NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Brunson scored 26 points and helped New York seize control of a close game after a run of blowouts, leading the Knicks to a 108-102 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night for a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
But those kinds of situations are made for Brunson, who made the tiebreaking basket with 5:06 remaining and added another jumper for a 103-99 advantage with 3:45 to play before Mikal Bridges’ basket made it a six-point game.
OG Anunoby added 24 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 20 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for the Knicks, whose Game 1 victory made them the first team to win three straight postseason games by at least 25 points.
Tyrese Maxey scored 26 points for the 76ers, who face another big climb after falling behind 3-1 against Boston in the first round.
The series moves to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Friday and Game 4 on Sunday, where Embiid will find out if gets his wish for the arena to be filled with Sixers fans or if New Yorkers made their way in.
SPURS 133, TIMBERWOLVES 95
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 19 points and 15 rebounds, and San Antonio handed Minnesota the worst postseason loss in franchise history, beating the Timberwolves to even their Western Conference semifinal series at one game apiece.
Stephon Castle had 21 points and De’Aaron Fox added 16 points for San Antonio, which shot 50% from the field and 41% on 3-pointers. It was the highest-scoring playoff game for the Spurs since a series-clinching 145-105 win over Denver on May 4, 1983.
Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, Jaden McDaniels and Terrence Shannon Jr. each scored 12 points for Minnesota.
Edwards came off the bench again as Minnesota continued to restrict his minutes in his second game back from a hyperextended left knee.
Games 3 and 4 are Friday and Sunday in Minneapolis.
Against the Celtics, Tyrese Maxey was unstoppable.
He owned crunchtime of the winner-take-all Game 7.
That player has yet to show up to the Eastern Conference semifinals – in part due to Mikal Bridges’ lockdown defense.
Bridges was at it again Wednesday night, shutting down Maxey when Game 2 of this Eastern Conference semifinal series was hanging in the balance, limiting him to seven of his 26 points in the second half. And, Bridges also sank a big jumper late in the fourth quarter as the Knicks moved to within two wins of returning to the conference finals with a 108-102 victory at the Garden.
Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson trip Tyrese Maxey during the Knicks’ win over the 76ers. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
Against the Celtics, Maxey averaged 30 points. Through two games against the Knicks, that number is down to 19.5, on 37.5 percent shooting from the field. The young star guard has also committed 10 turnovers, six coming on Wednesday.
“Honestly, it started with Mikal. He’s just been great for us at the point of attack,” Miles McBride said. “And the team has been locked in. He’s a tough player. And for Mikal, he’s just going to keep going at him. He’s going to step up every time.”
Bridges has been a different player the last three games, after struggling for much of the first-round series against the Hawks. Coach Mike Brown considered bringing him off the bench, but stuck with the veteran wing. Bridges rewarded the coach.
He shined in the clincher and has built on it in this series. In Game 2, he had 18 points on 9-of-13 shooting, five rebounds and tenacious defense.
Mikal Bridges (left) celebrates a slam dunk with Josh Hart during the second quarter of the Knicks’ win over the 76ers. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“You’re gonna have to keep working and give multiple efforts and the team defense behind him is gonna have to be great in order to even think you’re gonna slow [Maxey] down, because he’s a great player,” Brown said. “But Mikal did what he could, as well as everybody else behind him. And then on top of that, Mikal hit some big shots for us down the stretch, especially when we looked a little discombobulated offensively.
“He got to his spot and knocked down some big shots. So great game on both ends of the floor for Mikal.”
After the Knicks bludgeoned the 76ers in Game 1, fouling was the one area he specifically noted they had to improve. It seemed like a footnote in what was otherwise a historic blowout.
But in their 108-102 Game 2 win Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, it became a central storyline. It had Brown doing math at the podium while questioning the officiating.
“We have to try to do something about it, because they’re killing us from the free-throw line in this series,” Brown said. “I know it’s only two games, but they had 34 [free throws in Game 1] and 28 tonight. So let’s add them up now. That’s 62, and we had 17 and 25, so that’s 42, right? Forty-two to 62. So, we have to do something right. I have to do a better job addressing it. Hopefully, it can get evened out a little bit more throughout the course of the series, but it’s tough to win a ballgame if you’re getting beat from the free-throw line like that versus a really good team.”
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns drives to the basket as Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona gives chase during the third quarter on May 6, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Karl-Anthony Towns was in foul trouble all night and played just 27 minutes as a result. Without Mitchell Robinson (illness), it forced Ariel Hukporti into action.
But Hukporti committed four fouls in seven minutes. That left Brown with no other choice than to go with Landry Shamet or Jeremy Sochan in small-ball lineups.
“I think it was KAT’s third or fourth foul where [Tyrese] Maxey came off him,” Brown said. “I’m not sure what’s a bump and what’s not a bump, but up by half-court, I gotta go back and I gotta watch that, because you can literally call somebody getting bumped every time down the floor if you want to. And so, for KAT to pick up his third or fourth foul that way — I can’t remember which one it was — that was tough. But we have to try to keep leading with our chest and show our hands and hope they don’t call it. They’re really, really good, especially Maxey. Man, he’s one of the quickest guys in the league with the basketball. And when he sees an angle, he’s going at you 100 miles per hour.
New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown reacts during the second quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“And he’s good as you’re trying to turn — when you’re turning to step-slide with him, you’re exposing your shoulder and your arm, and as soon as he sees you turn and he sees your arm right here, he’s flying into you and it’s giving the officials an opportunity to call a foul.”
The Knicks had a clean injury report heading into Game 2 before Robinson was downgraded to questionable with the illness hours before tip.
He warmed up like normal and was considered a game-time decision.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - MAY 06: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles against Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs during the second quarter in Game Two of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Frost Bank Center on May 06, 2026 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. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Minnesota Timberwolves came into Wednesday night’s Game 2 of their Western Conference Semifinals series against the San Antonio Spurs with a chance to get greedy. After taking Game 1 104-102, the Wolves had the opportunity to take a commanding 2-0 series lead before even playing a game at Target Center.
Instead, the Timberwolves never gave themselves a chance.
The Wolves came out of the gates playing an incredibly undisciplined basketball. They turned the ball over on their first three possessions of the game and never found their composure from there.
From the start, it was a complete turnaround from the first game of the series. The Timberwolves lacked ball movement, took terrible shots, and continued to turn the ball over at an unsustainable rate.
Somehow, the Wolves only trailed 24-17 after the first quarter. The game didn’t stay close for long, as after Jaden McDaniels picked up his third foul early in the second quarter, the game fell apart for Minnesota on both sides of the ball.
Jaden McDaniels picked up his third foul with 9:49 left in the second quarter.
At that time, the Spurs were up 30-22.
After that, San Antonio closed the quarter on a 29-13 run.
The Timberwolves finished the first half with 35 points, their lowest of the entire season, regular season or playoffs. They went 14-47 from the field, 2-15 from beyond the arc, and turned the ball over a total of 11 times.
On the other end, the Wolves gave up 34 points in the paint alone and trailed by 24 points going into the halftime break.
The second half wasn’t any more friendly for Minnesota as the Spurs got dunk after dunk following countless Timberwolves turnovers. The Wolves never mounted any sort of comeback, and by early in the fourth quarter, the benches were in for both teams as the Wolves fell 133-95 in Game 2.
The Wolves had five players in double-figures with no player scoring more than 12 points. Anthony Edwards had an especially poor night as he never looked fully healthy or engaged with the game. He finished with 12 points while missing eight of his 13 shots to go with four turnovers. The Wolves lost the 24 minutes Edwards was on the court by a team-worst 33 points.
Edwards was far from the only player who performed poorly, as not a single player had a quality performance as the team finished with a staggering 22 turnovers while shooting less than 40 percent from the field.
The Spurs were led by Stephon Castle’s 21 points, with Wembanyama and Fox having bounce-back games after poor performances in Game 1. Wemby put up 19 points and 15 rebounds, while Fox scored 16 points on only ten shots.
“They just kicked our butt in every aspect of the game tonight,” Chris Finch said after the blowout loss. “Offensively, defensively, it didn’t matter. They took it to us, and we didn’t really respond very well.”
Finch was later asked what he said to the team after a game like this, and he responded, “I told them we just got punked.”
Following their Game 1 victory, the Timberwolves deservedly received a ton of praise nationally. With a shorthanded roster, they dismantled Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets, and, for at least one game, were doing the same to Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs.
While losing this game is far from a death knell, there is only so much margin for error against a team of the quality of this Spurs squad. Rather than putting their foot on the gas pedal, Minnesota played like a team that had accomplished its goal and appeared content bringing the series back home tied 1-1.
In their previous two postseason runs, Minnesota has thrived when it’s been the underdog and has often let go of the rope when they start to receive recognition for its positive play. It’s impossible to truly know if that was the case in this one. Regardless, the stark difference in the Wolves’ play over the last two games stands out.
The Spurs, unlike the Nuggets, responding with a quality performance should not come as a surprise. They won 62 games for a reason. Now, it’s on the Timberwolves to do the same after getting embarrassed tonight.
Up Next
The series now shifts to Minnesota, where the Timberwolves are 3-0 this postseason. Game 3 against the Spurs on Friday begins at 8:30 PM CT and will air on Amazon Prime.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MAY 6: Keldon Johnson #3 of the San Antonio Spurs smiles during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves during Round Two Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 6, 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 Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs had their backs to the wall, so they had a Game 7 mentality from tip-off, and they cruised their way to the finish line against the ravenous Minnesota Timberwolves. The Spurs are now going on tour and the winner of a Game 3 in a best of seven series when it’s tied advances 73.7 percent of the time, per the NBA’s Facts and Figures.
Both sides were implacable, defending the lane like it was a scared temple and neither had much breathing room until the levy broke for the Spurs in transition. San Antonio’s defense was more potent, holding them to their lowest output of the season (35 points) in the first half, which included a stretch where it forced Minnesota into a stream of bad shots.
Usually, even playoff games with a large difference get close, but the Spurs didn’t permit such shenanigans because Victor Wembanyama’s help defense was omnipresent, despite 10 less blocks, and his teammates were just as unforgiving, hounding the ball before it crossed half court and controlling the boards.
Observations
These types of butt-kickings usually come with a warning for children. This one got so of hand, that even Kelly Olynyk and Lindy Waters III got dusted off, and they’ve barely played since ‘Nam.
The first half of the third quarter was the sloppiest spurt for the Spurs as they did a poor job of defending without fouling. Still, it didn’t hurt them as much as it could have because the Timberwolves were having the same problems putting them on the line, and Julian Champagnie swished four 3-pointers.
Stephon Castle, who fouled out in Game 1, may have picked up some unnecessary penalties and turnovers, but he played with more controlled aggression. All six of his shots were logged in the lane, and he was immaculate at the line on nine attempts. Additionally, as shown against Deni Avdija and Bones Hyland in this game, he plays with a fearlessness that the team feeds off.
Guarding Julius Randle and Naz Reid, two tanks, has been problematic at times because one of them usually joins the other or Rudy Gobert while the Spurs mostly use four perimeter players around Wemby. Most players matched up with them are at a disadvantage since Randle and Reid have the edge on the boards and in reach to disrupt shots. Yet, Keldon Johnson was able to hold up well in his minutes with Randle, and the Spurs were able to neutralize their impact by sending help quicker at them.
Jaden McDaniels is slimmer, but he is the new age Bobby Jones, who was famously a stud athlete and top-notch defender for the Philadelphia 76ers in the ‘80s. He gave ball handlers fits and zig-zagged to his spots, but his impact was offset by the grip the Spurs took on the game, and he picked up five fouls.
Even without eye-pooping stats, De’Aaron Fox was a key figure in the first-half avalanche because he was playing with more intensity, and the team did a nice job of screening for him on curls. This matchup is a difficult one for him because of the length and lateral quickness Minnesota has, so he could be used more as a decoy as the series progresses.
Carter Bryant gave the team good minutes with his hustle in transition and backpedaling. Since he’s got a bigger frame, there may come a time in this series where it’s best for the Spurs to use him over Julian Champagnie, a leaner player.
76ers forward Paul George (8) defends against New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during the fourth quarter.
Few players can be so infuriating. Few players can be so dominant.
Karl-Anthony Towns’ brilliance eventually overpowered his long-standing demons in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, as the 7-footer overcame his latest bout of foul trouble and picked apart the Joel Embiid-less 76ers front line, finishing with 20 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and one steal in 27 minutes in the 108-102 win at Madison Square Garden to help give the Knicks a 2-0 series lead.
Through the first two rounds of the playoffs, Towns is shooting 59.7 percent from the field — 13-for-19 through the first two games against the Sixers — with 10.5 rebounds per game.
Karl-Anthony Towns battles for a loose ball with Paul George in Game 2 on May 6, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
And after averaging 3.1 assists over the first 11 seasons of his career, the new point center, who recorded his first two playoff triple-doubles (and came up 3 assists shy of a third) against Atlanta, has averaged 7.8 assists in the past five games — all Knicks wins.
“I just want to [make] the right plays when the ball hits my hands, whether that’s driving, passing, taking the shot or slowing down our offense to get us organized,” Towns said. “I just want to impact winning, and I was able to do that.”
Even with Mitchell Robinson (illness) out in Game 2, Towns remained undisciplined, getting called for a moving screen 30 feet from the hoop barely two minutes into the game. Towns then picked up his second foul with 4:29 left in the first quarter, forcing Mike Brown to turn to rarely used Ariel Hukporti for early minutes.
“That’s tough to try to combat when Mitch is out,” Brown said. “He’s an important player for us. It’s no secret we need him on the floor. He just has to avoid unnecessary fouls.”
Less than a minute into the second quarter, Towns picked up his third foul, sending him to the bench until the second half, having played less than nine minutes.
“I don’t ever want to lose the physicality,” Towns said. “That’s done us well. I’ll look at the tape. I’ll get better, more disciplined. I don’t want to put my team in that position again, so I gotta do a better job.
“For better, for worse, I may not have been able to play many minutes in the first half, but I tried to use that as an advantage to have a more rested body than everybody else on the court and try to be a spark plug for our team coming out of halftime.”
76ers forward Paul George (8) defends against New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during the fourth quarter. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
Towns took over when the second half began, opening with a 3-pointer, before adding a 3-point play and a spin move that set up a kiss off the glass. He made each of his first six shots.
Even when he was fouled and threw up a prayer that resulted in the ball getting stuck below the shot clock, Towns knocked it down on his first swing with a mop to cheers, following several failed attempts by Philadelphia big man Andre Drummond.
“I wanted to get the game going,” Towns said. “I already had a hot hand.”
Still, Towns — who came out after picking up a fourth foul late in the third quarter — happily took a back seat in the fourth quarter. He attempted just two shots, but pulled down nine rebounds in the final quarter, along with two assists.
Whatever the case may be, the Sixers did not seem to take to it kindly, and it led to a feisty verbal exchange that saw Sochan need to be yanked back by a fellow teammate.
Edgecombe had to be moved back from the situation as well and seemed to be shouting something of his own in Sochan’s direction.
Nothing more transpired from there.
Jeremy Sochan, who played one minute in the Knicks win, tried to talk trash to VJ Edgecombe after the buzzer. pic.twitter.com/hPafCMA46U
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) May 7, 2026
The two apparently had an interaction in the fourth quarter, when Sochan attempted to “troll” Edgecombe while he was talking to an official, according to ClutchPoints’ Kris Pursiainen.
The moment seemed to highlight the fierceness of Game 2 between the rivals and set the stage for Game 3 at Xfinity Mobile Arena as the series shifts to the City of Brotherly Love.
Following the game, Edgecombe told reporters that what he took away from the first two games was that “it’s going to be a dogfight.”
“I think that’s what it is. It’s going to be a dogfight,” he said. “They’re a really good team, and it’s going to come down to the wire almost every game.”
Sochan wasn’t the only person Edgecombe had a notable interaction with.
Spike Lee & VJ Edgecombe going back & forth after the 76ers rookie hit Knicks captain Jalen Brunson in the face while attempting a steal off the inbound. pic.twitter.com/CtywDMylbj
Philadelphia 76ers guard Vj Edgecombe (77) drives past New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during game five of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 6, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Sixers rookie appeared to get into a verbal sparring match with Knicks celebrity superfan Spike Lee.
The well-known movie director was quite animated during the exchange, while Edgecombe seemed to remain unfazed.
The Knicks will travel to Philadelphia for the next two games of the series before things move back to the Big Apple, if necessary, for Game 5 on Tuesday.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 05: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives around Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the third quarter in Game One of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 05, 2026 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. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The series between the Lakers and Thunder remains in Oklahoma City, with Game 2 on Thursday.
The purple and gold aim to even the series at 1-1.
The first playoff game between the Lakers and Thunder went about as expected: The better team won because they simply have more firepower and are healthier.
But at the very least, the Lakers showed they can keep up with the Thunder as long as everything goes right for them.
Besides Jarred Vanderbilt’s gruesome finger injury and Austin Reaves having one of — if not — the worst game of his life, LA came in with a commendable game plan that led to reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander having a season-low in points with 18 and a season-high in turnovers with seven.
Then, SGA and the Thunder adjusted. He found ways to impact the game, and Chet Holmgren and the rest of the team stepped up to help them win Game 1.
Now, JJ Redick and the Lakers are sent back to the drawing board, where they will have to come up with a new game plan and make adjustments in order to attempt to steal a game on the road once again.
This is a must-win for the Lakers if they want any sort of chance in this series.
A better performance from Austin Reaves
It’s tough to look past Reaves’ abysmal 3-16 shooting from the field that yielded only eight points. After all, he’s supposed to be the second-best player on the Lakers. Yes, he’s coming off an oblique injury and a month off basketball, but whether fair or unfair, he will be judged like he’s 100% healthy.
Nobody likes moral victories, but it’s also fair to say that if Reaves had just had an average game, Game 1 would’ve been winnable, or at the very least, closer than an 18-point blowout. He’s dealing with the Thunder’s fierce perimeter defense, and he’s going to have to figure out how to handle it. The good news is that Reaves has nowhere to go but up, and we know he’s going to be determined to bounce back. Hopefully, he does so in Game 2.
Control Holmgren and the paint more
Aside from Holmgren dominating the paint, the Thunder as a team also had more rebounds than the Lakers, 44-41. OKC capitalized with 21 second-chance points. That’s unacceptable for an already shorthanded Lakers team that has to do everything they can to win the 50-50 loose balls as well as the little difference makers in a contest.
OKC also had 48 points in the paint and shot 43.4% from the 3-point line, so they pretty much dominated LA in every aspect of the game. This obviously can’t happen again if Los Angeles wants a chance to win Game 2.
More offensive production
Over the last four games, the Lakers have averaged just under 100 points per game. They’re extremely starved on offense because they badly need more outside of LeBron James.
Rui Hachimura has been the most consistent role player thus far in the playoffs followed by Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton. But them scoring below 20 points isn’t going to help James and they need more from their other teammates as well.
Besides Reaves, the Lakers desperately need Luke Kennard’s scoring and hopefully something from Jake LaRavia as well. They’re not beating this Thunder team if they don’t perform well from beyond the arc as well as control the points inside the paint. Perhaps the biggest question in Game 2 for the Lakers is how they’re going to keep up with the Thunder’s offense.
Let’s see whether or not they can solve this Thunder team on Thursday.
Notes and Updates
For the Lakers’ injury report, there have unfortunately been new additions. Luke Kennard (neck soreness) is noted as questionable, while Jarred Vanderbilt (right finger dislocation) is now doubtful.
Luka Dončić (left hamstring strain) is out.
As for the Thunder, Jalen Williams (left hamstring strain) and Thomas Sorber (ACL surgery recovery) will not suit up.
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green joined the "Inside the NBA" desk as part of ESPN's basketball coverage on Wednesday, May 6.
Green participated in a conversation regarding the Warriors alongside Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson.
It could be a notable offseason for Golden State, which will soon learn more about its future and the status of coach Steve Kerr and Green, among others. The team will also be without Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody, due to injuries suffered during the 2025-26 season, for much of the upcoming season.
Barkley stated that Green and Stephen Curry might need to consider leaving Golden State if they wanted to continue competing for NBA championships.
In response to Barkley’s comments, Green appeared to take a verbal jab at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer.
“I think the goal is to not look like you in the Houston Rockets uniform,” Green told Barkley during the segment. “That is ultimately the goal.”
Barkley spent the first eight years of his NBA career with the Philadelphia 76ers, who originally drafted him with the fifth overall pick in the 1984 draft. He then spent four years with the Phoenix Suns, winning an MVP award, before finishing out his career with four years with the Rockets.
Green has spent all 14 seasons of his career with the Warriors.
Mar 7, 2026; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats center Malachi Moreno (24) passes the ball during the first half against the Florida Gators at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images | Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
For players testing the NBA Draft waters while retaining their collegiate eligibility, the deadline to announce a return to school or stay in the Draft is May 27th. That’s three weeks from today.
Malachi Moreno is testing the NBA Draft waters, which was thought to be happening this Spring. While the feeling is that he’s going to return to Kentucky for the 2026-27 season, it’s still not a for-sure thing.
Recently, Moreno was an early second-round pick projection to the New York Knicks, going 31st overall. Moreno also worked out with the Knicks on Tuesday, including with national champion Elliot Cadeau from Michigan, according to Adam Zagoria.
Moreno is coming off a strong freshman season at Kentucky, starting 30 of the Wildcats’ 36 games. He averaged 7.8 points and 6.3 rebounds, while also blocking 53 shots and dishing out 64 assists.
In addition, Moreno shot 58.2 percent from the field and 69.8 percent from the free-throw line. It was his buzzer-beater at LSU in mid-January that likely saved the Cats’ season, a season that culminated with an All-SEC Freshman Team selection.
In high school at Great Crossing, Moreno was a McDonald’s All-American and Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball as a senior.
The Knicks hosted a pre-draft workout on Tuesday that included prospects Donavan Atwell (Texas Tech), Elliot Cadeau (Michigan), Malachi Moreno (Kentucky) and Jackson Paveletzke (Ohio), per league source. https://t.co/C3gsqNiRnX
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 6: Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball during the game against the New York Knicks during Round Two Game Two on May 6, 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
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 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
Well, it was a much better effort than Game 1 on Monday, but it unfortunately ends the same way for the Philadelphia 76ers in yet another loss. The New York Knicks battled late to steal the game away from what looked like an exhausted Sixers squad by the final horn.
Philadelphia was without Joel Embiid, who woke up on Wednesday with increased soreness in his hip (from an injury suffered in the first-round series) and ankle (suffered in Game 1 of this series) and was ruled out early this afternoon… so the Sixers’ work was definitely cut out for them even before the game began.
Paul George set the tone for the Sixers early, though, starting off this one red hot offensively and putting up 11 first-frame points to lead Philadelphia to a narrow lead after one. Tyrese Maxey picked up the torch from there, absolutely cooking in the first half of the second quarter before seeming to taper off/get a little sloppy as fatigue set in (he played most of the entire first half). Nevertheless, Maxey put up 13 points in the second and led the field at halftime with 19, with the Sixers holding an advantage of a single point over the Knicks at the break.
After an even 28-28 third frame with the two squads trading buckets, the Sixers clung to their one-point lead going into the final quarter. Twelve minutes were going to decide this close contest that had already seen more than 20 lead changes through three quarters.
Unfortunately, it really felt like the Sixers just ran out of steam. Maxey had deteriorated as the game went on and he continued to get more fatigued (he ended up playing just under 47 minutes). No one else could sink a shot and a number of Knicks’ turnovers went completely unpunished. Instead, New York did the punishing, executing well and hitting their shots to take over the lead as the game neared a close. A six-point lead with two minutes left, the Knicks’ largest lead of the game to that point, was enough to ultimately overcome the Sixers 108-102.
Credit where credit is due, this was a much better effort from the Sixers, especially without Embiid. The reality though is that the Knicks are just a much deeper team, and it seemingly made the difference in this one as New York was able to go the distance and strike when the Sixers got tired.
Philadelphia trail 2-0 in the series. Game 3 will bring things to South Philadelphia on Friday evening.
<p>(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
Paul George completely set the tone for the Sixers on Wednesday, starting off Game 2 red hot. PG began the game going 4-for-4 (three triples), leading the Sixers with 11 first-quarter points. He continued to tack on some more points from long range, though his shooting cooled off significantly from such a stellar start, finishing the game just 7-for-18 from the floor and 5-for-13 from long range. Still, though, five triples is five triples.
George also continues to be the defensive force that the Sixers desperately need more often than not. George had two blocks and two steals in this one, and that’s obviously not counting all the Knicks’ plays and shots he simply made much more difficult with his defensive presence.
PG finished Game 2 with 19 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks.
<p>(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
PG had the first frame, and Maxey had the second. Maxey came alive in the second with a burst of aggression, starting to really utilize his speed to get downhill and dance his way through the Knicks’ defense. He went 5-for-7 from the floor to start the second frame before seeming to get a bit tired as the quarter drug on. Hard to blame Maxey too much when he played nearly 23 of 24 possible minutes in the first half, but I digress. Still, Maxey led the offense (and had some good defensive plays) for 13 second-quarter points and led the field at halftime with 19.
Maxey was able to keep scoring here and there as well as putting up some assists, but he was visibly affected by fatigue as the game went on. He got sloppier and his shots were more off-target, and things only got worse as he got more tired. This is the problem with relying on the same few guys to do everything because you don’t have the depth on the bench. Sure, Embiid being out is obviously a huge factor… but needing your guard to play 45 minutes every night to even stand a chance is a problem — not a new one for the Sixers, either.
Saying 45 minutes is actually an understatement, by the way, with Maxey logging 46:48 of the 48 possible minutes on the floor in Game 2. That’s not completely an excuse, but it is certainly an explanation. Maxey ended up with six turnovers and couldn’t sink a shot by the end of the game.
Nevertheless, Maxey led the Sixers (and tied leading the floor with Jalen Brunson) with 26 points. He also had three rebounds, six assists and a steal.
Tyrese Maxey doing exactly what the Sixers need Tyrese Maxey to do: getting downhill, using his speed and breezing directly through the Knicks defense.
<p>(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
VJ Edgecombe had one of those more spread out, deceivingly-quiet good performances in Game 2. Rather than force a bunch of shots that weren’t there or trying to do too much, the rookie was extremely patient in waiting for those offensive opportunities to come his way. In the meantime, he put up some extremely respectable defense on Jalen Brunson, forcing the guard to take a number of uncomfortable shots.
Then, when the ball started coming Edgecombe’s way more, he chipped in there. Edgecombe put up 17 points on 6-for-9 field goal and 3-for-4 long range shooting through three quarters. He was patient and careful with the ball, taking his time to create space when necessary but confident enough to pull right up when he saw an opening. It is still beyond impressive to watch how this 20-year-old conducts himself on an NBA playoff floor going up against some serious stars and league vets. It simply doesn’t seem to phase Edgecombe one bit.
As the Sixers struggled in the fourth, Edgecombe did as well, going 0-for-4 in the final frame.Regardless, though, Edgecombe was a major contributor for the Sixers in this one on both ends of the floor, even if the performance felt quieter than some of his flashier nights.
The rookie finished with 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal.
<p>(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
Dominick Barlow’s chances in the postseason might be few and far between, but he put in some seriously good second-half minutes for the Sixers tonight. With both Andre Drummond and Adem Bona in foul trouble, Nick Nurse looked to Barlow — and he delivered. Barlow was excellent defensively, immediately becoming a thorn in the Knicks’ side and putting up two blocks in Game 2. Not only that, but he was solid with his (limited) offensive opportunities, something that has been more of a weak spot for the 22-year-old. Nevertheless, Barlow chipped in six points on 3-for-3 field goal shooting
This was probably the biggest moment we’ve seen Barlow utilized in by the Sixers, and I’d say he at least passed the test. In 15:39 on the floor off the bench, Barlow finished with six points, two rebounds, a steal and two blocks.
Dominick Barlow, putting in some huge second-half minutes for the Sixers tonight, comes up with the block here that leads to a Kelly Oubre triple! pic.twitter.com/D4HyofeqZ2
The New York Knicks took a 2-0 lead over the Philadelphia 76ers in their second-round series with a 108-102 victory Wednesday night, but attention now turns to the health of one of their best players.
OG Anunoby, who had a strong game with 24 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals, could not finish the contest due to an apparent injury.
In the late proceedings, he was seen grabbing his right leg after making a cut and Knicks coach Mike Brown said postgame that Anunoby had asked to be subbed out shortly after the sequence. He was replaced with 2:31 to go in the game by Miles McBride.
OG came up gimpy on this cut. Then tried and missed a dunk. Then asked out.
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns #32 drives to the basket as Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona #30 gives chase.
Heroes and zeros from the Knicks’ 108-102 Game 2 win over the 76ers on Monday night at the Garden.
Hero
With the game on the line, Jalen Brunson came through, shaking off an inefficient night up to that point. Brunson scored eight of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, including the go-ahead jumper with 5:06 left, then pushed the lead to four with another midrange jumper.
His streak of five consecutive playoff games with at least 35 points against the 76ers did come to an end.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) puts up a shot over Philadelphia 76ers forward Dominick Barlow (25) during the fourth quarter. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
Zero
Without Joel Embiid, the 76ers needed Tyrese Maxey at his best. He only gave them one strong half. The emerging young star was shut down after halftime by the Knicks, held to just seven points. He shot just 9-for-23 from the field and committed six turnovers.
Unsung hero
Once he was able to stay on the court, Karl-Anthony Towns made his presence felt. After logging just eight first-half minutes due to foul trouble, Towns made a major impact, finishing with 20 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. The 76ers, minus Embiid, couldn’t guard him.
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns #32 drives to the basket as Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona #30 gives chase. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Key stat
21: The 76ers’ field goal percentage in the fourth quarter, when they managed just 12 points.
Game 2 between the Knicks and 76ers on Wednesday night in Madison Square Garden was not a pretty game. At times, it was a downright ugly game with 43 fouls called, 31 turnovers, one flagrant foul, and one technical foul. Yet, when the final whistle blew, the Knicks had secured a hard-fought 108-102 win to secure a 2-0 series lead.
In many ways, this was not a game the Knicks should have won. They shot just 27% from beyond the arc, while the 76ers shot 38%. Jalen Brunson was only 9-for-21 from the field for 26 points with three turnovers. Foul trouble limited Karl-Anthony Towns to just eight minutes in the first half and 27 minutes in the game, and OG Anunoby seemed to get hurt with three minutes left and the Knicks up by six.
At most points in the regular season, that would have been enough to cause the Knicks to lose focus and let the game slip away, but not the playoff version of the Knicks.
Something happened to the Knicks after their Game 3 loss to the Hawks in round one of the playoffs. Maybe being down in the series finally crystallized how quickly this season could be over. Maybe they got a sense of the failed promise it would leave in its wake. Maybe they were just slow in adjusting to the elevated pace and physicality of the playoffs.
Whatever it is, something woke up inside the Knicks after that game, and this simply hasn’t been the same team since. It’s not just that they’ve won five games in a row. It’s not just that they’ve posted two of the most lopsided wins in playoff history. It’s that no matter what the opposition throws at them, they’ve been able to adjust their offensive approach and find a way to attack a different weakness.
On Wednesday, the Knicks had to adjust to a version of the 76ers that was operating at a faster, more frenetic pace. With Joel Embiid forced to miss Game 2 with ankle and hip injuries, the 76ers came out with their eye on fire, turning their offense fully over to their two young guards, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, the way they did early on in this season. From the jump, it was immediately clear that the 76ers would play faster without Embiid. On offense, they spread the Knicks out wide and didn't worry about making sure Andre Drummond had touches. They attacked the paint off the wing and either tried to finish at the rim or kick to shooters if the Knicks closed out. It’s similar to the style of offense the Knicks have been playing during their four-game winning streak.
As a result, Philadelphia made their first six shots of the game, including three threes, and raced out to a 15-8 lead. The 76ers had just three fastbreak points in all of Game 1. They had more than that by the end of the first quarter in Game 2 and had eight at the half. However, they would also finish with eight fastbreak points.
As they've done throughout this winning streak, the Knicks adjusted defensively. They cut off the 76ers' fastbreak attacks and pestered their ballhandlers with constant pressure. If the 76ers were going to run their offense through the perimeter, then the Knicks were going to force those guards to hold onto the ball despite somebody being all over them. It's a big reason that Maxey, who led the 76ers with 26 points and six assists, also had six turnovers on the day.
The Knicks also clamped down late in the game on Paul George, who was tremendous for the 76ers to start the game. George led both teams with five three-pointers, including two in the first quarter when he scored eight of the 76ers’ first 10 points of the game. At the end of the third quarter, George had 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting and had knocked down five-of-11 from three. By the end of the fourth quarter, George had 19 points on 7-of-18 shooting. In fact, the 76ers as a team did not make a field goal in the final seven-plus minutes of the game.
While the 76ers started hot and finished the game cold, the Knicks were ice cold from beyond the arc the entire game. In the Knicks’ four-game playoff winning streak coming into Wednesday, they had made 57-of-130 (43.8%) from three-point range. At some point, the Knicks’ shots were not going to keep falling at the rate they had been. That time was tonight. They shot 2-of-7 from three in the first quarter and continued to get and miss good looks throughout the game, finishing just 7-of-26 from deep.
With their shots not falling, they needed to find another way to win.
Early on, it seemed like that would be using Towns on the perimeter to attack a much slower Drummond. The Knicks’ big man hit two quick shots and dished out two assists in the first quarter, but then the fouls came. With a little over seven minutes gone in the first quarter, Towns picked up his second foul while challenging a Quentin Grimes drive. With Mitchell Robinson out for the game with an illness, Knicks coach Mike Brown had to turn to Ariel Hukporti again. The German big man quickly picked up three fouls of his own within two minutes of entering the game, and the Knicks had to turn to late-season free agent signing Jeremy Sochan as their center.
The fouls would continue to be far too big a story in this game. In fact, there were so many fouls that Madison Square Garden PA announcer Mike Walczewski seemed to lose his voice in the second half.
At the end of the first quarter, the 76ers had been called for seven fouls, and the Knicks had six. With three minutes left in the second quarter, the 76ers still had seven fouls, and the Knicks had 14. With 2:37 left in the second quarter, Adem Bona was called for a foul for running into Josh Hart from behind, and the Madison Square Garden erupted in a cheer so loud you’d think Brunson had hit a game-winner. By the time the third quarter ended, the 76ers had been called for 19 fouls, and the Knicks had been called for 17. All in all, the number of whistles created a fragmented and stagnant game that too often disrupted the rhythm of the offenses.
That was easier to see with the Knicks.
With their offensive hub, Towns, on the bench for long periods of time, the Knicks' fast-paced offense started to feel a little frenetic. Players cut into the same spots. Passes were hurried. Shots were frequently off-balance. Still, the Knicks keep pushing.
They abandoned using a big man altogether and used Josh Hart at the five. They used that small-ball lineup to continue trying to get out in transition. They were able to string together stops and turn them into quick fastbreak layups. Their shots from beyond the arc weren’t falling, so they kept attacking the basket, cutting hard from the wings and attacking a weak middle of the 76ers' defense. On the day, they had 15 points in transition to the 76ers’ six and 56 points in the paint to the 76ers’ 30.
With Brunson not shooting as efficiently early in the game, and Towns on the bench in foul trouble, the Knicks spread the offense around. They had nine players score in this game, and four players scored at least 18 points. Towns would wind up with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists, continuing his per-minute dominance in the playoffs. Mikael Bridges wound up with 18 points and five rebounds, while OG Anunoby added 24 points, five rebounds, four steals, and two assists.
It was a tremendous team win for a team that has continued to rise to the occasion this postseason. It seems that their next challenge may be trying to find a way to win without Anunoby, who came up hobbled while cutting to the basket with a little over three minutes left in the game. He would collect himself and attempt a dunk on the same possession, but he quickly motioned to the bench, was taken out of the game, and headed immediately to the locker room.
While the Knicks didn't have information about the extent of Anunoby's injury at the end of the game, there are only two days before the teams take the court again on Friday in Philadelphia. If Anunoby isn't out there for the Knicks, it will be a huge obstacle to overcome. The wing came into tonight's game averaging 21 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.6 steals, 1.1 blocks, and 1.1 assists in seven games this postseason while emerging as one of the best two-way forwards in the NBA.
For a team that has proven they can change the way they attack in order to pull out a win, playing without Anunoby may be one of the biggest adjustments the Knicks will need to make.
