New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (45-37, seventh in the Eastern Conference)
Philadelphia; Sunday, 3:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: Knicks -1.5; over/under is 212.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ROUND: Knicks lead series 3-0
BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks look to clinch the series over the Philadelphia 76ers in game four of the Eastern Conference second round. The Knicks defeated the 76ers 108-94 in the last matchup on Friday. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 33 points, and Kelly Oubre Jr. led the 76ers with 22.
The 76ers are 9-7 against division opponents. Philadelphia ranks sixth in the Eastern Conference with 16.9 fast break points per game led by VJ Edgecombe averaging 8.0.
The Knicks are 14-3 against opponents from the Atlantic Division. New York is third in the Eastern Conference allowing just 110.1 points while holding opponents to 46.0% shooting.
The 76ers average 12.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.6 fewer makes per game than the Knicks give up (13.9). The Knicks average 14.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.8 more makes per game than the 76ers allow.
TOP PERFORMERS: Quentin Grimes is scoring 13.4 points per game and averaging 3.6 rebounds for the 76ers. Tyrese Maxey is averaging 24.4 points and 4.2 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Brunson is scoring 26.0 points per game and averaging 3.3 rebounds for the Knicks. OG Anunoby is averaging 2.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: 76ers: 4-6, averaging 102.0 points, 38.8 rebounds, 21.0 assists, 5.4 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 44.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.9 points per game.
Knicks: 7-3, averaging 115.6 points, 43.9 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 8.9 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 50.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 100.6 points.
INJURIES: 76ers: None listed.
Knicks: OG Anunoby: day to day (hamstring).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
San Antonio Spurs (62-20, second in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33, sixth in the Western Conference)
Minneapolis; Sunday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: Spurs -4.5; over/under is 215.5
WESTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ROUND: Spurs lead series 2-1
BOTTOM LINE: The San Antonio Spurs visit the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference second round with a 2-1 lead in the series. The Spurs won the last meeting 115-108 on Saturday, led by 39 points from Victor Wembanyama. Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 32.
The Timberwolves are 31-21 against Western Conference opponents. Minnesota is sixth in the Western Conference with 33.0 defensive rebounds per game led by Rudy Gobert averaging 7.5.
The Spurs are 36-16 against Western Conference opponents. San Antonio is fourth in the Western Conference with 16.3 fast break points per game led by Julian Champagnie averaging 3.0.
The Timberwolves' 13.8 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.8 more made shots on average than the 13.0 per game the Spurs allow. The Spurs average 13.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.5 more made shots on average than the 12.1 per game the Timberwolves allow.
TOP PERFORMERS: Julius Randle is averaging 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and five assists for the Timberwolves. Naz Reid is averaging 1.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Wembanyama is averaging 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.1 blocks for the Spurs. De'Aaron Fox is averaging 18.6 points and 6.2 assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 6-4, averaging 111.1 points, 47.3 rebounds, 24.9 assists, 6.1 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.1 points per game.
Spurs: 7-3, averaging 116.9 points, 46.5 rebounds, 25.9 assists, 7.7 steals and 7.7 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.5 points.
INJURIES: Timberwolves: Donte DiVincenzo: out for season (leg).
Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Brothers, the longtime NBA ref, and Finch got into it during a timeout, with players and staff holding Brothers back, while Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards walked Finch away.
"I'm not sure I've seen players hold a referee back from their head coach before..." a reporter began to ask after the game, before Finch cut in: "Pretty unprofessional, huh?"
Finch said he was frustrated over what he perceived as an intentional delay in being granted a timeout.
"I wanted the timeout. I had called it 3 seconds earlier and I wanted the timeout," Finch said. "I said 'I want my 3 seconds back,' ... because he clearly heard me. He looked my way, ignored me, went on with the play ... almost cost us a turnover. So, and then, you know, he lost it.
"Then I went to ask him where the ball was going to be taken in and he screamed at me for that. So, completely unprofessional behavior by him."
Chris Finch on his interaction with Tony Brothers:
"I wanted the timeout and I said I want my 3 seconds back. He clearly heard me. He lost it. Then I went to ask him where the ball was gonna be taken in and he was screaming at me for that. So completely unprofessional behavior… https://t.co/2EzXqtpM7spic.twitter.com/zLImoRFTAX
PHILADELPHIA – If you're waking up on Saturday morning feeling good about the Knicks’ prospects in this postseason, you can thank Mikal Bridges.
Bridges' defense on Tyrese Maxey has one of the biggest factors in this Knicks-Sixers series.
Maxey is averaging 18.6 points over three games against the Knicks -- that’s 10 points fewer than his regular-season average, he’s 2-for-12 from beyond the arc, and has 12 turnovers.
That’s nearly double his regular-season average.
Bridges isn’t the only Knick defending Maxey, but he’s drawn the assignment most often, and he’s aced it.
“He’s doing an amazing job. That’s a tough task, a tall order. The way he is able to maneuver and navigate screens, do all those things, and on top of that, give us good shots, good minutes and a good quality of executing on the offensive end is great,” Josh Hart said after New York’s Game 3 win.
Bridges is chasing Maxey all over the floor; defending him on and off the ball, stifling his backdoor cuts.
While doing all of that, the much-maligned Bridges has also found a way to impact the other end of the floor.
He had 23 points on 8-for-14 shooting in Game 3. That’s four straight games with at least 17 points. He’s hit 69 percent of his shots in that span.
Quite a bounce back from Game 3 of the Hawks series, when Bridges went 0-for-4 with four turnovers.
“Kal is one of those guys, I never worry about him because he’s going to bring it every game. He’s going to take each matchup personal,” Hart said. “When he gets into that mindset and that mode he’s a heck of a player.”
ROBINSON ROLLING
You may not see it in the box score, but Mitchell Robinson impacted Game 3 in a big way on both ends of the floor.
Keeping possessions alive on the offensive glass. Forcing the Sixers to chase him into the paint as a roller in pick-and-rolls. Defending Joel Embiid. A mind-bending dunk on Joel Embiid.
The Knicks outscored the Sixers by 16 in Robinson’s 19 minutes.
Maybe most importantly, he made four of his eight free-throw attempts. He went 2-for-4 when Philadelphia intentionally fouled him late in the third quarter.
“It feels real good,” Robinson said after the game.
Robinson was in the gym at 9:30 on Friday morning, working on his free throws with Knicks shooting coach Peter Patton.
The work obviously paid off. One element helping Robinson from the line? Spinning the ball before his attempt.
“Once I do it, instead of rushing it it kind of gives me a quick little breath and then go into it instead of just flinging it up there,” Robinson said.
“It helps a lot,” he said of the spin. “Keeps the ball not moving in my hand once I catch grip and just go into it.”
MINNEAPOLIS — Victor Wembanyama delivered another masterpiece with 39 points, 15 rebounds and more game-wrecking defense for the San Antonio Spurs, who took a 2-1 lead in the second-round NBA playoff series with a 115-108 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.
Wembanyama went 13 of 18 from the floor and 10 of 12 from the line, adding five blocks and a full night of paint deterrence as the Spurs won their second straight game after dropping the opener at home.
De’Aaron Fox scored 17 points, and Stephon Castle had 13 points and 12 assists with a team-high plus-17 rating.
Anthony Edwards had 32 points and 14 rebounds and Naz Reid added 18 points and nine rebounds for the Wolves, whose defense kept them alive after a woeful start but allowed the Spurs to shoot 6 for 10 from 3-point range in the pivotal third quarter.
Minnesota will host Game 4 on Sunday night. The series shifts back to San Antonio for Game 5 on Tuesday.
Jaden McDaniels drew Wembanyama’s fifth foul with 6:18 left and brought the Wolves within 99-98 on pair of free throws, but the Spurs never trailed in the second half despite never leading by double digits.
Wembanyama didn’t flinch despite the foul risk, finishing with 16 points in the fourth quarter. His 3-pointer that answered Reid’s pushed San Antonio’s lead to six with 3:06 to go. Reid tried another one near the end of the shot clock on the next possession that hit the rim and Wembanyama rebounded.
Edwards, who showed Minnesota yet again his swift healing ability by returning from a deep bone bruise in his hyperextended left knee after just one week to make the start of the series, had 22 points in the first half to help them snap back from an early 18-3 deficit.
The Wolves missed their first 12 shots and didn’t get a basket to go down until Rudy Gobert’s putback with 6:52 had elapsed, but unlike in the 133-95 drubbing they took in Game 2 on Wednesday they had the defensive intelligence and tenacity at the ready to make up for the long shooting lulls.
Edwards hit a buzzer-beating 31-footer at the end of the first quarter, and McDaniels swished a 3-pointer from the wing to end the first half with a 51-all tie.
McDaniels and Julius Randle were the most affected by Wembanyama’s presence, unable to get their short-range and rim-attacking game going. They shot a combined 8 for 34 from the floor.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jalen Brunson scored 33 points and sealed the game with big buckets late to the delight of roaring Knicks fans, leading New York to a 109-94 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night for a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.
With 2016 and 2018 Villanova national championship banners hanging in the rafters, the so-called Nova Knicks all took turns taking the fight out of the Sixers in the fourth quarter, turning a four-point lead into another double-digit victory
Josh Hart had 12 points and 11 rebounds and Mikal Bridges added 23 points, pushing the Knicks and first-year coach Mike Brown within one victory of their second straight conference finals appearance.
The Knicks have the luxury not to rush back forward OG Anunoby, who’s averaging 21.4 points per game in the postseason. He sat out with a strained right hamstring and remains day to day.
Joel Embiid scored 18 points for the Sixers in his return after he missed Game 2 with a sprained right ankle and a sore right hip.
SPURS 115, TIMBERWOLVES 108
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Victor Wembanyama delivered another masterpiece with 39 points, 15 rebounds and more game-wrecking defense for San Antonio, who took a 2-1 lead in the second-round NBA playoff series with a victory over Minnesota.
Wembanyama went 13 of 18 from the floor and 10 of 12 from the line, adding five blocks and a full night of paint deterrence as the Spurs won their second straight game after dropping the opener at home.
De’Aaron Fox scored 17 points, and Stephon Castle had 13 points and 12 assists with a team-high plus-17 rating.
Anthony Edwards had 32 points and 14 rebounds and Naz Reid added 18 points and nine rebounds for the Wolves, whose defense kept them alive after a woeful start but allowed the Spurs to shoot 6 for 10 from 3-point range in the pivotal third quarter.
Minnesota will host Game 4 on Sunday night. The series shifts back to San Antonio for Game 5 on Tuesday.
Jaden McDaniels drew Wembanyama’s fifth foul with 6:18 left and brought the Wolves within 99-98 on pair of free throws, but the Spurs never trailed in the second half despite never leading by double digits.
Wembanyama didn’t flinch despite the foul risk, finishing with 16 points in the fourth quarter. His 3-pointer that answered Reid’s pushed San Antonio’s lead to six with 3:06 to go. Reid tried another one near the end of the shot clock on the next possession that hit the rim and Wembanyama rebounded.
Edwards, who showed Minnesota yet again his swift healing ability by returning from a deep bone bruise in his hyperextended left knee after just one week to make the start of the series, had 22 points in the first half to help them snap back from an early 18-3 deficit.
Game 3 between the Knicks and 76ers was physical, as you would expect from a series between these two rivals, especially with their recent playoff history.
While the first two games had their share of high-intensity moments, the opening few quarters of Friday's matchup felt like the pressure was turned up to 11. Both teams were jawing at the officials for every foul and no-call, and that includes Sixers star Joel Embiid.
Embiid, of course, is often seen as the villain whenever the Knicks and Sixers meet, and Friday was no exception. After he missed Game 2, the big man returned to the Sixers to try and stave off a 0-3 hole in the series. And while Embiid provided what he could in his 35 minutes (18 points, six rebounds, five assists), it just wasn't enough as the Knicks won 108-94.
After the game, Embiid was asked a gamut of questions regarding the loss. Then he was asked about the officiating and whether he felt the refs were letting some fouls go.
"I’m not sure. Maybe it was let go on our end," Embiid said. "They shot 32 free throws, we had 16. We're not a team that shoots a lot of threes. We attack, put the ball on the ground. So, yeah, I don't know.
"I guess it's good when New York wins, so we've just got to have that mentality of just not fouling, I guess, and being smart enough to not put ourselves in a position where they're going to take advantage of it."
Joel Embiid was asked about the way tonight's game was officiated and whether or not the officials let more things go tonight:
"They shot 32 free throws, we had 16. We're not a team that shoots a lot of threes. We attack, put the ball on the ground. I don't know.
While the Knicks did wind up shooting 32 free throws to Philly's 16, New York did not shoot a free throw until the second quarter. Mitchell Robinson shot four thanks to the "hack-a-Mitch" strategy the Sixers used.
But Embiid wasn't the only one asked about the officiating. Karl-Anthony Towns, who committed five personal fouls, was asked and intimated his frustrations. One moment in particular saw Embiid called for a foul under the basket when both big men collapsed to the ground trying to box each other out. Philadelphia would challenge and win, reversing the call and giving Towns his third foul in the second quarter and forcing him to the bench.
Towns was asked whether he was surprised by the reversal, and he answered, simply, "I'm not surprised at anything anymore."
In Game 1, the Sixers had the free-throw advantage, 34-17. The next game saw was more even when Embiid wasn't playing, as the Sixers had a 28-25 advantage from the charity stripe.
How will the officiating be in Game 4? The Knicks will look to close out the series on Sunday in Philadelphia while the Sixers hope to force Game 5.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - MARCH 3: AJ Dybantsa #3 of the BYU Cougars looks on during the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Fifth Third Arena on March 3, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This Mother’s Day is probably the most consequential Mother’s Day in Utah Jazz history (I haven’t checked, I’m guessing, okay). The thing the NBA doesn’t realize is that it’s going to be consequential for the entire league, as well.
Utah, even if they somehow lost their pick this year, would still be a playoff contender. While the league was punishing the Jazz for doing things everyone else was doing, the Jazz were doing something only Jazz fans saw: playing winning basketball.
Utah started the season with a blowout win over the Los Angeles Clippers and went on to post some impressive wins throughout the season. Here are some playoff teams Utah won against: Clippers, Suns, Celtics, Rockets, Pistons, Spurs, Cavaliers, Timberwolves, Heat, and Warriors. Each one of these drove me crazy throughout the season, by the way. And the reason they had to start tanking earlier than the apparent unspoken rules allow was that the Jazz had a breakout season from Keyonte George and improved play across the roster. Utah had Cody Williams looking like a rotation player, they found a real player in Blake Hinson, they revived Jusuf Nurkic, and even had games where Kevin Love shot the lights out and turned needed losses into wins. Nothing this season was predictable, but the one thing that was consistent was the level of effort demanded by Will Hardy, along with an offense that consistently set players up to succeed.
The biggest question is the defense, but adding Jaren Jackson Jr., who will play alongside Walker Kessler (potentially), and that should, at the very least, create an identity of rim protection and size if they’re combined with Lauri Markkanen as well. There’s a very reasonable expectation that Utah’s defense should at least be top-15 with the personnel on the floor. Can Will Hardy lead them to that? Utah’s size will go a long way to making that happen.
But there’s some real upside with this roster that makes next year fascinating. What if Keyonte George takes another leap? What if Walker Kessler signs a contract he and the Jazz are happy with and plays at an all-defense level? What if the defense is better than expected and is in the top-10?
Those are the questions we’re asking before we even get to the lottery, which brings up the biggest question of all.
What if the Jazz win the lottery?
You add a star to this core, and you have a team set for far more than just the playoffs. The Jazz go from playoff team to borderline contender, maybe more. They may not be quite ready to win the finals, but that’s not out of the question. And that’s the thing that makes this lottery so important. The variable is crazy here, and the NBA is not ready for just how good the Jazz will be.
The question for you is, how good do you think the Jazz will be if they win the lottery?
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 8: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks celebrates during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round Two Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 8, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Sixers Bell Ringer Season Standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 23.5 VJ Edgecombe – 16 Joel Embiid – 14.5 Paul George – 10 Kelly Oubre Jr. – 5 Justin Edwards – 4 Dominick Barlow – 3 Andre Drummond – 3 Quentin Grimes – 3 Jared McCain – 3 MarJon Beauchamp – 2 Adem Bona – 1 Porter Martone – 1 Cam Payne – 1 Jabari Walker – 1 Trendon Watford – 1 15th roster spot – 1
The Sixers returned home for an all-important Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Friday night vs. the New York Knicks. The Sixers come into this one staring at a 2-0 series deficit, after a heartbreaking loss down the stretch of Game 2 on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. Joel Embiid, who was absent from the lineup on Wednesday due to ankle and hip injuries, returned to the lineup for tonight’s game as the Sixers looked to avoid going into a 3-0 series hole. Knicks star wing OG Anunoby, who has been fantastic in this postseason on both ends of the floor, was out for this one as he suffered a hamstring strain in the closing minutes of Game 2. Reminder that teams that go down 3-0 in a series are 0-160 in NBA history. All hands-on deck for the Sixers as they looked to keep their hopes of a deep postseason run alive.
The Sixers got off to a hot start, jumping out to a 9-0 lead to start the game. The energy in the building was palpable. Paul George poured in 15 first-quarter points to pace the Sixers. The Knicks called an early timeout as the Sixers got back-to-back monster slams from VJ Edgecombe midway through the fourth quarter. New York closed the quarter well to get the deficit to 31-27 at the close of the first.
All the hard work the Sixers did to get a lead in the first quarter was undone in the second as the Knicks dominated the second quarter. New York pummeled the Sixers on the glass including pulling down 10 offensive rebounds in the first half. The Knicks won the period 33-21 to take a 60-52 lead into the halftime break.
The Sixers couldn’t make up any ground in the third quarter. They generated a ton of open looks in the third quarter but missed the mark on a large sum of them. The Knicks got to the foul line at will and knocked down timely threes. The Knicks led 85-76 after three quarters. The Sixers had one quarter to try and save their season.
The Sixers continued to miss open look after open look in the fourth and the Knicks continued to stay the court and knock down shots when they could create good looks. Same story as the fourth quarter of Game 2. The Knicks would go on to win the game and take a commanding 3-0 series lead.
Time for Bell Ringer.
Kelly Oubre: 22 points, 8 rebounds, 7-for-15 from the field
Oubre has played very well in this series despite constant criticism from the fan base. He has been one of the few Sixers that has showed up in a manner that was required for the Sixers to have a chance in this series. Oubre’s cutting has been his best attribute as he has played extremely well off the gravity of the Sixers’ stars.
But statistically, the winner of Game 3 goes on to win the series most of the time and as the conference semifinals shifted to Minnesota, it was the Spurs who took a 2-1 series advantage with a 115-108 win against the Timberwolves on Friday, May 8.
Each team's superstar put on a show.
Victor Wembanyama scored an efficient 39 points on 13-of-18 shooting from the field, including three 3-pointers and 10-of-12 from the free throw line. He also pulled down 15 rebounds and blocked five shots and nabbed a steal in 37 minutes for San Antonio.
"I think we showed some strength, you know, during this game, some relentlessness," Wembanyama told reporters after the Spurs' win. "But we got to prove to ourselves that we can sustain that."
Wembanyama became the fourth player in NBA history with at least 35 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks in a playoff game, joining Shaquille O'Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Hakeem Olajuwon.
"It's good to be along with the big fellas," he said. "I had to resort to some things that Hakeem taught me in this fourth quarter, many things, but especially that spin fade away over Rudy (Gobert)."
Anthony Edwards carried the T-Wolves with 32 points on 12-of-26 shooting, including three 3-pointers and 5-of-6 from the free throw line. Edwards added 14 rebounds, six assists and a blocked shot.
The Spurs, as a team, narrowly outshot the Wolves from distance, 36% to Minnesota's 35%. The Wolves outrebounded San Antonio, 54-48. It's been the Spurs who have dominated the inside, leading 46-38 in points in the paint.
"They got somebody who's 7-6 on the floor, and he takes up a lot of space. So just trying to, you know, figure out ways to find an open man around him, because in the paint he was just everywhere," Edwards told reporters postgame.
He added: "I feel like we did it. Had a good dose of that throughout the whole game, I think. I went in the locker room and told the guys like, we had a bunch of great looks. I feel like we had a bunch of great looks. And if we make our shots, we win this game."
The Spurs held a 15-point lead but the Timberwolves climbed their way back into it. In the end, San Antonio prevailed. The two meet in Game 4 on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 10, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Spurs vs. Wolves Game 3 highlights
Here's the Game 3 highlights between the Spurs and Wolves:
There have been a few times this season where bench players who were out of the rotation stepped up when called on, and in Game 3 against the 76ers, Landry Shamet delivered for the Knicks.
The guard led the Knicks' bench in scoring with 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including 2-for-3 from three. He was also a game-high plus-20 in the Knicks' 108-94 win, which gave them a commanding 3-0 series lead.
"Landry hasn’t played a drop all playoffs," Knicks coach Mike Brown said after the win. "The first game, he was in the rotation, second game a little bit, and then he was out. Six, seven games that he hasn’t seen significant minutes on the court. Landry was huge for us tonight. Huge for us on both ends of the floor."
With OG Anunoby out with a hamstring strain, Shamet was moved up in the rotation and was given big minutes.
When the Sixers took a 31-27 lead after a physical first quarter, Shamet helped turn the tide. He began the second quarter with Karl-Anthony Towns as the only starter and was on the floor for most of the run that helped New York flip a 12-point deficit into a 12-point lead.
"We talked about it the last few days. We knew they would," Shamet said of withstanding the Sixers' play early. "Coming back home down 2-0, you're going to have a sense of desperation. That was coach’s sentiment this week... They played really well, scored the ball really well early. We weren't as physical as we needed to be. Made a couple of adjustments and picked up our physicality and presence defensively, and it helped us."
From the final minutes of the first quarter -- which saw Shamet hit a three to cut the Knicks' deficit to just four points -- and through the second, Shamet scored nine total points in a combined 13 minutes.
"We needed a spark when they hit us in the mouth and Landry gave it to us," Brown said. "It was a big game on the road and it didn’t phase him. It was a lot of fun to watch."
On Friday, Shamet played 26 minutes. That's more than the first two games of this series (20). And while he received some minutes in the blowout wins against the Hawks in the first round, Game 3 against the Sixers was the most meaningful of Shamet's playoffs so far this season, and it's not easy. For a player who was once in the rotation to turn it on when the team needs them, especially in the postseason.
But the Knicks and coach Brown continued to show their faith in Shamet and others like Jordan Clarkson and Jose Alvarado, who have seen their minutes go up and down this year, has paid off.
"As a coach, you love to see it. Sometimes you start Landry, sometimes you start [Mohammed Diawara]…at the end of the day, coming from me, that I have confidence in them," Brown said of players being ready. "Not only that, your number can be called at any time and you need to be ready. They’ve done a good job of keeping their mind and staying present in whatever we’re doing. It’s showing whenever they get the opportunity. It’s shown with Jordan, it’s shown with Jose and it’s shown with Landry...Just a fantastic job by Landry tonight."
"Landry is the ultimate professional," Josh Hart said of Shamet's play. "Being out of the rotation and giving us big minutes offensively and defensively."
"Just stay ready. Your number’s called, you just stay ready," Shamet said. "Felt good to be out there with my teammates. Felt good to get a win. We got one more in a matter of hours, really."
With Anunoby's status for Game 4 on Sunday still unknown, Shamet could receive more opportunities. If Friday's win is any indication, Shamet will be ready if when needed.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 8: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks talk during Round Two Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 8, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Spike Lee made the trip. So did Tracy Morgan, Benjamin Edward Meara Stiller, and Timothee Chamalamalamalet. Despite attempts to keep Knicks fans from the Xfinity Mobile Arena, and Joel Embiid moaning about it being “Madison Square Garden East,” plenty of orange and blue support was present for Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
In the first quarter, the 76ers swung their strongest punch of the series, but New York regained its footing to flip the momentum in the second. While Philly choked under defensive pressure, the good guys stretched their lead to 12 with a 27-11 run. The camera caught a dejected Embiid toweling his forehead on the bench and looking ready to weep. Those Knicks cheers? They came through loud and clear on the Amazon Prime broadcast.
New York brought a 60-52 lead into intermission. Following that, Philly took another swing to cut the deficit to three, but New York rallied with a run to start the fourth ahead, 85-76. Then, the Knicks blew the lid off. Our heroes pushed their lead to 16, Nick Nurse waved a white flag with two minutes left, and a 108-94 win puts New York one away from a return trip to the ECF!
Who deserves the gold stars? Quoth foiegrastyle, “NOVA KNICKS.” The Villanova alums Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges carried the game tonight, combining for 68 points, 19 rebounds, and 14 assists. Sure, Landry Shamet (15 PTS, +20, 26 MIN) and Mitchell Robinson (4-8 FT, 6 REB, +16) provided a huge lift off the bench, and Karl-Anthony Towns played pretty well (8 PTS, 12 REB, 7 AST, 5 FLS, 26 MIN). But those ‘Nova cats were next level. Campus is just 17 miles from Philly, right? Maybe they’ll crash a frat party while they’re in town.
First Half
A strained hamstring kept OG Anunoby from traveling with the team. The absence was acutely felt in the first quarter. OG has played career-best basketball of his career this postseason, so it was no coincidence that Philly made more buckets and the Knicks offense fizzled early on.
The Sixers came ready for war. They scored the game’s first seven points and their defense forced four misses and two turnovers. The guests fell behind by nine, and after more sloppy play, trailed 15-8 at 7:30. Less than a minute later, thanks to a miss at the rim by Brunson and an offensive foul by Hart, they had surrendered five more points, digging a 12-point hole. Miles McBride, starting with OG out, recorded two blocks in the quarter, but heaved two bricks, once again failing to make much of an impact offensively.
Paul George (15 PTS, 6-18 FG, -14) carried the scoring load to start Game Two and repeated that tonight…for awhile He scored six of his team’s first 11 makes, tallying up 15 points in the opening frame. He would be much less effective as the game went on. Meanwhile, the visitors had coughed up the rock six times, which cost them nine points, and they lost the first period, 31-27.
To start the second quarter, Jalen Brunson (33 PTS, 11-22 FG, 9 AST, +13) took a breather after getting heavily harassed by VJ Edgecombe (11 PTS, 7 RBS, 40 MIN) for 12 minutes. New York continued a roll they’d started at the end of the first period, and when Jordan Clarkson assisted Landry Shamet on a dunk, they knotted the score at 33. When Alvarado drilled a 29-footer, New York had their first lead of the contest. And when Mitchell Robinson sonned Embiid with a dunk on his overlarge noggin, the difference was five and the stadium rocked with NY cheers.
There was a ton of physicality in the frontcourt. KAT and Joel Embiid (18 PTS, 6 RBS, 5 AST, -9) fell all over each other (literally) and both collected three fouls in the first half. By the break, the Knicks are winning 60-52. They had shot 53% and 43% while hammering Philadelphia inside for a 36-24 edge in points in the paint and out-rebounding them, 25-16. After six turnovers in the first quarter, New York had only two giveaways in the second. At the same time, Philly’s sizzling first quarter shooting had faded to 46% and 36% at the break. Mikal Bridges (23 PTS, 8-14 FG, +15, 37 MIN) and Kelly Oubre, Jr. (22 PTS, 8 RBS) topped their teams with 15 points apiece at the half.
Second Half
Out of the locker room, McBride finally hit from beyond the arc. A couple of misses and a few Sixer baskets narrowed the score, but Brunson and Towns were distributing crisp passes that set the twilight reeling.
A fourth infraction sent Karl-Anthony to the bench at 6:27. The teams traded baskets, shoves, and choice words. With three minutes to go, Josh Hart (12 PTS, 11 REB, 40 MIN, 2 damaged digits) fouled a driving Embiid. The big Cameroonian crashed to the floor and came up gingerly, massaging his hip—a hip that was already sore and kept him out of Game Two. His two free throws cut the differential to three. At the other end, Nick Nurse played Hack-a-Mitch (Robinson made one). Then Embiid battled Mitch at the rim, missing dead on, then making a fiercely contested putback. They hacked Mitch again, and this time he made both.
MSG, I mean, Xfinity Mobile Arena erupts after Mitchell Robinson makes 2 consecutive free throws pic.twitter.com/CyXPc1PyfK
When Edgecombe missed the basket completely on a long attempt, a cheer of “Airballll!” came from Xfinity Mobile; when Shamet swished from range, he capped a 7-0 run; and when the quarter ended, New York held an 85-76 lead.
OAKAAKUYOAK Quentin Grimes waited until the final quarter to make his three-pointers. He drilled two, and the differential was four with nine minutes to play. After a timeout, the Knicks responded with an 11-2 run, thanks to timely buckets by the Villanova Three and another steal by Bridges. Many times tonight, the Cheesesteaks got within sniffing distance, and every time they did, New York pumped the gas to open up some distance.
A chyron on the TV showed a startling stat: through nine playoff games, the Knicks have a +238 point differential in the fourth quarter. That’s the third-best in the NBA in the last 70 seasons. And they weren’t done scoring! Embiid had sat through the first half of the fourth, and frankly, his team had played better without him. After his return, our heroes went up by 16 with just under four minutes left. One starts to wonder if Daryl Morey regrets trading Jared McCain (the youngster had 18 points in 18 minutes for OKC yesterday). With two minutes left and down by 16, Nick Nurse surrendered, subbing out all five of his guys for reserves. Somewhere, Tom Thibodeau was screaming about that time Tracy McGrady scored 22 points in 30 seconds! Never surrender! Gaaaahhh!!!
Knicks coach Mike Brown responded in kind, letting Tyler Kolek, Jeremy Sochan, Pacome Dadiet, Mohamed Diawara, and Ariel Hukporti finish out the win. With it, New York is one game away from returning to the Eastern Conference Finals. Another fun tidbit from the broadcast? No NBA team has ever come back from three games down in a seven-game series.
Up Next
Game Four will be played on Mother’s Day afternoon. Not convenient. Rest up, Knickerbockers.
PHILADELPHIA — Jalen Brunson scored 33 points and sealed the game with big buckets late to the delight of roaring Knicks fans, leading New York to a 109-94 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night for a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.
With 2016 and 2018 Villanova national championship banners hanging in the rafters, the so-called Nova Knicks all took turns taking the fight out of the Sixers in the fourth quarter, turning a four-point lead into another double-digit victory
Josh Hart had 12 points and 11 rebounds and Mikal Bridges added 23 points, pushing the Knicks and first-year coach Mike Brown within one victory of their second straight conference finals appearance.
The Knicks have the luxury not to rush back forward OG Anunoby, who’s averaging 21.4 points per game in the postseason. He sat out with a strained right hamstring and remains day to day.
Joel Embiid scored 18 points for the Sixers in his return after he missed Game 2 with a sprained right ankle and a sore right hip.
Embiid’s return from an appendectomy helped spur the Sixers’ rally from a 3-1 deficit in the opening round to stun the Celtics.
Beating the Knicks four straight times — including twice in New York — seems like a much harder hill to climb for Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and the Sixers.
Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 22 points and Maxey added 17.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 7: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dribbles the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during Round Two Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 7, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder shifts to LA, where Game 3 will be held on Saturday. The purple and gold aim to protect homecourt by finally getting a win over the Thunder.
Despite a stronger all-around performance from Austin Reaves and a better overall effort to match the Thunder’s pace and style of play in Game 2, the Lakers once again failed to steal a win on the road. They came into Game 2 with a couple of solutions, but those were wiped out by more problems the Thunder presented.
Now down 2-0 in the series, time is ticking for Los Angeles to figure it all out.
The good news for the purple and gold is that they’re back home for Game 3, where they’ll look to capitalize on home court and fight their way back into the series.
Match the Thunder’s depth
Putting aside all the talk about the officiating in this series, OKC has established that they simply have better depth than the Lakers.
Look at how the Thunder stepped up last game when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was off the floor. They went on a 32-14 run, led by Chet Holmgren, Jared McCain and Ajay Mitchell, who overwhelmed the Lakers. That can’t happen in Game 3 if the Lakers hope to win.
Luke Kennard on what the Lakers need to do in the non-Shai Gilgeous-Alexander minutes, which they've lost by a combined 22 points across 33 minutes in Game 1 and Game 2:
"We need to up our physicality. Obviously, we've been putting the 2 guys on Shai a lot. And kind of let some… pic.twitter.com/csR0IhMv0m
If anything, it’s Los Angeles’ role players that badly need to step up. What if Luke Kennard gets more than a total of five attempts from the field? How about more opportunities for Rui Hachimura, who has by far been the most consistent role player in this series? Can the Lakers shoot better in Los Angeles? Hopefully the supporting cast puts together their best performance yet.
Control the controllable
In my preview for Game 2, I mentioned that the Lakers have to do a better job of rebounding and preventing second-chance opportunities. That absolutely didn’t happen, as OKC produced 17 second-chance points and, worse, took advantage of the Lakers’ 21 turnovers, which led to 14 fastbreak points. This was where the Lakers lost the game.
By now, the Lakers know the Thunder are the kind of elite team that makes opponents pay for their mistakes. Even the thinnest of errors can be so impactful in determining the outcome of this one.
Deal with “physicality”
For as much as I’d like to blast how the officiating has been so far in this series, akin to what JJ Redick and Austin Reaves did, it feels moot at this point because it’s not like that will change anything. The Lakers simply have to adjust to how the game is being officiated.
The worst possible scenario here is to continue getting worked up on these calls to the point that it significantly affects their performance on the court.
So, with a tall task ahead of them, let’s see whether or not the Lakers can make it a series on Saturday.
Notes and Updates
For the Lakers’ injury report, Jarred Vanderbilt (right finger dislocation) has been upgraded to questionable, and Luka Dončić (left hamstring strain) remains out.
As for the Thunder, Jalen Williams (left hamstring strain) and Thomas Sorber (ACL surgery recovery) will not suit up.
The Knicks took the 76ers' best shot early and turned a tight game into another comfortable victory in their 108-94 win over the Sixers in Game 3 on Friday night.
Here are the takeaways...
- The Sixers got off to a fast start, as Karl-Anthony Towns tipped the opening tip toward his own basket, where Kelly Oubre was waiting and he made an easy layup and turned it into a 9-0 run. The Knicks had a hard time getting decent looks on offense, and their defensive intensity was lacking, but New York would fight back, causing turnovers and turning them into baskets. However, back-to-back alley-oops from Tyrese Maxey to VJ Edgecombe forced coach Mike Brown to call his first timeout with Philly up 15-8.
The Sixers were noticeably more intense on both ends of the floor, and that helped them end the first with a 31-27 lead. It could have gotten away from the Knicks, but four offensive rebounds helped them cut into the deficit. Both teams shot around 50 percent, but the story of the first frame was the refs. Both teams were not happy with the foul and no-calls. The Knicks were called for six fouls in the first (Towns picking up two) while the Sixers had four. Joel Embiid, who missed Game 2, was back for this one and while he only scored four points, his presence was felt on the glass and spacing the floor.
Paul George was on fire in the opening frame, scoring 15 points on 6 of 8 shooting (3-for-4 from three). He torched the Knicks for 11 points in the first quarter of Game 2.
- Despite having two fouls, Towns was on the floor to start the second, along with Josh Hart, Landry Shamet, Jordan Clarkson and Jose Alvarado. This lineup gave the Knicks their first lead of the night on the back of Shamet's scoring and better defense from the team. However, after Alvarado's three put the Knicks up for the first time, Towns and Embiid stumbled to the floor and the Philly big man was called for the foul. Sixers coach Nick Nurse challenged and it was overturned to give Towns his third foul with eight minutes to go in the half.
With Towns on the bench with foul trouble, the Knicks picked up their big man by going on a run themselves, thanks to their patented defense-to-offense approach. They finally started getting to the line -- didn't have a free-throw attempt in the first -- and Mikal Bridges was especially huge, scoring six points and guarding his tail off -- he kept George scoreless in the second once Bridges took on that assignment. With 3:37 to go, the Knicks flipped their 12-point deficit to a 12-point lead.
The final few minutes saw the teams go basket for basket with Oubre making a corner three as time expired. The Knicks entered halftime up 60-52. Bridges and Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 15 points apiece. However, the Knicks outrebounded Philly, 25-16, and the New York bench outscored the Sixers' 16-0.
- The Knicks continued to outwork the Sixers, especially on the boards. But the Knicks missed five straight shots, allowing the Sixers to cut the deficit to just five points. Towns also picked up his fourth foul with six minutes remaining in the third. With Towns on the bench, the Sixers pushed the pace and were seemingly more energetic, as they gradually cut the Knicks' lead to three with three minutes to go. Philly resorted to the hack-a-Mitch strategy, but the Knicks big man made 3-of-4. In the final two minutes, the Sixers couldn't buy a basket as the Knicks got out to a 7-0 run to end the frame, capped by Shamet's three. New York took an 85-76 lead into the final frame.
- The fourth quarter lineup was the same as the one that started the second. But unlike that quarter, the combination couldn't get going offensively, forcing Brunson and the other starters back in. And that's when the Knicks started to pull away, building a 16-point lead -- the largest of the night to this point -- with 3:46 to go. The defense and ball movement were just too much for Philly and the Sixers offense was disjointed. Nurse waved the white flag with a couple of minutes to go with the Knicks taking a commanding 3-0 lead.
- Brunson had a game-high 33 points on 11-of-22 shooting. He now has the most 30-plus playoff games in Knicks history. Bridges had 23 points on 8 of 14 shooting.
Oubre had a team-high 22 points for Philly with Embiid going for 18 and Maxey just 17. Philadelphia shot 43 percent.
- With OG Anunoby out with a hamstring strain, Miles McBride was inserted into the starting lineup. The guard scored just three points on 1 of 6 shooting and was a minus-4 on the floor.
Game MVP: Mikal Bridges
Bridges complemented Brunson on the offensive end, and his defense on George and Maxey was superb.
