UPDATE: Added a +875 SGP + a prediction for who will win.
Tonight's Knicks vs. 76ers predictions are all about Jalen Brunson, as he looks to lead his New York Knicks against the Philadelphia 76ers.
See how I'm betting on the guard with my NBA picks for tonight’s Eastern Conference playoff showdown on May 10.
Knicks vs 76ers Game 4 prediction today
Who will win Knicks vs 76ers Game 4?
Knicks: The Philadelphia 76ers haven’t been able to contain Jalen Brunson in this series, and I expect the superstar guard to have another big performance as he leads his team to a series sweep.
Joel Embiid returned after sitting out Game 2, but it’s evident that he’s well below 100%. The 76ers were able to overcome a 3-1 series deficit to the Celtics due to Embiid’s monster numbers, but we won’t see those numbers from the big man in Game 4 based on his health.
Knicks vs 76ers best bet: Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 points (-120)
Through three games in the Eastern Conference semifinals, it’s clear that the Philadelphia 76ers have no answer for Jalen Brunson. The New York Knicks superstar guard has scored 35, 26, and 33 points to lead his team to a commanding 3-0 series lead.
Brunson is no stranger to big moments, and he’s averaged 29 points across six road closeout games since joining the Knicks. He’s recorded 30+ in three of them, including a 41-point eruption in the 2024 postseason against the Sixers.
It was also recently announced OG Anunoby will miss Game 4, which will cause Brunson to take more shots as he tries to balance New York's offense.
COVERS INTEL:Jalen Brunson has scored 27+ points in 31 of 51 playoff games with the New York Knicks, good for 60.7%.
Knicks vs 76ers Game 4 same-game parlay
The Knicks have won six in a row and covered the spread five times in that span. With Joel Embiid obviously banged up and Brunson putting up strong numbers, New York should be able to close this series out on the road and cover the one-point spread.
The Game Total Under has hit in two straight games and in four of seven head-to-head matchups this season. The Knicks and 76ers have hit the Under in two of three season matchups in Philadelphia.
Knicks vs 76ers SGP
Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 points
Knicks -1
Under 212.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Maxin' Maxey
Tyrese Maxey isn’t going down without a fight, and Philadelphia’s leading scorer should show an improvement on his 17-point performance in Game 3. Maxey has eclipsed 26 points in five of 10 playoff games, and he’s reached that mark in four of seven matchups with the Knicks this season.
Joel Embiid has totaled just 32 points in Games 1 and 3 of this series, shooting a pitiful 10-of-28 from the floor. He’s not playing anywhere near 100%, and he’s failed to score 25 in three of his last four games.
Knicks vs 76ers SGP
Knicks -1
Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 points
Tyrese Maxey Over 25.5 points
Joel Embiid Under 24.5 points
Knicks vs 76ers odds for Game 4
Spread: Knicks -1 | 76ers +1
Moneyline: Knicks -105 | 76ers -115
Over/Under: Over 212.5 | Under 212.5
Knicks vs 76ers betting trend to know
The Knicks have won six straight games and covered the spread in five of their last six. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. 76ers.
How to watch Knicks vs 76ers Game 4
Location
Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Sunday, May 10, 2026
Tip-off
3:30 p.m. ET
TV
ABC
Knicks vs 76ers latest injuries
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 5: Rui Hachimura #28 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game One of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 5, 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
Success in the regular season doesn’t always carry over to the playoffs.
The difference is bigger than ever, as lower seeds are advancing more often. The games get tougher, players play harder and defenses focus for all 48 minutes.
A playoff riser is a term for players who elevate their game and perform at their best when the stakes are highest. Rui Hachimura, through eight games this year and continuing from previous playoff runs, has done just that as he’s transformed into one of the most reliable jump shooters in basketball.
Putting up a valiant fight, the Lakers fell to OKC on Thursday and now trail 2-0 in the series. The results are no surprise as, without superstar Luka Dončić, the purple and gold were heavy underdogs against the deepest team in the league.
OKC will remain heavy favorites even as the series shifts to Los Angeles for Games 3 and 4.
The final score didn’t reflect the competitiveness of either of the first two matchups. The Thunder pulled away in the fourth in Game 1 to win by 18. The start of Game 2 looked like a continuation as OKC scored the first seven points and LA missed its first five shots.
As they’ve done many times, the Lakers found their “release valve” who made something out of nothing.
Watch below as Marcus Smart drives into the congested lane with no advantage and kicks out at Hachimura. Defended by the Chet Holmgren, runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year, Rui attacks him in isolation and gets to his patented mid-range pull-up to break the ice for LA.
Called a lost art and a shot that’s maligned during the 82-game grind, the mid-range jumper becomes essential once teams game plan to take away attempts at the rim or 3-point line.
Among players who attempted a minimum of two per game, Hachimura led the league in the regular season from mid-range, shooting 55.6% on those jumpers.
Where he’s become irreplaceable for LA during the playoffs is the 3-point shooting. Hachimura is currently at a blistering 57.1% on over five attempts per game this postseason after shooting 48% last year in five games against Minnesota.
That number leads the Lakers and ranks second among players who take at least three per game in the entire playoffs.
With LA still reeling to start Game 2, trailing 11-4, watch below as Hachimura catches it in the corner off a LeBron James pass and hits the 3-pointer over an outstretched Holmgren.
His main value remains being a player you can’t tag off of in the corner while the Lakers run on-ball actions. Watch below as Austin Reaves, who scored 31 points in Game 2, collects one of his six assists with a skip pass to the wide-open Hachimura.
Hachimura’s 57.1% from three jumps to an automatic 70.4% on wide-open attempts.
Taking into account the Lakers’ storied history as a franchise, Hachimura is already ninth all-time in 3-pointers made. He still holds the record for the highest playoff 3-point percentage in NBA history at 51%.
He’s not a perfect player by any means. The defensive foot speed, lack of athletic tools at his position as a three or four and finishing at the rim leave a lot to be desired.
With that being said, he’s scored in double digits every game this postseason. He’s shot above 50% in seven of the eight games and reliably played over 40 minutes in the Lakers’ first three contests against Houston to help upset the Rockets in the first round.
Being tagged as one of the best shooters in the league, or a “laser” as head coach JJ Redick calls it, is an extremely valuable piece, especially considering the needs around Luka this summer.
Hachimura is in the last year of a deal that will send him into unrestricted free agency. While they have his Bird rights, the Lakers have a ton of players to evaluate and are not in a position to let talent walk out the door without getting anything in return.
The grass could always be greener when it comes to wings in the NBA. No matter how this season ends, LA has one that’s shown to be a playoff riser, making for tough decisions to come this summer.
Toronto All-Star Brandon Ingram underwent heel surgery after an injury there slowed him in the postseason, the Raptors announced.
From the press release:
Ingram underwent surgery to address his ongoing right heel pain. A heel spur was removed by Dr. Martin O'Malley at New York's Hospital for Special Surgery. Ingram is expected to fully recover and be ready for training camp in September.
Ingram led the Raptors last season, averaging 21.5 points per game, adding 5.6 rebounds a night. He played in 77 regular-season games. However, in part due to injuries and in part the Cavaliers' defense, Ingram struggled in the playoffs. He had a great game in the Raptors' Game 4 win, scoring 23, but played in just five of the seven games in that series and averaged 12 points a night on 32.8% shooting.
Ingram is expected back with the Raptors next season, he has two years and $81.9 million remaining on his contract.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking to stay composed and avoid panic mode as they aim to grab Game 3 at home against the Detroit Pistons, where our NBA player prop projections have identified several strong value opportunities.
By breaking down the data and comparing it to the latest market lines, we’ve uncovered where the strongest betting edges lie for this pivotal matchup.
If you’re building your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Saturday, May 9.
Pistons vs Cavaliers computer picks for Game 3
Pistons
Cavaliers
Duren o10.5 rebounds -115
Harden o19.5 points -112
Cunningham u27.5 points -115
Mitchell o3.5 assists -165
Harris o1.5 3-pointers +105
Mobley o8.5 rebounds -115
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Pistons Game 3 computer picks
Jalen Duren Over 10.5 rebounds (-115)
Projection: 11.17 rebounds
The Detroit Pistons rank as the third-best offensive rebounding team in the league this season, and Jalen Duren has fully embraced his role on the glass. Dating back to Game 7 against the Magic, he’s elevated his play with consistent double-digit rebounding efforts.
He’s carried that momentum into this series with 12 and 10 boards in Games 1 and 2 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, making this rebound prop line an appealing look for Game 3.
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Cade Cunningham Under 27.5 points (-115)
Projection: 25.75 points
Cade Cunningham’s points projection for Game 3 feels appropriate, considering he’s fallen just short of clearing the 27.5 line in each game of the series so far. He’s posted 23 and 25 points in Games 1 and 2 against the Cavaliers, and with the series shifting to Cleveland, the defense will be even more focused on keeping him in check.
Expect Cunningham to remain in that same scoring range rather than taking a big leap forward here.
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Tobias Harris Over 1.5 3-pointers (+105)
Projection: 1.67 3-pointers
Over the last five games, opposing starting power forwards have averaged 6.1 three-point attempts per game against the Cavaliers — the fourth-most in the league — setting up a favorable spot for Tobias Harris, who’s been red-hot for the Pistons this postseason.
Coming off a 67% shooting performance from deep in Game 2, expect Harris to stay aggressive and keep letting it fly from beyond the arc in a pivotal Game 3.
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Cavaliers Game 3 computer picks
James Harden Over 19.5 points (-112)
Projection: 22.14 points
The Cavaliers have played at the 10th-fastest pace at home over their last five games, and that tempo should work in James Harden’s favor as he looks to help swing this series back in Cleveland’s direction.
Harden struggled mightily in Game 2, finishing with just 10 points on 3-for-13 shooting. With so much riding on his performance, the Cavs can’t afford a repeat showing especially with Game 3 shifting to their home floor.
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Donovan Mitchell Over 3.5 assists (-165)
Projection: 4.55 assists
Donovan Mitchell has flirted with this assists line throughout the series against the Pistons, and with Game 3 carrying added importance, he may be leaned on to get over the hump.
With the offense lacking consistency, creating opportunities for others becomes even more critical. That opens the door for Mitchell to ease some of his scoring burden by stepping into more of a facilitator role—making him a strong candidate to rack up assists in this spot.
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Evan Mobley Over 8.5 rebounds (-115)
Projection: 8.54 rebounds
The Cavaliers rank third in the league over their last 10 games with 12.7 offensive rebounds per contest, and Evan Mobley will be looking to make up ground alongside Harden after a highly uncharacteristic one-rebound performance in Game 2.
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How to watch Pistons vs Cavaliers Game 3
Location
Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Date
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Tip-off
3:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBC
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Game 3 Prop #1: Donovan Mitchell Over 33.5 points + rebounds + assists
-115 at bet365
Donovan Mitchell acts primarily as a scorer for the Cleveland Cavaliers, but his contributions don’t stop there. Mitchell put up 38.1 PRA during the regular season, but hasn’t quite lived up to those numbers so far in the playoffs.
Overall this postseason, Mitchell is putting up 31.8 PRA, a notable dip in production. Down the stretch against the Raptors in the first round, he failed to put up more than 31 PRA in any of the last five games of the series, and followed that up with a 29 PRA performance against Detroit in Game 1 of this series.
But Mitchell had a bit of a breakout on Thursday, putting up 31 points, six rebounds, and three assists in a losing effort.
Cleveland needs more of that if they want any chance of getting back into this series. The Cavaliers offense should get a boost today playing at home, and that means bigger numbers all around. I like Mitchell to have another strong outing in Game 3.
Game 3 Prop #2: Evan Mobley Over 3.5 assists
+125 at bet365
He’s not exactly Nikola Jokic, but Evan Mobley is a center who knows how to move the ball around the court. The Cavaliers big man averaged 3.6 assists per game this season, the third straight year where he dished out at least three assists per game.
Mobley has continued that production in the playoffs, averaging 3.7 assists over his nine postseason games. Those numbers are up further against the Pistons, where he compiled five and four assists, respectively, in the first two games in Detroit.
All expectations are for the Cavaliers to play better at home this afternoon. This offense has averaged 118.5 ppg on the season, and the Detroit Pistons won’t be able to keep the Cavs down for an entire series.
Game 3 Prop #3: Duncan Robinson Over 11.5 points
-120 at bet365
Duncan Robinson has always been a solid regular-season contributor, but this is the first time in years that he’s been relied on to get significant minutes in the playoffs. He’s coming through so far for the Pistons, averaging 12.0 ppg while shooting 42% from 3-point range in the postseason.
Robinson has been even better against the Cavaliers. Over the first two games of this series, he’s averaging 18.0 ppg, and he’s hit five threes in each of those contests. Going back to the previous series, Robinson has now scored 12+ points in four of his last five games during the playoffs.
The Cavaliers are one of the worst teams in the NBA at defending the 3-point line, allowing opponents to shoot 37.2% from deep. That plays right into Robinson’s hands, and I expect him to continue to score in this series.
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A first-round exit is not what anyone in Denver envisioned. This was a team some pundits (*sheepishly raises hand*) picked to go to the Finals before the season, a team that entered the playoffs thinking the same thing. Instead, the physicality of the Minnesota matched Denver, the Timberwolves showed more scoring versatility, and that sent the Nuggets packing in the first round.
Now what?
Nuggets president Josh Kroenke (son of owner Stan Kroenke) said everything is on the table — except trading Nikola Jokic or moving on from coach David Adelman.
"I don't want to be masked in my frustration for how the season ended," Kroenke said. "I think that anybody that was a fan of the Denver Nuggets should be frustrated. And anything that a fan feels, I probably feel a thousand X. So I think everything is gonna be on the table, outside of trading Nikola...
"If we deem running it back the most competitive thing we can do for the roster, that's probably what we're going to be doing," Kroenke said Friday. "So I don't want to put words in my dad's mouth by any means, but he has owned the team for a very long time. We've run it aggressively as we can at different points in time. I think that the joke is always, we love to pay for talent on the floor. So leaning into that assessment that people have put on us at different points in time, if we deem that's the most competitive thing for us, then that's what we're gonna be doing."
Kroenke and the Nuggets have some difficult decisions to make this offseason.
The easy one is extending Jokic — he is eligible, he gets the max, and he has said he wants to be a Nugget “forever.” The other thing that is locked in is that, despite a rough showing in the playoffs, coach David Adelman will be back.
"I have full faith in Coach Adelman," Kroenke said. "I think he coached a hell of a season, all things considered."
After that, it becomes a question of money and priorities. Peyton Watson had a breakout season, and his value on both ends of the court was evident in his absence during the playoffs (he was out with a hamstring injury). He is also a restricted free agent that a number of teams are eyeing as someone they can poach. With Jokic and Jamal Murray already with max contracts, new extensions for Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun kicking in, re-signing Watson likely means going into the second apron — something the Nuggets have not done (and only one team lived in that space this season, Cleveland).
Which means look for Denver to trade another starter, maybe Braun or Cameron Johnson, something league sources had told NBC Sports and echoed to Durando for his Denver Post story.
One way or another, changes are coming to Denver. Just not to Jokic or Adelman.
With the 2026 NBA Draft lottery less than 24 hours away, all eyes are on which franchise will claim the prized No. 1 overall pick, a game-changing selection that could alter the trajectory of a team for years to come.
The NBA Draft lottery uses a randomized drawing to establish the order of the first 14 picks, and for teams looking for help on a much-needed rebuild, landing a top lottery pick can transform a franchise’s outlook. The drawing determines the top four selections, while the remaining lottery teams are assigned picks 5-14 based on their regular-season records, in reverse order.
Picks 15 through 30 in the first round, as well as every selection in the second round, are also assigned in reverse order of the regular-season standings.
This year, the Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, and Brooklyn Nets each enter the lottery with the top odds at 14% apiece to land the No. 1 pick. However, the lottery is notorious for its unpredictability, and teams with lower odds have often leapfrogged their way into top selections in past years.
Here’s what you need to know as the NBA Draft lottery unfolds.
The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery is set for Sunday, May 10 at 3 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ABC.
Date: Sunday, May 10
Time: 3 p.m. ET
TV: ABC
Location: McCormick Place Convention Center (Chicago, Illinois)
What teams will participate in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery?
The 14 NBA teams that did not qualify for the 2026 NBA Playoffs are eligible for the NBA Draft lottery.
What is the format for the NBA Draft Lottery?
Teams with the worst regular-season records each have a 14% chance of landing the coveted No. 1 overall pick. This system is designed to discourage intentional losing, commonly referred to as "tanking," while still providing struggling franchises with a legitimate shot at a franchise-altering selection. The lottery employs a suspenseful random drawing to determine the order of the first four picks in the NBA Draft. Once those top four spots are set, the remaining lottery teams select in reverse order of their regular-season records, ensuring a balanced, competitive draft process that keeps fan bases engaged and hopeful.
Who won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery?
The Dallas Mavericks captured the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery, securing the coveted No. 1 overall pick for the first time in franchise history.
What teams are in the 2026 NBA Draft lottery?
Teams are listed according to their regular-season records and their odds of securing the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft lottery.
The Los Angeles Lakers hope that returning to the West Coast will change their fortunes against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Thunder have dominated the first two games of the series by 18 points each, continuing a trend in which OKC dominated the four regular-season games, winning by an average of 29.3 points.
Here are my best Thunder at Lakers props and NBA picks for Saturday, May 9.
Best Thunder vs Lakers props for Game 3
Player
Pick
Chet Holmgren
Over 16.5 points
-110
Jared McCain
Over 1.5 made threes
+130
Jaxson Hayes Over 4.5 points
Over 4.5 points
-112
Game 3 Prop #1: Chet Holmgren Over 16.5 points
-110 at bet365
The series has been a mismatch in the paint as Chet Holmgren has dominated Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton. Holmgren has increased his scoring by two points per game—to 19.2—in the postseason and is averaging 23 in the OKC series, shooting 16-of-28, .571.
Ayton, meanwhile, has shot 6-of-19 for 13 points in the two games combined. That continued a trend for the seven-footer. He shot just .524 against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the regular season—one of his five worst shooting percentages against any team—and averaged just 5.8 ppg.
Playoff basketball is a game of adjustments. It's on Ayton to step up his game. He may be able to hold Holmgren below 20 at home, but it's tough to envision him holding the big man below his season average.
Game 3 Prop #2: Jared McCain Over 1.5 made threes
+130 at bet365
It's always fascinating to see how one mismatch can impact everyone on the floor. As the Lakers have struggled to contain Holmgren inside, it's also opened things up at the perimeter. L.A. has had to help Ayton in the paint, which has created more space for OKC's shooters.
Ajay Mitchell has averaged 19 points in the first two games, a half dozen more than his season scoring average. The biggest beneficiary, however, has been rookie Jared McCain. He's come off the bench to knock down four of five from outside in both games.
McCain is hitting 60% of his three-point attempts in the postseason. For the year, he shot .391 from outside and averaged 1.8 three-pointers per game.
He's certainly gotten L.A.'s attention and likely won't find himself as open going forward, but getting +130 odds of him topping his season average seems too generous to pass up, especially considering the heater he's on.
Game 3 Prop #3: Jaxson Hayes Over 4.5 points
-112 at bet365
Jaxson Hayes may be the best adjustment L.A. can make to try to slow Holmgren. He's taken three shots in both of the first two games, making four.
The other scenario where Hayes steps up would be if Ayton continues to struggle with foul trouble against Holmgren. Hayes is a high-energy player off the bench who can show flashes of brilliance. He shot 24-for-27 over a four-game stretch in March, averaging more than 15 points and seven boards.
Hayes played in three of the four regular-season games against the Thunder, making 9 of 12 shots and averaging 8.7 points. He won't emerge as an interior force in the game, but two made shots and a free throw seem like a reasonable expectation.
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PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 8: Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks dunks the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round Two Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 8, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
“They jumped out and they kind of punched us in the mouth to start the game. Our guys settled down and they figured it out the next three quarters after that first one went by. Great response by our group. They’re resilient, they’ve been through a lot as a veteran group and it showed tonight.”
On learning his team slowly but surely:
“I said when I took the job, you don’t really know the team until you get in the trenches with them. But from the outside looking in, you felt that this team would give you a chance. And they’ve done things throughout the course of the year … that we’re like, ‘OK, yeah, we might have a chance at this.’”
On Jalen Brunson as his security blanket:
“I’m Linus, and Jalen’s my blanket. So he gets me, he helps me relax at a lot of different times throughout the course of games. But that’s what great players do. They keep you poised, they make the game easier for everybody else, and they help you get through the stretch.”
On the bench’s resilience in Game 3:
“We’ve got a lot of good guys that are resilient, that are fighters. And they’ve done a good job of keeping their mind or staying present in whatever we’re doing. And it’s showing when they go out there and get the opportunity.”
On Shamet’s impact in Game 3:
“Landry hasn’t played a drop all playoffs. The first game, he was in the rotation, second game a little bit, and then he was out. Six, seven games that he hasn’t seen significant minutes on the court. Landry was huge for us tonight. Huge for us on both ends of the floor.”
On Shamet providing a spark:
“We needed a spark when they hit us in the mouth and Landry gave it to us. It was a big game on the road and it didn’t phase him. It was a lot of fun to watch.”
On depth players staying ready:
“As a coach, you love to see it. Sometimes you start Landry, sometimes you start [Mohammed Diawara]…at the end of the day, coming from me, that I have confidence in them. Not only that, your number can be called at any time and you need to be ready. They’ve done a good job of keeping their mind and staying present in whatever we’re doing. It’s showing whenever they get the opportunity. It’s shown with Jordan, it’s shown with Jose and it’s shown with Landry…Just a fantastic job by Landry tonight.”
On Mitchell Robinson’s Game 3 performance:
“Mitch Robinson was huge for us. He was huge. We ran him longer in stretches at times than we normally do but he was great in both directions for us. He was big for us throughout the course of the game. You talk about being physical without fouling defensively. You can be physical without fouling offensively, too. He set some great screens. And you can talk about, too, driving to the paint for a paint touch and a spray 3. His rolls — he’s a dynamic roller — his rolls caused Philadelphia’s defense to collapse. And that allows us to spray our passes. His rolls are dynamic and it helped us generate great looks from the perimeter, as well as his vertical threat. He had a couple lobs at the rim. And his offensive rebounding. He kept the ball alive a handful of times. So he was great on both sides of the ball.”
On Mikal Bridges guarding Paul George without OG Anunoby:
“Obviously with OG out we were down a big wing. So Mikal had to take that part over. We’re not switching Mikal necessarily on Embiid, but if it happens he’s just got to play him without fouling. Mikal did a lot of good tonight defensively no matter who he guarded. He was big in helping us get the win because of it.
“I applaud Mikal. I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t point out the continued work Mikal is doing at the point of attack with Maxey. Maxey is a great player and you’re not going to stop him. You’ve got to give multiple efforts while guarding him. Mikal’s busting his behind trying to do that while also doing well offensively too.”
On playing without OG Anunoby:
“No matter who’s in or out — Mitch was out for us last game — we just have to go out, try to do our job, whatever our job is. Nobody has to do anything extraordinary. And so defensively and offensively, it’s the same with OG being out. You know, it’s going to be a collective effort for everybody to step up. And, you know, you always talk about next man up, and that’s what it is during this time of year or the regular season.”
On defending Tyrese Maxey:
“Maxey’s a great player, and you’re not going to stop Tyrese. Mikal has had most of the responsibility at the point of the ball, and so the point of the ball, you’ve got to be locked in guarding Maxey, you’ve gotta give multiple effort and you’ve gotta make him feel you without fouling because he’s a great player. Mikal is trying like the dickens to do that, and he’s doing a pretty good job with it based on who Maxey is.
“You’re not going to stop him. He had 13 in Game 1, and there was no point during the year where he had two games below 25 in a row. You just hope he misses some and you hope you can keep the pressure on him. But more importantly, you hope the defense is understanding what the coverages are and where the help is available, because he’s good. Great players find a way, and that’s why it’s our job as a staff to keep trying to throw different coverages at him, so hopefully that helps the guys on the floor.”
On the idea of drama motivating the team:
“I don’t look at it like that. I just coach the team, and I just tell them what I think is the truth. So I don’t try to intentionally increase, you said drama?”
"Mitch was fantastic today. There's nothing better when you see everyone thinking he's going to go up there and miss free throws and he goes and splashes them"
Karl-Anthony Towns talks about Mitchell Robinson's impact on the game tonight: pic.twitter.com/TgSfq6s8bB
“Is a testament to the guys in this locker room, our discipline, just our mental fortitude to get through all the adversity and just find a way to win.
“We withstood the first punch. That’s a great team.”
On his belief in the locker room:
“I’ve been telling ya’ll, we believe in everybody in this locker room entering into the game and producing at a high level. Today showed that again.”
"It's a testament to who he is and how he prepares himself and how he gets ready for the game" – Jalen Brunson
Brunson and Mikal Bridges talk about Bridges' defense on Tyrese Maxey tonight: pic.twitter.com/36OlNcs81F
“I think we still have a lot of room that we can grow.”
On stepping up without Anunoby:
“It was definitely a team effort. Obviously, we want everyone back healthy. But it was important for everyone to step up and have the right mindset. To do whatever you gotta do to win.”
On Bridges’ Game 3 performance:
“We needed him, and he was great.”
Josh Hart was asked about helping to "set the energy factor" for the Knicks tonight:
"At some point, I have to make a damn shot, at some point. If I'm not doing that, I at least got to do something to help the team." pic.twitter.com/2VncXA0aVf
“He’s an amazing person. He’s a great character dude and a true professional. We see him out there picking up full court at times, being physical on the perimeter and re-establishing himself in terms of defense. The way he’s able to bring an energy defensively, and he’s one of our best offensive rebounders. It’s amazing to see him change his game and doing his role to the best of his ability.”
On Knicks fans on the road:
“New York always comes out and shows love. They support us wherever we go. We need that. We need them to continue to do that, continue to support us.”
On stepping up without OG:
“Everyone picked it up. It’s one of those things where it’s next man up. Obviously we say that but that just means it’s more opportunity for guys. Mikal did an amazing job. Deuce gave us what he had. Landry, the ultimate professional, giving us big minutes offensively and defensively. We responded well to that adversity.”
On the Knicks’ identity:
“That’s just what our identity is. We continue to give something game after game and that’s energy. That’s what we strive to have, that energy, that physicality, that attention to detail and focus. We try to have that every game. We need to do that game after game after game.”
Q "Rough patch…you said 'I think we could be really good'…What gave you confidence?"
Brunson "I see these guys every day…You don't see ups & downs in locker room…trying to figure it out…Times we look disconnected…That's basketball…sports…life…It's about how you move on" pic.twitter.com/cJqoN5aeBN
“Lan is a true professional. Just mentally not playing and throwing him out there and he ends up finishing the game. And we talk to him and give him his dap for what he does, but that’s just a true professional. And he works so hard and just got that mental — that mental killer in himself.”
On the Knicks’ response without OG:
“Everybody stepped up. We know how much OG means to us and everybody has to do their part. Everybody has to lend a hand. I think we all did that.”
Q: "KAT would you describe this team as a juggernaut right now?"
KAT: "Uhh I just look at us as a team that…" ––––– Q: "Do you feel you guys are a runaway freight train right now?"
“We talked about it the last few days. We knew they would. Coming back home down 2-0, you’re going to have a sense of desperation. That was coach’s sentiment this week… They played really well, scored the ball really well early. We weren’t as physical as we needed to be. Made a couple of adjustments and picked up our physicality and presence defensively, and it helped us.”
On staying ready as a bench player:
“Just stay ready. Your number’s called, you just stay ready. Felt good to be out there with my teammates. Felt good to get a win. We got one more in a matter of hours, really.”
On stepping up in Game 3:
“Yeah, it felt good, felt good to get in there with my teammates, felt good to get a win. We got one more, one more in a matter of hours, really. So trying to get our bodies right, get our minds right and try to go get one.”
On moving past the Embiid controversy from two years ago:
“No, not no more. I hear people talk about it. Kind of just channel it out. At the end of the day, it happened two years ago. You can’t go back in the past and I don’t want to go back in the back in the past and relive it. So it’s like, just learn, move on from it, keep pushing.”
On his free-throw work before Game 3:
“It paid off.”
On competing against Embiid:
“I like that fight. He’s a talented player, a great player. Been playing against him over the years now. And we’re playing on the big stage now. At this point, we just got to go.”
“I thought he gave us everything he could. I really do. I think he tried to give us everything he could tonight, and that’s all he can do.”
On facing elimination:
“We’re in a situation where we have to go out there and get the next one and see what happens. If you get one, it gets to 3-1, and then a series can turn pretty quickly. But we’re going to have to dig in and do some things better. We started out tonight playing great. But we had a bad stretch of defensive rebounding, and we gave up direct line drives. We just didn’t score enough. We didn’t keep the scoreboard moving.”
“I’m OK. Obviously, a tough loss tonight. Just have to take it one game at a time.”
On the refs supposedly siding with the Knicks in Game 3:
“I’m not sure. Maybe it was let go on our end. They shot 32 free throws, we had 16. We’re not a team that shoots a lot of threes. We attack, put the ball on the ground. So, yeah, I don’t know. I guess it’s good when New York wins, so we’ve just got to have that mentality of just not fouling, I guess, and being smart enough to not put ourselves in a position where they’re going to take advantage of it.”
“S—. Win a game. Win a game. Keep the season alive.”
On playing tight games even in defeat:
“We’re right there. We’re just not finishing the game. I think we’re right there. We’re putting together three great quarters. We’re just not closing it out. I think we’ve just got to take it one game at a time. Again, we’ve been in position to win these games, give them credit. They’ve been huge down the stretch on their end, but I think the adjustments we can make limit their possessions, their extra second possessions, take one game at a time, and we’ll be back in that 3-1 spot where we were comfortable in the first series and try to claw our way back into it.”
On Brunson’s shot-making:
“Yeah, I mean, I think our defense have been good for the most part. I mean, we’ve got to tip our hat to JB. He’s making some big shots. He’s getting to his spots.”
“We have to add a game to it. We have to just come out and try and get a game. We have to take it one possession at a time and one play at a time. But most importantly, we have to play with some pride and not get swept on our home floor.”
On making shots and limiting rebounds:
“We just have to make some shots. We have to limit rebounds. We have to keep playing together and playing the right way. Hopefully, that will benefit us.”
On facing Game 4 down 3-0:
“It’s still a great challenge. You gotta go do it. Either you don’t play with any pride, and you get swept on your home floor in the 2nd round of the playoffs, or you play with some pride, you win one game at a time.”
"At the end of the day they have a good baseline foundation with the Nova boys."
On staying focused despite Knicks fans invading Philly:
“I could say something that could get clickbaited, but I’m not. At the end of the day, we’re the show on the court. We’re not necessarily focused on the crowd, the things like that. Obviously, we need it. We love it and we love our fans. But at the end of the day, we have to lock in on our task. We have to figure out our game plan, just have a tight huddle. No matter what, it’s loud. It’s kind of the same no matter who the crowd is cheering for. It’s loud. We have to be focused on the task at hand and just kind of have a short-term memory when it comes to things like that.”
The Los Angeles Lakers will try to climb into their Western Conference semifinals series with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder won the series’ first two games in Oklahoma City. The next two games are in L.A. Oklahoma City is favored by 8.5 points. The over/under for the matchup is set at 211.5.
How to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Moneyline: Los Angeles Lakers +298 (24.1%) / Oklahoma City Thunder -379 (75.9%)
Over/Under: 211.5
Series schedule, results
Game 1:Thunder 108, Lakers 90 Game 2:Thunder 125, Lakers 107 Game 3: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles (Saturday May 9, 8:30 ET, ABC) Game 4: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles (Monday May 11, 10:30 ET, Prime Video) Game 5: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City (Wednesday May 13)* Game 6: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles (Saturday May 16)* Game 7: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City (Monday May 18)*
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 8: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks looks on after the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round Two Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 8, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Knicks silenced the doubters on Friday night, defeating the 76ers 109-94 to take a commanding 3-0 series lead and move within one win of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Even with the return of Joel Embiid, Philadelphia had no answers for New York’s talent and depth. The Knicks weathered an early 12-point deficit, dominated the glass 49-33, and gradually broke the game open behind the poise of Jalen Brunson, the versatility of Mikal Bridges, big contributions from the bench, and another relentless effort from Josh Hart.
With defense par excellence, our heroes have held their opponents under 100 points for five of their current six-game win streak. Tyrese Maxey, who some in the media have mistakenly called a better player than Brunson, was handcuffed all night and worked hard to score 17 points in 44 minutes. Embiid, the 2022-23 NBA MVP, had to rely on dirty chicanery and still barely cleared 18 points and six rebounds in his 35 minutes. Once again, Paul George scored a dozen out of the gate and then sipped Gatorade for the rest of the game. When Kelly Oubre, Jr. is one’s best player in a playoff game, perhaps one’s championship aspirations are exaggerated? Coach Nick Nurse thought so. He folded in surrender with two minutes left and the game still within reach.
Brunson started slowly, missing six of his first eight shots, but eventually did what he always does: took complete control of the game. Philadelphia’s traps and double teams failed to rattle him. He dissected the Sixers’ coverage with patience, punished mistakes with smart passing, and buried several momentum-killing buckets late in the fourth quarter. His nine assists were every bit as valuable as his scoring. Grade: A
Towns never found his rhythm as a scorer, but he impacted the game elsewhere. He battled Embiid physically, cleaned the glass, and repeatedly punished Philly’s defensive rotations with sharp passing from the high post. His rebounding helped neutralize second-chance opportunities (eight defensive boards), and his willingness to facilitate kept the offense humming in the second quarter, allowing New York to take a lead that would last the rest of the game. Grade: B
After a abysmal first round series against Atlanta, a completely different Bridges has emerged in the second. In OG Anunoby’s absence (strained hammy), Bridges expanded his offensive role and delivered exactly what the Knicks needed. He attacked gaps aggressively, hit timely threes, and spent a good portion of the game in Maxey’s jersey. Perhaps most impressively, he logged 37 intense playoff minutes without committing a turnover. This must be the Iron Man conditioning of which they speak. His steady two-way play stabilized the Knicks throughout the night. Grade: A
Even with a jammed thumb and a crooked middle finger, Hart continues to do Hart things. Who expected any different? He led the team in minutes, grabbed 11 rebounds, defended multiple positions, and relentlessly chased loose balls. The outside shot never arrived (he has eight working fingers, so…) and the turnovers got sloppy at times, but that’s the price you pay when playing full-tilt boogie. His energy and physicality wore Philadelphia down over four quarters, and they have no one who can match him. Grade: B+
Miles McBride
21 MIN, 3 PTS, 2 AST, 2 BLK, 1-6 FG, 1-5 3PT, -4
The lowest grade of the night, and it’s a bummer given how much we revere Deuce around these parts. But, McBride struggled offensively for the second straight game, missing open looks and failing to provide much scoring punch with the second unit. Still, his defensive effort never wavered, and it was essential with Anunoby missing. The Knicks can survive quiet shooting nights from him as long as the defense remains intact. Grade: C+
Big Mitch brought exactly the kind of interior force the Knicks needed against Embiid. He protected the rim, controlled space in the paint, and generated extra possessions with offensive rebounding. His free-throw shooting remains an adventure, but he hit half, and that was good enough to end Nick Nurse’s Hack-a-Mitch nonsense. His dunk on Embiid in the second quarter broke Philly’s back and immediately became an iconic Knicks image. It’s the definition of a poster. Grade: B
What can you say about Shamet? He kind of fell out of favor in the Atlanta series, but he is always ready to contribute big minutes in a pinch. Last night, he was enormous off the bench. He missed one shot all night and repeatedly punished Philadelphia for collapsing too hard on Brunson drives, providing a reliable parachute for Cap. His spacing opened the floor, his shooting stabilized the bench lineups, and his team-high +20 plus/minus reflected just how impactful his minutes were. Drafted by Philly, wasn’t he? Grade: A
Jordan Clarkson
13 MIN, 4 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 2-3 FG, +11
Clarkson provided solid connective tissue minutes. He moved the ball, rebounded surprisingly well for a guard, and avoided forcing offense. Nothing too flashy, but exactly the sort of steady bench contribution winning teams need in May. Grade: B
Coach Grade: Mike Brown
Brown coached a disciplined, patient game. The Knicks never panicked after the rocky opening quarter. He managed Towns’ foul trouble effectively, leaned into the lineups that controlled the rebounding battle, and trusted Brunson and Bridges to close the door late. In his postgame presser, he called Jalen the blanket to his Linus. If only we all had a Jalen Brunson in our lives (I smell an ESPN skit). Grade: A
The Knicks now stand one win away from the Eastern Conference Finals. If they bring this same focus, rebounding, and late-game execution into Game Four, Philadelphia’s season may end on Sunday. Which is Mother’s Day, btw. Don’t forget the flowers. And go Knicks!
The Detroit Pistons will try to take a commanding 3-0 lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers in their Eastern Conference semifinals series. The Pistons won the series’ first two games in Detroit. The next two games are in Cleveland. The Cavaliers are favored by 4.5 points in Game 3. The over/under for the matchup is set at 212.5.
How to watch Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Moneyline: Cleveland Cavaliers -179 (61.5%) / Detroit Pistons +149 (38.5%)
Over/Under: 212.5
Series schedule, results
Game 1:Pistons 111, Cavaliers 101 Game 2:Pistons 107, Cavaliers 97 Game 3: Detroit at Cleveland (Saturday May 9, 3 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock) Game 4: Detroit at Cleveland (Monday May 11, 8 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock) Game 5: Cleveland at Detroit (Wednesday May 13)* Game 6: Detroit at Cleveland (Friday May 15)* Game 7: Cleveland at Detroit (Sunday May 17)*
The Los Angeles Lakers aren't getting Luka Doncic back as they head back home down 0-2 in their conference semifinal series with the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
Doncic has been out since April 2 with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, which he suffered against the Thunder during the final days of the regular season.
The Lakers have been without their leading scorer all throughout the playoffs.
He missed the entire first round, where the Lakers handled the Houston Rockets in six games.
Facing the defending champs, they need Doncic.
"It's very frustrating," Doncic said after a May 6 practice. "I hope people understand how frustrating it is. All I want to do is play basketball, especially at this time. It's the best time to play basketball. It's very frustrating. To see what my team is doing, I'm very proud of them, but it's been very tough."
Doncic was initially told there would be an eight-week healing period. It is currently the end of week five. If Doncic was to return on the given timeline, he wouldn't play until the conference finals.
"I'm just doing everything I can," Doncic said Wednesday. "Every day, I'm doing stuff I'm supposed to do. My doctor said eight weeks at the beginning of the first MRI, so just going day-by-day. I feel better every day."
Doncic has been running and participating in shootaround, but is nowhere near ready to play. He has approximately three weeks, according to his doctor's timeline.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 8: Landry Shamet #44 of the New York Knicks dunks the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round Two Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 8, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Anybody could have had Jalen Brunson in the 2018 NBA Draft. Anybody. The Villanova guard was the 33rd overall choice in that selection process, and has since parlayed his old-man game into four 20 point-per-game seasons and three All-Star appearances.
That same June night, the Sixers did have Mikal Bridges, albeit briefly. (Perhaps you’ve heard.) Landry Shamet, too.
They’re all Knicks now, Brunson via Dallas, Bridges (Brunson’s former teammate on the Main Line) via Phoenix and Brooklyn and Shamet via seemingly half the teams in the league. And on Friday night their play proved pivotal in the Knicks’ 108-94 victory over the Sixers in Game 3 of an Eastern Conference semifinal series.
That the Sixers are down 3-0 is due not only to Joel Embiid’s brittle body, Paul George’s aging body and Tyrese Maxey’s compromised body, but because the team doesn’t have nearly enough bodies.
Even without forward OG Anunoby (hamstring), and even with foul-plagued Karl-Anthony Towns managing eight points, the Knicks had ample reinforcements. Brunson scored 33. Bridges, amid a playoff heater, had 23, and Shamet surprised with 15 off the bench.
This is a guy who had managed 14 points in New York’s first eight playoff games. A guy who hadn’t cracked double figures since putting up 13 against Memphis in a regular-season game on April 1, and one who had played sparingly during a four-game stretch of the Knicks’ first-round series against Atlanta.
But on Friday he shot 5-for-6 from the floor and was a team-best plus-20 in 26:20.
“You just stay ready,” he said. “When your number’s called, you stay ready. … It felt good. It felt good to be out there with my teammates. Felt good to get a win.”
Bridges called the 29-year-old guard “a true professional.” Coach Mike Brown called him a lifesaver.
“We needed a spark,” he said, “and Landry gave it to us.”
The Knicks’ reserves outscored the Sixers subs 23-0 through the first three quarters, 29-11 overall. (Kudos to Quentin Grimes, minus-17 in 22:28, for a pair of fourth-quarter three-pointers.)
We need not relitigate the Jared McCain trade here, but we all see what he’s doing with Oklahoma City. (The counterpoint is that the Thunder is better able to cover up his defensive deficiencies, which the Knicks would certainly have attempted to exploit in this series, were he still on the roster. Still, the dude can shoot.)
The greater point is that the Sixers’ bench has been hideous all year, whether McCain has been on it or not. And whether because of tired legs or whatever, the team as a whole has run out of gas late in the last two games of this series. They were outscored 19-12 in that period in Game 2, 22–18 Friday.
Also noteworthy – the 36-year-old George was 6-for-9 while scoring 15 points in the first quarter, scoreless on 0-for-9 shooting thereafter. Embiid gave it his best shot, but he’s clearly not even close to being right; he finished with 18 points and six rebounds.
And Maxey, who for weeks has been playing with a pinky injury, managed just 12 shots against a Bridges-led defense. Made eight, mind you, but it was clear the Knicks weren’t gonna let him wreck the game. And he didn’t, finishing with just 17 points.
One other thing: The Sixers, as has been their wont, were outrebounded 49-33, and outscored on second-chance points, 20-11.
Does Game 4 even need to be played on Sunday afternoon? Can’t the Sixers just fax a concession to league headquarters? Can’t the airtime be filled by Ben Simmons summer workout videos or some such thing?
Friday’s game began on a promising note for Philadelphia. Spurred by the crowd and desperate to climb out of an 2-0 series hole, the Sixers raced to a 20-8 lead highlighted by a pair of VJ Edgecombe dunks, off feeds from Maxey. But the Knicks kept coming, due in no small part to two guys with Sixers ties.
Bridges, taken 10th by Philadelphia in that 2018 draft and immediately flipped to Phoenix for another draftee, Zhaire Smith, and a 2021 No. 1, shot 8-for-14 from the floor. After an uneven regular season he is knocking down 64.9 percent of his attempts in the series, 69.4 percent over his last four games, while defending with his usual verve.
Shamet, selected 26th in 2018, spent 54 games with the Sixers before he and the first-rounder in the Bridges trade were sent to the Clippers for Tobias Harris. Shamet has since played for Brooklyn, Phoenix and Washington as well. And when Brunson rested late in Friday’s first quarter, it was Shamet who scored five points, helping the Knicks cut the gap to four by period’s end.
They went ahead for good with 8:20 left in the first half, at 38-35, and fended Philadelphia off the rest of the night. Brunson did his thing at the offensive end, Bridges on D. And everybody else seemed to help out.
When asked afterward about Bridges’ work against Maxey, Brown talked about the multiple efforts required to contain such a dynamic player.
“And Mikal is busting his behind, trying to do that, trying to make it tough on him while giving it to us offensively,” the coach said. “So again, I applaud Mikal. I also applaud our defense behind Mikal.”
Bridges, who made his bones on defense early in his career at ‘Nova before blossoming as a scorer, agreed that defending Maxey is a group project. But certainly it began with him.
“Just trying to do whatever it takes to win,” he said. “The regular season means a lot, but it’s just another season after. Just giving it all.”
Added teammate Josh Hart, yet another Villanovan: “I never worry about (Bridges), because he’s gonna bring it every game. He’s gonna take his matchup personal.”
Brunson pointed out that defending at such a level is a matter of maintaining “that next-play mentality, having short-term memory, just focusing on the next play, next play.”
“So regardless of what’s happening, positive or negative,” he added, “he’s locked in for the next one. That’s just who he is.”
The Sixers closed the gap to 78-76 late in the third quarter, only to see the Knicks reel off the period’s last seven points, capped by Shamet’s right-wing three-pointer with 7.1 seconds left. New York, by that point up nine, then extended its lead to 16 in the fourth. And that was that.
“We’ve got one more, one more in a matter of hours, really,” Shamet said. “So try to get our bodies right, get our minds right, and try to go get one.”
Certainly they all seem to be pulling in the same direction. And it is all of them, too. That is what is most striking, and that is the difference in this series. Numbers. Bodies. Options. In order to fulfill expectations, Daryl Morey and Co. need to fill out the team’s roster. They need to find useful pieces along the lines of, say, Mikal Bridges or Landry Shamet. That is the challenge that awaits this offseason, which now appears to be very close indeed.
It’s been more than 26 years since the Knicks swept an opponent in a playoff series. After a 108-94 victory on Friday night against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Knicks have a chance to accomplish a feat that hasn’t happened since Patrick Ewing was their starting center.
New York has put it all together in the playoffs. After falling behind 2-1 to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round, the Knicks have won six consecutive playoff games. The offense and defense are both humming. With a chance at a 4-0 series sweep on Sunday afternoon, let's walk through some keys to Game 4.
Bridges game
With OG Anunoby unavailable due to a hamstring injury, Mikal Bridges stepped up in an immense way, posting 23 points on 8-for-14 shooting. Bridges led a decisive Knicks run in the second quarter, scoring 10 points in the frame.
We knew Jalen Brunson was going to be productive. The Knicks All-Star guard ended up with 33 points. But New York needed another player to come along for the ride and Bridges was game for the challenge.
With Karl-Anthony Towns limited to just eight points in 26 minutes due to foul trouble, Bridges stepped in for one of his best two-way performances of the season. Bridges has made a near 180-degree transformation from just two weeks ago. He’s been more aggressive in looking for his shot.
Also, he’s done a good job of playing off of New York’s two All-Stars. Brunson is occasionally being blitzed on the pick-and-roll which has opened up some looks for Bridges. Towns’ emergence as a playmaker has allowed Bridges to make more plays as an off ball cutter.
Going forward, the Knicks don’t need the 6-foot-6 wing to get out of character. He’s effective when he’s making quick reads as a play finisher.
Defense to the max
Defense is where Bridges has also helped the Knicks. His main responsibility has been checking 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey throughout this series. New York’s aggressive defensive strategy of blitzing Maxey in the pick-and-roll has largely worked. Maxey was efficient, going 8-for-12. But he only finished with 17 points in 44 minutes in Game 3.
The Knicks have done a good job covering Maxey during this series, holding the All-Star point guard to 18.7 points and five assists through three games. That’s a far cry from 2024, when Maxey torched the Knicks for 29.8 points in six first-round games. Miles McBride and Landry Shamet also deserve some credit for defending Maxey throughout this game.
Heading into Game 4, the Sixers will look to find a few ways to free up Maxey. Philadelphia could take a page out of New York’s playbook and have Maxey come off screens more often à la Brunson. The Sixers could also emphasize getting out and running to create some easy transition looks for the point guard.
Bench mob
A key to this series has been New York’s depth. Over the course of three games, New York’s reserves have an 86-51 scoring edge over Philadelphia. The Knicks bench shined brightest on Friday, outscoring Philadelphia’s subs 28-6 before the benches were emptied late in the game. Specifically, Shamet was a significant difference maker, putting up 15 points on 5-for-6 shooting from the field.
Mitchell Robinson also returned from an illness to have a solid performance. In 16 minutes, he was a plus-16 with six points and six rebounds, including a monster alley-oop over Joel Embiid.
On the Sixers side, head coach Nick Nurse is not utilizing his bench much in this series. Outside of the starting lineup, the 76ers have about two or three reserves playing real rotation minutes. Maxey has sat for just five total minutes in the last two games. Starters Paul George and VJ Edgecombe have both played at least 38 minutes in both Games 2 and 3.
Every playoff series is a war of attrition. If the 76ers are going to lean this heavily on their starters, that gives the Knicks an energy advantage going into Game 4.
COVERS INTEL:Jalen Brunson has scored 27+ points in 31 of 51 playoff games with the New York Knicks, good for 60.7%.
Pistons
Cavaliers
