, surging ahead to outscore the Knicks 31-27 to start the game. After that, though, it was all New York.
The Knicks erased that hard-fought 76ers lead with a 33-21 second quarter and continued to outscore Philadelphia in the third and fourth quarters as well, though Philadelphia made it steadily closer each time.
The 76ers came back as close as just two points behind the Knicks, cutting the deficit down to 78-76 with two-and-a-half minutes left in the third quarter, but the Knicks made quick work of that comeback by responding with a 7-0 run through the end of the third quarter and into the beginning of the fourth.
That was the closest that the 76ers came to evening up the score since first surrendering the lead with 8:20 left in the second quarter.
The Knicks Are On A Roll
The kind of offensive rhythm that the Knicks have found themselves has made them look unstoppable. Even at the times where things looked shaky or the 76ers showed fight, new York had no trouble responding and making sure they kept their advantage.
The way that Brunson has been playing as of late makes that offensive rhythm that much easier to sustain, but it's not just the New York star that's pulling his weight.
As a whole, the entire time has been razor sharp. They've shot 50% or better from the field in every game so far this series and with the defense they've been playing, led by the efforts of Towns and Bridges, they've been just as effective and holding to the 76ers to inefficient shooting nights by making things difficult on the floor.
Game 4 tips off on Sunday and a New York sweep is in sight.