Rotations are always cut a bit shorter as teams get deeper in the NBA playoffs, but depth players have to stay ready in case their number is called.
For the Knicks, that was Ariel Hukporti in Game 1 on Monday night.
Hukporti saw the floor just three times in New York’s first round meeting with the Hawks, but they were forced to turn to him early on this time around.
Karl-Anthony Towns ended up being okay after an early injury scare, but the big man was forced to the benched after picking up two early fouls against Joel Embiid.
Mitchell Robinson came on, but quickly picked up a foul of his own then Philadelphia turned to the Hack-A-Mitch strategy to try to slow the Knicks down, so he was pulled as well.
Ariel Hukporti entered into his most meaningful minutes thus far these playoffs.
The youngster was ready for the big moment, though, giving New York the big man they needed and holding his own in the tough matchup with Embiid downlow.
He went into the half as a +10 across his three minutes of action.
Hukporti saw even more time with the game out of reach down the stretch, and he ended up finishing the blowout victory with five points, a game-high nine rebounds, and a +22.
“I gotta give Ariel credit,” Mike Brown said. “We were in early foul trouble and Ariel came off the bench and he wasn’t expected to play, obviously, and he did a pretty solid job.
“You’re not going to stop a guy like Embiid or [Tyrese] Maxey, you just hopefully make them work without fouling them, and I thought Ariel did a really good job in that area.”
Hukporti will need to stay ready moving forward, as New York may have to turn to him again as they look to keep Embiid in check during this second round series.
Playing in the conference semifinal round for the first time in his career, Wembanyama, the Spurs phenom forward-center, swatted away 7 blocks in the first half Monday, May 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, marking the most ever by a San Antonio player in a playoff half since 1997.
That total was just one shy of Dwight Howard’s record for most blocks in any postseason half in the play-by-play era.
Wembanyama's block party didn't stop there. He was up to 10 before the end of the third quarter.
7 SWATS FOR WEMBY IN ONE HALF!
Most blocks in ANY postseason half in the PxP era:
The 7-foot-4 All-Star now has a unique opportunity to reach a rare points-rebounds-blocks triple-double. He has 8 points and 10 rebounds to go along with his 10 blocks with 2:36 remaining in the third.
Wembanyama started the second half much like he did the first; he dashed past Rudy Gobert for a dunk and minutes later blocked an attempted layup from Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels.
Freed from the clutches of Hawks defensive ace Dyson Daniels, Jalen Brunson terrorized the 76ers. He scored 27 of his 35 points in the first half and missed only six shots in 18 attempts. It was reminiscent of Brunson’s postseason brilliance two years ago against the 76ers, when he averaged 35.5 points in the series victory.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson #11 drives to the basket as Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George #8 defends. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Zero
The 76ers need Joel Embiid at his best to pull the upset in this series, and he struggled in the opener at both ends of the floor. Embiid managed only 14 points on 3-for-11 shooting and was minus-24 in 25 minutes. He was also a defensive liability, as the Knicks used him in the pick-and-roll, which led to open looks all evening.
Unsung hero
OG Anunoby is unconscious of late. He was 7-for-8 from the field Monday for 18 points and is 23-for-30 over the past three games. He also has was 8-for-11 from deep in that span. The exceptional two-way wing is playing the best basketball of his career at the right moment.
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns #32 puts up a shot over Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid #21. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Key stat
63.1: The Knicks’ field goal percentage, setting a franchise playoff record. The previous mark was 63.0, set in 1995 against the Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs.
Quote of the day
“Honestly, you got to take this game with a grain of salt. I don’t think we’re going to see that team that we saw in Game 1 in Game 2. They’re going to be ready to go,”
It was the kind of game Knicks fans loved. It may not have been as big a blowout as New York's last game, but it also may have been more meaningful.
New York blew out visiting Philadelphia in Game 1 of their second-round series, 137-98, on a night they looked like clearly the best team in the East. Game 2 is Wednesday night in Manhattan.
The Knicks are a team in a groove, winning their last three games by at least 29 points, and in the last two they have shot 61% overall and 44% from 3-point range.
Part of the Knicks fast start and dominance was that the 76ers played like a team with a Game 7 hangover — they looked gassed a quarter into the game. Embiid started 1-of-6 and Maxey 1-of-4. If it wasn't for Paul George hitting 3-pointers, Philadelphia could have been in a much deeper hole earlier.
And that hole was already 23 points at the half, 74-51, leading to an ecstatic crowd reveling in it at Madison Square Garden. Things were going so well that Josh Hart had time to untie Jimmy Fallon's shoe courtside.
In the third quarter, the Knicks just added to their lead out of the gate, and Nurse, wisely, decided to rest his tired stars early and start thinking ahead to Game 2.
In addition to Brunson's hot hand, OG Anunoby had 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting, while Karl-Anthony Towns had 17 points and five assists, playing well as the hub of the offense. Mikal Bridges added 17 points as well.
George was the only 76er with a hot hand all night, and while he played just 26 minutes, he led the team with 17 points. Joel Embiid finished with 14 points on 3-of-11 shooting, while Tyrese Maxey had 13 points on 3-of-9 shooting.
Expect a better outing from Philadelphia in Game 2, but if the Knicks are shooting like this there might be nothing the 76ers can do.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives around Og Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks during the third quarter in Game One of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 04, 2026 in New York City. 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. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sixers Bell Ringer Season Standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 23.5 VJ Edgecombe – 16 Joel Embiid – 14.5 Paul George – 9 Kelly Oubre Jr. – 5 Justin Edwards – 4 Andre Drummond – 3 Quentin Grimes – 3 Jared McCain – 3 Dominick Barlow – 2 MarJon Beauchamp – 2 Adem Bona – 1 Porter Martone – 1 Cam Payne – 1 Jabari Walker – 1 Trendon Watford – 1 15th roster spot – 1
Bad news — the Sixers lost the first game of their conference semi-final matchup against the Knicks 137-98.
Good news — the Sixers escaped in one piece, and none of the starters played 30 minutes just 48 hours after an exhausting Game 7 dogfight in Boston.
Jalen Brunson led the rested Knicks with an innocuous 35 points on 66% shooting (12-of-18 FG), while Karl Anthony-Towns, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby combined for 52 points on 72% shooting (21-of-29 FG).
The Sixers, however, struggled to produce offense from the head of the snake. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey tallied only 27 points combined on 30% shooting (6-of-20).
The Knicks defensive consistency in the halfcourt will be the Sixers’ biggest hurdle this series. Getting out in transition more would help open things up, but that can only happen if the Sixers force a miss on defense and grab the rebound. Both prerequisites did not happen often on Monday.
Weeding through the mess of this game reveals a couple Bell Ringer-worthy performances.
George continues to be a constant presence, and was the one of two Sixers to carry over their offensive efficiency from Game 7 against the Celtics through the quick turnaround. He found his rhythm early, sinking a three off the catch after a Joel Embiid double team. He drilled another in the first off the dribble attacking Mitchell Robinson on a screen, and then opened the second quarter with a deep ball from the left wing.
George found Kelly Oubre Jr. multiple times in the first half. Once on a post pass to a cutting Oubre for a dunk, and then kicking out to Oubre after an effective drive for an open three.
Later in the first half, after an extended Knicks run, George found Embiid in the post with a perfect entry pass that lead to a tough finish at the rim. The next possession he would nail a pull-up jumper over Josh Hart after creating space with his dribble.
George was the only Sixer making shots by the time the third quarter started, nailing another three and a floater before Nick Nurse pulled the starters midway through the frame. The Sixers were down 31 points.
Kelly Oubre Jr. 12 points, 5-of-8 FG, 1-of-2 3PT, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block
Oubre finally hit a three and played with a high energy level on both ends throughout the game, even starting the contest with a block on Hart. He had a couple frustrating turnovers, but showed he can be a factor offensively as a cutter in this series. Multiple dunks off timely backdoors cuts helped keep the offense afloat through most of the first half. He was the team leader in rebounds, which is an unsustainable gameplan moving forward, but noteworthy in a team-wide effort deprived of energy.
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 4: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round Two Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 4, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Tonight at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks hosted the 76ers in Game One of their semifinal series. New York had benefited from extra rest by routing Atlanta on Friday, while Philly took the Celtics to seven games before closing their series on Saturday. The visitors played like they had just fought a long battle as the Knicks won the first quarter by eight and clobbered them in the second quarter for a 23-point halftime lead. With New York scoring at will, their advantage reached 34 in the third quarter, and their reserves pushed the lead to 40 in the final frame. Final score: 137-98.
Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 35 points on 12-of-18 shooting (3-of-6 from three, 8-of-8 FT) in 31 minutes, chipping in three dimes and two steals with just one turnover. It was his most dominant performance of this postseason. As for the other starters, OG Anunoby scored 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting, plus a steal and a block. Karl-Anthony Towns put up 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-5 from deep, while contributing six rebounds, six assists, and two blocks in just 20 minutes. Josh Hart tallied eight points and rebounds, plus six assists in 26 minutes, while Mikal Bridges scored 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting (3-of-5 from three) in 27 minutes. Easily Bridges’ best game of the Playoffs, and he seemed to exorcise the ghosts of a rocky Atlanta series.
For Philly, Paul George led the way with 17 points. Joel Embiid scored 14 points and grabbed four rebounds in 25 minutes. Tyrese Maxey managed 13 points on 3-of-9 shooting in 27 minutes in Knicks jail.
Opening night jitters? Maybe. Game One began with a botched jump ball, a narrowly avoided shot clock violation by Philly, and an OG Anunoby foul while fighting through an Embiid screen. No one got into rhythm until Josh Hart picked off Maxey and hit Mikal Bridges for a dunk. Then Towns drilled a triple in Embiid’s grill to take a 7-2 lead.
Two misses and a turnover allowed the guests to creep ahead. Towns picked up his second foul (on Embiid) before the six-minute mark. That brought in Mitchell Robinson, whom Embiid baited into a foul, too. The fouls were piling up, and the teams kept trading baskets, with 10 lead changes in the period. Later in the quarter, Brunson and McBride hit back-to-back triples to restore their lead. After a Nick Nurse timeout, Paul George missed from close range, and Nurse had Justin Edwards hack-a-Mitch. After Grimes bricked, Edwards hacked again. Our favorite Cajun missed all four attempts. You can’t knock the strategy; Brown’s hands were tied with Towns in foul trouble, and Mitch’s misses made for two empty possessions.
Hukporti, who logged just 19 minutes in Round One, trotted onto the court at the 2:30 mark. Continuing the theme, Huk fouled Embiid, who attempted (and made) six freebies in the first frame. Aside from free throws, nothing much was going right for Philly, though. After another bad pass by Maxey, OG sank two freebies, and Deuce added a bucket to secure a 33-25 lead at the break.
Brunson had 14 points in the first quarter, while New York’s defense had made life miserable for Tyrese Maxey. He didn’t score his first basket until midway through the second quarter. Philly’s lead guard made a handful from the charity stripe, though, and New York was entering a worrisome foul situation. Mitch committed his third after playing just eight minutes, while Towns and Anunoby had two apiece with almost seven minutes remaining in the half.
The Knicks scored on all levels, with Towns and Anunoby cooking alongside Brunson, and Hart and Bridges chipping in with relative ease. Our heroes went up by 18 with 3:30 to go, while the visitors missed a number of one-and-dones. Brunson scored the last 11 points for New York and hit a Hail Mary trey with the clock expiring to put New York up 74-51 at intermission.
Through the half, the Knicks had shot 66% overall and 50% from downtown, dished 16 assists, turned the ball over just four times, and doubled Philly’s points in the paint (32-16). The only thing keeping the game from being a total blowout so far was Philadelphia’s perfect 14-for-14 from the line. Brunson led all scorers with 27, the most he’d scored in a half this season, doing so on 10-of-14 shooting. For Philly, Maxey had 13 points on 3-of-8 shooting, while Embiid had 12 on 3-of-10.
To start the third quarter, Brunson picked Oubre’s pocket, and Hart cashed in the fast break for a 25-point lead. Thanks to New York’s smothering defense, Philly continued to be plagued by turnovers. Embiid threw the ball directly to Brunson, resulting in an Anunoby dunk at the other end. Then Maxey coughed up the ball, and Anunoby swished from deep. With about nine minutes on the clock, the differential was 27 points, and Nurse was apoplectic.
Desperate for answers, Philly tried going zone. The Knicks kept scoring. Towns walked in a layup and then hit from deep to give our heroes a 30-point lead with seven minutes left in the frame. Soon after, Bridges drilled from downtown, making it 31. From there, Philly went on a 9-3 run but continued to look lost in the sauce. Nurse gave some extra burn to his reserves (Drummond, Grimes, Barlow, Bona), letting his stars rest in what seemed like a hopeless cause. The hosts closed out the period strong, taking a 109-78 lead into the final frame.
Tyler Kolek and Pacome Dadiet made unusually early appearances in the fourth quarter. The train kept rolling, with Kolek cashing multiple buckets from deep and Dadiet dunking. Mohamed Diawara got in on the action, too, as our heroes pushed the lead to 40. When the cutting was done, New York had won 137-98—meaning that they’d scored 277 points over the last two games. Unbelievable.
Up Next
Miranda’s coming in hot with a recap. Game Two will be played on Wednesday. Rest up, Knickerbockers.
Their first-round surge is showing no signs of slowing up.
It’s only growing stronger.
They keep setting new records.
Capturing new accolades.
Providing more and more reason to believe, as they obliterated the 76ers 137-98 Monday night at Madison Square Garden to take an emphatic 1-0 series lead.
Over the past four games — including the last three games of the first round, following back-to-back losses — the Knicks have outscored opponents by a combined 135 points.
Monday was the largest home playoff win in franchise history.
They became the first team in the play-by-play era to lead by 30-plus points in three straight playoff games.
Jalen Brunson is pictured during the Knicks’ May 4 win against the 76ers. Charles Wenzelberg
They became the first to win three straight playoff games by at least 25 points.
They were one point shy of being the first to win back-to-back playoff games by 40 or more.
Just one team had ever ended a series winning by 30 or more points, then opened a series winning by 30 or more points — the 1986 Celtics.
Now, it’s two.
“I just feel like our focus has been better,” Jalen Brunson said. “Our attention to detail has been better. Honestly, I think those two are very important for us. We gotta continue to do so.
“Yes, it’s turned into big wins. But that attention to detail will help us in the close wins as well.”
As the first half wound down, Josh Hart’s shot had clanked off the rim — a rarity for the Knicks on Monday.
But Mikal Bridges corralled the rebound and kicked it out to Brunson.
And Brunson drilled it, with hardly any time left on the clock.
Of course he did.
Did anyone expect otherwise?
He was doing anything he wanted against the 76ers defense.
The shot gave the Knicks a 23-point lead heading into halftime.
Karl-Anthony Towns dunks the ball during the Knicks’ May 4 win against the 76ers. Charles Wenzelberg
It brought Brunson to a whopping 27 points in that first half, including the Knicks’ last 11 heading into the break.
It got the fans inside Madison Square Garden to their feet and to full voice.
MSG was rocking — in that special way it does this time of year and at a level that felt much more intense than at any point in the first round.
The Knicks were making shots for fun.
They were suffocating the 76ers on the other end.
They were making it look easy.
It didn’t take long for that lead to grow to 31 in the first few minutes of the second half.
The 76ers tried to go to a zone.
It laughably failed.
The 76ers had no counterpunch or fight.
It was party time at MSG.
“I think right now,” Karl-Anthony Towns said, “we’re seeing the culmination of the trials and tribulations that we went through in the regular season.”
The Knicks ended at 63.1 percent from the field and 51.4 percent from 3-point range. Both teams emptied their benches for the entirety of the fourth quarter.
It was the second straight game no Knicks starters played a single minute in the fourth quarter.
Fans chanted for Tyler Kolek, like they did during regular-season routs.
He finished with a game-high 35 points — on stellar 12-for-18 shooting from the field and 3-for-6 shooting from 3-point range — along with three assists and just one turnover.
Knicks guard Mikal Bridges #25 reacts at Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. #9 after hitting a three-point shot during the third quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
VJ Edgecombe primarily guarded him, but he was often made useless by the endless screens.
“They were obviously,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse said, “picking us apart.”
Brunson’s supporting cast followed his lead in the second quarter, and that’s where the Knicks took off.
He finished with 18 points on 7-for-8 shooting from the field while also drilling both 3s he took.
Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 17 apiece.
Tyrese Maxey attempts a shot during the 76ers’ loss to the Knicks on May 4. Charles Wenzelberg
Hart was characteristically everywhere with eight points, eight rebounds and six assists.
Miles McBride provided a nice punch off the bench.
Foul trouble was perhaps the only area of concern for the Knicks.
Embiid drew a handful on Towns and Mitchell Robinson, forcing Ariel Hukporti to see some rare minutes.
But Embiid was a flailing, nightmarish mess otherwise, recording 14 points on 3-for-11 shooting from the field.
Bridges did a terrific job on Tyrese Maxey, who had just 13 points on 3-for-9 shooting from the field.
He didn’t hit a field goal until midway through the second quarter, when the Knicks were padding their lead.
It was his lowest point total since Jan. 26.
Paul George was a footnote.
It was an all-around bludgeoning.
“Honestly, you gotta take this game with a grain of salt and move forward,” Brunson said. “I don’t think we’re gonna see that team that we saw in Game 1 in Game 2. They’re gonna be ready to go.”
Perhaps the 76ers didn’t have enough time to reset after an emotionally draining seven-game first round.
Or, perhaps, as has been the case for multiple games in a row, this is who the Knicks are.
The Knicks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 137-98 in Game 1 of their second round matchup on Monday at MSG.
Here are some takeaways...
- The Knicks had a bit of a scare just minutes into this one, as Karl-Anthony Towns went down in significant pain after taking a hard fall coming down from an offensive rebound attempt, but he ended up being okay after staying down for a few moments and remained on the floor following a TV timeout.
Joel Embiid was also able to get both Towns (two) and Mitchell Robinson (two) into early foul trouble.
- With Towns sitting, it was Jalen Brunson who carried the load for the Knicks' offense in the early going. It was a mainly back-and-forth opening frame, but the All-Star point guard put together one of his signature barrages scoring nine straight New York points and dishing an assist on a Miles McBride three to make it a four-point game.
OG Anunoby found his touch late, as well, scoring all of his seven points to close the first quarter up by eight.
- Finally back on the floor, Towns got into a rhythm for the first time opening the second. The dominant big man was able to take advantage of Embiid resting after playing the entire first quarter, quickly pushing both his point total and the Knicks' lead all the way out to double-digits.
- New York's defense was tremendous and they continued to get whatever they wanted on the other end. The Garden was rocking and the home team had all of the momentum as they carried their largest lead of the half into the break (23) following Brunson's deep three at the buzzer.
- The captain was taking advantage of Embiid and Philly's defense in the pick-in-roll, scoring the teams last 11 points to bring his total out to 27, which is the second-most in any playoff half by a Knick in the play-by-play era.
- It was much of the same for the Knicks coming out of the break, as they continued to put on a defensive clinic and simply could not miss on the other end. This time it was Mikal Bridges' turn to put together a scoring run of his own, as he scored eight straight points at one point in the third to push himself into double-digits, as well.
- Philadelphia didn't received their first bench points of the game until there was four minutes left in the third.
- Brunson was relatively quiet in the third with New York's offense clicking on all cylinders, but eight points in the closing minutes of the frame helped him break 30 for the second time these playoffs, and kept the commanding lead above that mark heading into the closing 12 minutes.
- Both teams emptied their benches with things out of reach to open the fourth. Tyler Kolek took advantage of the opportunity for minutes, knocking down his first three attempts from the field and dishing an assist. Ariel Hukporti chipped in five points, reeled in a game-high nine rebounds, and was a +22 over 17 minutes.
Hukporti stepped up bug earlier in the contest with both Robinson and Towns in foul trouble.
- As far as the starters, Brunson led all scorers with 35 points on 12-of-18 shooting. Anunoby missed just one of his eight shots as he chipped in 18 points of his own, and both Bridges and Towns finished with 17 each. Josh Hart had just eight points, but also contributed eight rebounds and six assists.
They shot a whopping 63 percent from the field and 51 from three as a team on the night.
- The Knicks also did a tremendous locking down Philly's one-two punch, holding Embiid (14) and Tyrese Maxey (13) to a combined 27 points, 15 of which came from the free-throw line. They made just six of their 20 attempts from the field, missed all five of their shots from three, and turned the ball over a total of five times.
- New York is the first team in NBA history to win three straight playoff games by 25+ points.
Game MVP: Jalen Brunson
The captain set the tone out of the gate for New York with his tremendous first half.
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 4: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the New York Knicks during Round Two Game One on May 4, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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
NEW YORK — No one should have to play so soon after a Game 7 anyway.
The Sixers were throttled 137-98 by the New York Knicks in Game 1 of their second round matchup, falling to another 1-0 series deficit.
Like Game 4 against Boston, Tyrese Maxey was just not aggressive enough. He finished with 13 points, shooting 3-of-9 from the floor with two assists to four turnovers. Joel Embiid again struggled with his jumper, he finished with 14 points on 3-of-11, shooting to go with four rebounds and one assist.
Paul George actually had an alright offensive night. He went for a team-high 17 points shooting 6-of-11 from the field along with three boards and three assists. VJ Edgecombe also looked slightly more ready for this series — he shot 5-of-11 for 12 points with one rebound and two assists.
Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 35.
Here are some thoughts from MSG.
First Quarter
The Sixers’ offense definitely looked stuck in the mud to start the game. Between the near turnover that was saved by an incorrect shot clock violation call, the layup Maxey thought he got fouled on, and Karl-Anthony Towns stripping Embiid, not much looked pretty early. Edgecombe started well though making his first two pull-up jumpers of the night.
With a lot of stops at the beginning of the game it was hard for either offense to get out of the gates. Brunson also made his first two shots of the night, drawing a foul on Edgecombe on his second. The Sixers had trouble chasing him around screens. Embiid missed his first three shots and got his first points at the line. He was able to again find Kelly Oubre Jr. for a baseline cut while George hit a couple of threes.
None of Edgecombe, George, Oubre or Quentin Grimes could slow Brunson down early as he put up 14 in the quarter. Whether that was a factor or not, the Sixers resorted to hack-a-Mitch, putting Justin Edwards in the game to use up those fouls. Robinson missed all four attempts before Mike Brown pulled Robinson off the floor for a couple possessions.
The Sixers ended the quarter doing a better job on Brunson — Oubre had forced him down the baseline nicely for a missed midrange jumper. The Knicks still shot it well as a team going 65% in the first quarter. The Sixers’ offense still looked sloppy with Embiid smoking a fairly open layup. A pair of Maxey free throws pulled the Sixers within eight after the first.
Second Quarter
The offensive process was a lot better to start the second, but it began with Oubre and Grimes missing wide open threes in the corner. Depending on which big the Knicks had out there Andre Drummond can make sense in this matchup, but asking him to chase KAT around the perimeter was a bit much. George did his best to keep them afloat with Maxey and Embiid both on the bench. He got stripped by Josh Hart, but he also hit a three and assisted to Oubre twice while the two of them were able to cause two turnovers as well.
Maxey didn’t make his first field goal of the game until nearly halfway through the second. The only thing he and Embiid had really done well to that point was draw fouls, and they were able to get three on both Robinson and Towns. On the other end, the Knicks, mainly through pick-and-rolls, continued to torch the Sixers’ deep drop coverage.
The Sixers may have been better off having Embiid roam off of Hart as opposed to guarding Towns on the perimeter, but Hart could have just as easily put him in space. It’s not like any Sixer could stay in front of anyone as they very much looked like a team that had just gone through a battle of a Game 7 48 hours prior. To make matters worse, Embiid really started to favor his midsection after Mikal Bridges hit him trying to fight through a screen.
As the Knicks continued to pour on baskets, all the Sixers could manage was trying to keep the lead under 20. Brunson got going again when he was able to take on Embiid in space. He then got a three to bounce in and got Grimes in the air to draw a foul attempting another three. The Knicks only grabbed three offensive rebounds in the half but they all managed to be big, the last getting kicked out to Brunson for another three to put the Knicks up by 23 at the half.
Third Quarter
Here were the first four possessions for the Sixers to start the second half: Oubre trying to fit a pocket pass to Embiid through three defenders that was easily stolen, an Oubre putback, a fast break Maxey could have found Edgecombe on but went for the layup himself and missed, and an Embiid pass to nowhere that was also easily stolen and taken back the other way. Five minutes into the quarter and the Knicks had pushed their lead to 30.
Edgecombe was able to pick on Brunson to get to the basket on a couple of possessions, something the Sixers’ backcourt probably should have started doing much earlier in the game. George was able to draw an and-1 on Towns but those were the lone positives.
Nick Nurse threw the white flag with five minutes left in the quarter. Dominick Barlow checked into the game for the first time and Edwards got his first minutes that weren’t just meant to foul Mitchell Robinson. Barlow might actually be a decent option to guard Towns in future games this series, but KAT was only in for one possession by the time Barlow got in the game, so there wasn’t a chance to see it here. The Sixers trailed by 31 heading into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
Well, if Adem Bona’s shift in garbage time was anything to go off of, Drummond probably was the better option at backup five anyways. In his 3:47 minute shift he picked up five fouls, three of which were offensive fouls. The Sixers may need to get experimental with their bigs in this series and Bona will have to be playable to do so.
A night off early might be better for them in the long run — it may be the only thing that can recharge their legs at this point in the season. If the effort is similar in Game 2 that would be very alarming, to put it mildly.
Star wing Jalen Williams has been ruled out in Game 1 against the Lakers due to a Grade 1 hamstring strain.
“He’s progressing according to plan, I would say,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said Monday when speaking with media. “In terms of a timeline, we’re not going to release that. We’ll continue to let you guys know on a week-to-week basis.”
Thunder star wing Jalen Williams has been ruled OUT for Tuesday’s Game 1 vs. the Lakers. NBAE via Getty Images
It was an injury-ravaged season for Williams in which he only played 33 games, less than half the regular season.
He was sidelined for the Thunder’s first 19 games, during which they went 18-1, because of offseason surgery on his right wrist.
He then missed 10 games between January and February because of a right hamstring strain, playing in two games, before aggravating the hamstring and missing another five weeks.
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Williams played in the first two games of Oklahoma City’s first-round series vs. the Suns. He averaged 20.5 points, 5.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game, a good sign after he averaged 17.1 points per game during the regular season.
However, he suffered a Grade 1 left hamstring strain during Game 2 of the series against Phoenix on April 22.
Because Grade 1 hamstring strains typically heal in one to two weeks, there was a good chance Williams would return by the beginning of this next round. But Williams’ injury appears to be worse than originally expected after Daigneault’s comments.
The Lakers will also be shorthanded as Luka Doncic has been ruled out for Game 1 as well.
Timothée Chalamet’s Knicks loyalty can’t be questioned.
The “Marty Supreme” actor was in his usual spot on Celebrity Row for Game 1 of the Knicks-76ers series, while his girlfriend Kylie Jenner was across town at the Met Gala.
Chalamet was dressed in a cozy-looking sweater and jeans as he arrived at Madison Square Garden. Meanwhile, the 28-year-old Jenner — who was at Game 5 of the Knicks’ opening-round series win over the Hawks — was leaving jaws dropping with her faux nude look in a Schiaparelli gown at the Met Gala red carpet.
Timothee Chalamet arrives for Game 1 of the Knicks-76ers series at MSG. X
Chalamet, 30, was seen chatting with Tracy Morgan and other Celebrity Row staples before the 8 pm tipoff.
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) May 5, 2026
The Knicks were off to an impressive start against their rival, leading 74-51 at the half after the 76ers clawed past the Celtics to get out of the first round in seven games.
It is the second straight year that Chalamet has chosen the Knicks over the fashion bonanza, last season opting to watch the Knicks’ Game 1 win in Boston at home with friends.
Kylie Jenner attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. WireImageTimothee Chalamet and Kylie Jenner at Game 5 of the Knicks-Hawks series. Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The power couple has been going strong for over three years, though they are fairly quiet about the details of the romance.
Chalamet made a rare public comment about Jenner at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards after winning best actor for “Marty Supreme.”
“And lastly, I’ll just say, thank you to my partner of three years,” Chalamet said. “Thank you for our foundation. I love you. I couldn’t do this without you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart,”
Lakers star Luka Doncic is officially ruled OUT for Game of the Western Conference semifinals vs. the Thunder.Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images Lakers star Luka Doncic is officially ruled OUT for Game of the Western Conference semifinals vs. the Thunder.NBAE via Getty Images Lakers star Luka Doncic is officially ruled OUT for Game of the Western Conference semifinals vs. the Thunder.NBAE via Getty Images
When asked about the status of his star guard, who’s dealing with a hamstring injury, Lakers coach JJ Redick kept it blunt, “I don’t have any updates on Luka.”
After traveling to Spain for advanced treatment aimed at accelerating recovery, Doncic’s progression has been less than ideal. He’s done controlled on-court work with shooting and light movement, but has yet to progress to running or physical on-court work.
“Obviously, we always want to have Luka out there,” said teammate Austin Reaves on Sunday. “He’s one of the best players in the league, if not the best player. It’s definitely a different task. Everyone has to play differently to create and fill the void of the things he does for us.”
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"I don't have any updates on Luka" – JJ Redick's response when asked about Luka Doncic's availability for tomorrow's Game 1 in OKC https://t.co/gKiTtM63lw
Sources told The California Post that Doncic is expected to miss at least the first two games of the Western Conference semifinal series, clearing a return for a possible Game 3.
However, at this point in his recovery, returning to the series at any point — especially given Oklahoma City’s propensity for physical play — seems highly unlikely.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Venus Williams attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Julian Hamilton/Getty Images)
Julian Hamilton/Getty Images
Fashion's biggest night has arrived, and several athletes have foregone their pregame getups for elaborate suits and gowns fit for one of the most stylish nights of the year.
The theme of the 2026 Met Gala is "Costume Art," paired with the dress code of "Fashion is Art." As always, the theme was up to interpretation, and this year's carpet showcased creativity in all of its forms.
Tennis legend Venus Williams is co-chair for the event alongside Beyoncé and Nicole Kidman. Venus' sister Serena Williams was among the throng of athletes in attendance, which consisted of icons across a wide variety of sports.
See below for a glimpse into the "Super Bowl of Fashion" and the standout looks of some of sports' biggest stars, including Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu, 4x WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson, Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson, and more.
A’ja Wilson
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: A’ja Wilson attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/FilmMagic)
Theo Wargo/FilmMagic
Alysa Liu
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Alysa Liu attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Angel Reese
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Angel Reese attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Dwyane Wade
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Dwyane Wade attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Julian Hamilton/Getty Images)
Julian Hamilton/Getty Images
Eileen Gu
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Eileen Gu attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Jimmy Butler
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Jimmy Butler attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Joe Burrow
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Joe Burrow attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
Justin Jefferson
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Justin Jefferson attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Julian Hamilton/Getty Images)
Julian Hamilton/Getty Images
Lindsey Vonn
US alpine ski racer Lindsey Vonn arrives for the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York, on May 4, 2026. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty Images)
ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images
Naomi Osaka
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Naomi Osaka attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/FilmMagic)
Theo Wargo/FilmMagic
Paige Bueckers
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Paige Bueckers leaves The Carlyle Hotel before the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. (Photo by John Nacion/Getty Images)
John Nacion/Getty Images
Russell Westbrook
US basketball player Russell Westbrook arrives for the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York, on May 4, 2026. (Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP via Getty Images)
ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images
Russell Wilson and Ciara
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: (L-R) Russell Wilson and Ciara attend the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Serena Williams
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Serena Willaims attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
Kevin Mazur/MG26/Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Stephen Curry and Ayesha Curry
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: (L-R) Ayesha Curry and Stephen Curry attend the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Venus Williams
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Venus Williams attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JANUARY 17: De'Aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 17, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much.
The Spurs have advanced to the second round of the playoffs and face an unexpected opponent. The Timberwolves didn’t play great for most of the season, finishing sixth in the Western Conference, but used their size and physicality to outperform the Denver Nuggets, despite losing key players during the series. Donte Divencenzo is out for the rest of the season, but he’s already back on the bench cheering on his teammates. Anthony Edwards suffered a scary looking knee injury with a hyperextension and bone bruise in the third quarter of Game 3 in the first round, but he could be back on the court as early as tonight, an unbelievable 9 days after what looked like it could be a season-ending injury.
The Wolves were able to survive through the defensive efforts of Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle, who bothered Nikola Jokic so much that he lost his composure more than once, and terrific performances from Jaden McDaniels, and a rotating cast of super subs—Ayo Dosunmu with a record-setting 43 points off the bench in game 4, and Terrance Shannon Jr. with 24 in Game 6.
This should be a much tougher test that the first round matchup against the Trail Blazers, who don’t have the wealth of talent and size on Minnesota’s roster. The Spurs nominally have five players on the roster who can play at the center spot, but it’s pretty apparent that they only want to play Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet when the game is on the line, except in smallball lineups, where Carter Bryant has been playing well. Bryant is dealing with a foot sprain, so it’s imperative for the Spurs that VW1 and LK7 stay out of foul trouble tonight. Rudy Gobert is notably bad at offense, so maybe the Spurs could hide a bad defender on him part of the time, but you still would hate to see Mason Plumlee out there unless the game is already decided.
It will be interesting to see what kind of adjustments that Mitch Johnson will make to the Spurs offensive and defensive sets for the Timberwolves. Victor could take advantage of Gobert’s ineptness as a scorer to roam a bit more and create zone of exclusion in the paint for the Timberwolves, which would force them to rely heavily on hitting their outside shots. They’re a pretty good three point shooting team, so that wouldn’t necessarily work out in the Spurs’ favor, unless the perimeter defenders can quickly close out around the three point line.
Game Prediction:
The Spurs go wild from beyond the arc, with Champagnie, Vassell, and Wembanyama all hitting at least eight triples.
San Antonio Spurs vs Minnesota Timberwolves, Second Round, Game 1 May 4, 2026 | 8:30 PM CT Streaming: Peacock TV: Peacock, NBCSN Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
