Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) passes the ball as Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) defends during Game 3 on May 8, 2026. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
Asked if he was frustrated by the officiating, Towns responded, “What do you think?”
There was one call that could’ve gone either way. With 8:20 remaining in the first half, Joel Embiid was called for a loose ball foul against Towns. The 76ers challenged the call, and it was reversed. Towns was assessed his third and sat the rest of the half.
“I’m not surprised at anything anymore,” he said.
Towns ended the evening with eight points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.
“It’s something I’ll revisit in the offseason,” he said before notching 12 points, 11 rebounds and three assists in 40 minutes. “There’s people that played through this and people who played through it and got a championship. Something that’s doable.”
76ers forward Paul George steals the ball from New York Knicks guard Josh Hart. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
An X-ray revealed it wasn’t broken, and Hart doesn’t see the point of an MRI exam. Hart had the thumb taped up for the game.
He is having a strong postseason, averaging 9.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.8 steals. Hart went 0-for-4 from 3-point range Friday, but when asked about the thumb, said it was a non-issue.
“Thumb’s cool,” he said.
Embiid returned for Game 3 after being held out of Wednesday’s Game 2 with a sprained ankle and hip soreness. Embiid missed the first three games of the playoffs after undergoing emergency appendectomy late in the regular season.
Embiid scored 18 points on 7-for-17 shooting, along with six rebounds, five assists and three blocks. ks.
Miles McBride started in place of the injured OG Anunoby and scored three points in 21 minutes.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - MARCH 3: AJ Dybantsa #3 of the BYU Cougars looks on during the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Fifth Third Arena on March 3, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This Mother’s Day is probably the most consequential Mother’s Day in Utah Jazz history (I haven’t checked, I’m guessing, okay). The thing the NBA doesn’t realize is that it’s going to be consequential for the entire league, as well.
Utah, even if they somehow lost their pick this year, would still be a playoff contender. While the league was punishing the Jazz for doing things everyone else was doing, the Jazz were doing something only Jazz fans saw: playing winning basketball.
Utah started the season with a blowout win over the Los Angeles Clippers and went on to post some impressive wins throughout the season. Here are some playoff teams Utah won against: Clippers, Suns, Celtics, Rockets, Pistons, Spurs, Cavaliers, Timberwolves, Heat, and Warriors. Each one of these drove me crazy throughout the season, by the way. And the reason they had to start tanking earlier than the apparent unspoken rules allow was that the Jazz had a breakout season from Keyonte George and improved play across the roster. Utah had Cody Williams looking like a rotation player, they found a real player in Blake Hinson, they revived Jusuf Nurkic, and even had games where Kevin Love shot the lights out and turned needed losses into wins. Nothing this season was predictable, but the one thing that was consistent was the level of effort demanded by Will Hardy, along with an offense that consistently set players up to succeed.
The biggest question is the defense, but adding Jaren Jackson Jr., who will play alongside Walker Kessler (potentially), and that should, at the very least, create an identity of rim protection and size if they’re combined with Lauri Markkanen as well. There’s a very reasonable expectation that Utah’s defense should at least be top-15 with the personnel on the floor. Can Will Hardy lead them to that? Utah’s size will go a long way to making that happen.
But there’s some real upside with this roster that makes next year fascinating. What if Keyonte George takes another leap? What if Walker Kessler signs a contract he and the Jazz are happy with and plays at an all-defense level? What if the defense is better than expected and is in the top-10?
Those are the questions we’re asking before we even get to the lottery, which brings up the biggest question of all.
What if the Jazz win the lottery?
You add a star to this core, and you have a team set for far more than just the playoffs. The Jazz go from playoff team to borderline contender, maybe more. They may not be quite ready to win the finals, but that’s not out of the question. And that’s the thing that makes this lottery so important. The variable is crazy here, and the NBA is not ready for just how good the Jazz will be.
The question for you is, how good do you think the Jazz will be if they win the lottery?
PHILADELPHIA — OG Anunoby’s absence left massive shoes to fill.
The Knicks were fully up for the challenge.
They got help from the starting lineup, as Mikal Bridges finished with 23 points — his second-highest output of the postseason. They got help from the bench, as Landry Shamet — who had been out of the rotation previously — stepped up with 15 points and helped close the game.
There were bigger responsibilities up-and-down the roster. And the Knicks fulfilled them en route to their 108-94 Game 3 win over the 76ers on Friday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena, which gave them a 3-0 series lead.
“It was definitely a team effort,” Jalen Brunson said. “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.”
Friday was too soon for Anunoby, who was out with the right hamstring strain he suffered in Game 2. Subsequent imaging revealed that it is a “very minor” strain, The Post’s Stefan Bondy previously reported, and he is considered day to day with confidence he should not miss much time.
The Knicks would not elaborate Friday whether Anunoby is able to run or what he is actually able to do on the court.
Mikal Bridges goes up for a shot during the Knicks’ 108-94 Game 3 win over the 76ers on May 8, 2026 in Philadelphia. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Miles McBride started in place of Anunoby, but he struggled with his shot. It was Shamet who was more effective helping to fill the void, and he ended up playing more than McBride — 26 minutes compared to 21. Shamet went 5-for-6 from the field and 2-for-3 from 3-point range.
“Landry hadn’t played a drop all playoffs,” coach Mike Brown said. “I think the first game, he was in the rotation and then the second game a little bit, then he was out. That’s six, seven games that he hadn’t seen significant minutes on the court. Landry was huge for us tonight. He was huge on both ends of the floor.
Landry Shamet (44) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (9) battle for a loose ball during the Knicks Game 3 road win over the 76ers. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“We needed a spark from somebody when we were down and they hit us in the mouth and Landry gave it to us.”
Anunoby has arguably been the Knicks’ most consistent player this postseason, averaging 20.3 points on stellar 61.9 percent shooting from the field and 53.8 percent shooting from 3-point range. His defense — on Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu in the first round against the Hawks and primarily Paul George in this second-round series against the 76ers — has been superb.
Without Anunoby, Bridges at times had to slide down and guard George and was extremely effective. After scoring 15 points in the first quarter, George went scoreless the rest of the way and missed all nine shots he took.
OG Anunoby reacts after he hits a three-point shot in the Knicks’ Game 2 win over the 76ers. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“Everyone picked it up,” Josh Hart said. “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 [McBride] gave us what he had. Landry, the ultimate professional, giving us big minutes offensively and defensively. We responded well to that adversity.”
Despite the 76ers’ best efforts, they couldn’t keep Knicks fans out of Philadelphia.
Scores of Knicks supporters made the trek to Pennsylvania to see their team roll to a 108-94 Game 3 win over the Sixers to take a 3-0 second-round series lead.
Not only were the blue-and-orange supporters cheering on the Knicks, but there were audible boos inside Xfinity Mobile Arena when 76ers star Joel Embiid went to the foul line.
Moreover, there were cheers when he missed a shot from the charity stripe.
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) May 9, 2026
Timothee Chalamet smiles during the game during Round 2 Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 8, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on May 8, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Fans in the lower bowl were seen waving towels and chanting “Let’s go Knicks” as the victory became inevitable in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter.
The group of fans, as they exited arena were yelling a few things in exultation, including a “f–k Embiid” chant and “Knicks in four.”
Much like celebrity row at Madison Square Garden, the stars and A-listers came down to Philadelphia.
That included Knicks superfans Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller, Spike Lee and Fat Joe, who were all shown on the Amazon Prime broadcast with smiles as New York rolled in the second half.
The 76ers, before Game 3, donated 500 tickets for each of the remaining home playoff games this round in hopes of keeping their home, well, a home.
Rapper Fat Joe watching the game in the fourth quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Kelly Oubre Jr., who led Philly with 22 points, was asked how his team handled the throngs of supporters for the visiting squad.
He said that the arena was going to be loud no matter what and that’s it up to his group to keep the focus on what matters.
“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,” Oubre said. “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.
Film director, producer, star cheers on after a New York Knicks score against the Philadelphia 76ers during the third quarter of game three of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
“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.”
What matters for Philadelphia now is the 3-0 hole, as one more loss would end the season.
Whether one 76ers fan’s ploy to increase Amtrak ticket prices for Knicks fans for Sunday remains to be seen.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 8: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks celebrates during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round Two Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 8, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Sixers Bell Ringer Season Standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 23.5 VJ Edgecombe – 16 Joel Embiid – 14.5 Paul George – 10 Kelly Oubre Jr. – 5 Justin Edwards – 4 Dominick Barlow – 3 Andre Drummond – 3 Quentin Grimes – 3 Jared McCain – 3 MarJon Beauchamp – 2 Adem Bona – 1 Porter Martone – 1 Cam Payne – 1 Jabari Walker – 1 Trendon Watford – 1 15th roster spot – 1
The Sixers returned home for an all-important Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Friday night vs. the New York Knicks. The Sixers come into this one staring at a 2-0 series deficit, after a heartbreaking loss down the stretch of Game 2 on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. Joel Embiid, who was absent from the lineup on Wednesday due to ankle and hip injuries, returned to the lineup for tonight’s game as the Sixers looked to avoid going into a 3-0 series hole. Knicks star wing OG Anunoby, who has been fantastic in this postseason on both ends of the floor, was out for this one as he suffered a hamstring strain in the closing minutes of Game 2. Reminder that teams that go down 3-0 in a series are 0-160 in NBA history. All hands-on deck for the Sixers as they looked to keep their hopes of a deep postseason run alive.
The Sixers got off to a hot start, jumping out to a 9-0 lead to start the game. The energy in the building was palpable. Paul George poured in 15 first-quarter points to pace the Sixers. The Knicks called an early timeout as the Sixers got back-to-back monster slams from VJ Edgecombe midway through the fourth quarter. New York closed the quarter well to get the deficit to 31-27 at the close of the first.
All the hard work the Sixers did to get a lead in the first quarter was undone in the second as the Knicks dominated the second quarter. New York pummeled the Sixers on the glass including pulling down 10 offensive rebounds in the first half. The Knicks won the period 33-21 to take a 60-52 lead into the halftime break.
The Sixers couldn’t make up any ground in the third quarter. They generated a ton of open looks in the third quarter but missed the mark on a large sum of them. The Knicks got to the foul line at will and knocked down timely threes. The Knicks led 85-76 after three quarters. The Sixers had one quarter to try and save their season.
The Sixers continued to miss open look after open look in the fourth and the Knicks continued to stay the court and knock down shots when they could create good looks. Same story as the fourth quarter of Game 2. The Knicks would go on to win the game and take a commanding 3-0 series lead.
Time for Bell Ringer.
Kelly Oubre: 22 points, 8 rebounds, 7-for-15 from the field
Oubre has played very well in this series despite constant criticism from the fan base. He has been one of the few Sixers that has showed up in a manner that was required for the Sixers to have a chance in this series. Oubre’s cutting has been his best attribute as he has played extremely well off the gravity of the Sixers’ stars.
But statistically, the winner of Game 3 goes on to win the series most of the time and as the conference semifinals shifted to Minnesota, it was the Spurs who took a 2-1 series advantage with a 115-108 win against the Timberwolves on Friday, May 8.
Each team's superstar put on a show.
Victor Wembanyama scored an efficient 39 points on 13-of-18 shooting from the field, including three 3-pointers and 10-of-12 from the free throw line. He also pulled down 15 rebounds and blocked five shots and nabbed a steal in 37 minutes for San Antonio.
"I think we showed some strength, you know, during this game, some relentlessness," Wembanyama told reporters after the Spurs' win. "But we got to prove to ourselves that we can sustain that."
Wembanyama became the fourth player in NBA history with at least 35 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks in a playoff game, joining Shaquille O'Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Hakeem Olajuwon.
"It's good to be along with the big fellas," he said. "I had to resort to some things that Hakeem taught me in this fourth quarter, many things, but especially that spin fade away over Rudy (Gobert)."
Anthony Edwards carried the T-Wolves with 32 points on 12-of-26 shooting, including three 3-pointers and 5-of-6 from the free throw line. Edwards added 14 rebounds, six assists and a blocked shot.
The Spurs, as a team, narrowly outshot the Wolves from distance, 36% to Minnesota's 35%. The Wolves outrebounded San Antonio, 54-48. It's been the Spurs who have dominated the inside, leading 46-38 in points in the paint.
"They got somebody who's 7-6 on the floor, and he takes up a lot of space. So just trying to, you know, figure out ways to find an open man around him, because in the paint he was just everywhere," Edwards told reporters postgame.
He added: "I feel like we did it. Had a good dose of that throughout the whole game, I think. I went in the locker room and told the guys like, we had a bunch of great looks. I feel like we had a bunch of great looks. And if we make our shots, we win this game."
The Spurs held a 15-point lead but the Timberwolves climbed their way back into it. In the end, San Antonio prevailed. The two meet in Game 4 on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 10, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Spurs vs. Wolves Game 3 highlights
Here's the Game 3 highlights between the Spurs and Wolves:
There have been a few times this season where bench players who were out of the rotation stepped up when called on, and in Game 3 against the 76ers, Landry Shamet delivered for the Knicks.
The guard led the Knicks' bench in scoring with 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including 2-for-3 from three. He was also a game-high plus-20 in the Knicks' 108-94 win, which gave them a commanding 3-0 series lead.
"Landry hasn’t played a drop all playoffs," Knicks coach Mike Brown said after the win. "The first game, he was in the rotation, second game a little bit, and then he was out. Six, seven games that he hasn’t seen significant minutes on the court. Landry was huge for us tonight. Huge for us on both ends of the floor."
With OG Anunoby out with a hamstring strain, Shamet was moved up in the rotation and was given big minutes.
When the Sixers took a 31-27 lead after a physical first quarter, Shamet helped turn the tide. He began the second quarter with Karl-Anthony Towns as the only starter and was on the floor for most of the run that helped New York flip a 12-point deficit into a 12-point lead.
"We talked about it the last few days. We knew they would," Shamet said of withstanding the Sixers' play early. "Coming back home down 2-0, you're going to have a sense of desperation. That was coach’s sentiment this week... They played really well, scored the ball really well early. We weren't as physical as we needed to be. Made a couple of adjustments and picked up our physicality and presence defensively, and it helped us."
From the final minutes of the first quarter -- which saw Shamet hit a three to cut the Knicks' deficit to just four points -- and through the second, Shamet scored nine total points in a combined 13 minutes.
"We needed a spark when they hit us in the mouth and Landry gave it to us," Brown said. "It was a big game on the road and it didn’t phase him. It was a lot of fun to watch."
On Friday, Shamet played 26 minutes. That's more than the first two games of this series (20). And while he received some minutes in the blowout wins against the Hawks in the first round, Game 3 against the Sixers was the most meaningful of Shamet's playoffs so far this season, and it's not easy. For a player who was once in the rotation to turn it on when the team needs them, especially in the postseason.
But the Knicks and coach Brown continued to show their faith in Shamet and others like Jordan Clarkson and Jose Alvarado, who have seen their minutes go up and down this year, has paid off.
"As a coach, you love to see it. Sometimes you start Landry, sometimes you start [Mohammed Diawara]…at the end of the day, coming from me, that I have confidence in them," Brown said of players being ready. "Not only that, your number can be called at any time and you need to be ready. They’ve done a good job of keeping their mind and staying present in whatever we’re doing. It’s showing whenever they get the opportunity. It’s shown with Jordan, it’s shown with Jose and it’s shown with Landry...Just a fantastic job by Landry tonight."
"Landry is the ultimate professional," Josh Hart said of Shamet's play. "Being out of the rotation and giving us big minutes offensively and defensively."
"Just stay ready. Your number’s called, you just stay ready," Shamet said. "Felt good to be out there with my teammates. Felt good to get a win. We got one more in a matter of hours, really."
With Anunoby's status for Game 4 on Sunday still unknown, Shamet could receive more opportunities. If Friday's win is any indication, Shamet will be ready if when needed.
In the first eight games of the playoffs, Landry Shamet scored 14 total points.
He had 15 points Friday night.
Talk about providing a needed boost.
With OG Anunoby out due to a minor hamstring strain, Shamet was given a shot, and he took advantage. The veteran sharpshooter played a pivotal role coming off the bench, as the Knicks took a commanding 3-0 lead in this Eastern Conference semifinal series with a 108-94 victory over the 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
“You just stay ready,” he said. “It felt good, it felt good to get out there with my teammates, it felt good to get a win. We have one more.”
Shamet was part of a blockbuster effort from the bench.
Mitchell Robinson delivered six points, six rebounds and a monster alley-oop slam over Joel Embiid. Jordan Clarkson (four points, five rebounds, three assists) and Jose Alvarado also contributed.
Knicks guard Landry Shamet (44) falls with the ball as Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) gives chase during Game 3 on May 8, 2026. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
Early in the fourth quarter, the Knicks reserves had amassed 25 points to the 76ers’ zero. The bench is one of the biggest areas of improvement with this team.
A year ago, the Knicks were overdependent on their starters, but team president Leon Rose built up the bench, adding Clarkson in the offseason and Alvarado in February.
Knicks guard Landry Shamet (44) slams the ball over Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) during the second quarter. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
“As a coach, you love to see it, and that’s why you give different guys opportunities at different times,” coach Mike Brown said. “Sometimes, you start Landry. Sometimes, you start [Mohamed Diawara]. And what hopefully it shows at the end of the day coming from me is that I have confidence in them, and not only that, your number can be called any time, so be ready.”
Shamet was the biggest star of this group. He had a strong regular season, averaging 9.3 points and shooting 39.2 percent from 3-point range in 51 games.
He was supposed to be a key part of the playoff rotation, but struggled early in the Hawks series.
Then came the minor injury to Anunoby in Game 2. It gave Shamet a chance to assert himself. He didn’t miss that opportunity. He entered in the first quarter, and helped the Knicks stabilize the game after trailing by 12. He hit a big 3-pointer late in the third quarter that pushed the lead to nine. In his 26 minutes, the Knicks outscored the 76ers by 20 points.
He even was on the floor in the final minutes as the Knicks moved to within one win of a return trip to the Eastern Conference finals.
“We talk to him and give him his dap for what he does,” Mikal Bridges said of Shamet. “But that’s just a true professional.”
In the building he enjoyed so many memorable moments as a college star at Villanova, Jalen Brunson added another one. He was terrific after a slow start, finishing with 32 points and nine assists. Brunson also added five rebounds and scored eight fourth-quarter points.
With Karl-Anthony Towns limited due to foul trouble, Brunson’s best was needed, and he delivered it.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) reacts after scoring during the second quarter of Game 3 on May 8, 2026. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
Zero
Paul George started hot, then disappeared. The 76ers wing scored 15 first-quarter points, but zero the rest of the way. He was invisible when Philadelphia needed so much more out of the nine-time All-Star.
Unsung Hero
That is now four straight strong playoff performances by Mikal Bridges. He helped shut down George after his hot start and continues to make shots, shooting 8-of-14 from the field and scoring 23 points.
Over the last four games, Bridges is averaging 20.5 points on an incredible 72.3 percent shooting.
Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) puts up a shot in front of Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) in the fourth quarter. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
Key stat
25.8 – The Knicks’ average margin of victory during their current six-game playoff winning streak.
Quote of the day
“They’re resilient, they’ve been through a lot as a veteran group, and it showed tonight,”
— Mike Brown as the Knicks rallied from an early 12-point deficit.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 8: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks talk during Round Two Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 8, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Spike Lee made the trip. So did Tracy Morgan, Benjamin Edward Meara Stiller, and Timothee Chamalamalamalet. Despite attempts to keep Knicks fans from the Xfinity Mobile Arena, and Joel Embiid moaning about it being “Madison Square Garden East,” plenty of orange and blue support was present for Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
In the first quarter, the 76ers swung their strongest punch of the series, but New York regained its footing to flip the momentum in the second. While Philly choked under defensive pressure, the good guys stretched their lead to 12 with a 27-11 run. The camera caught a dejected Embiid toweling his forehead on the bench and looking ready to weep. Those Knicks cheers? They came through loud and clear on the Amazon Prime broadcast.
New York brought a 60-52 lead into intermission. Following that, Philly took another swing to cut the deficit to three, but New York rallied with a run to start the fourth ahead, 85-76. Then, the Knicks blew the lid off. Our heroes pushed their lead to 16, Nick Nurse waved a white flag with two minutes left, and a 108-94 win puts New York one away from a return trip to the ECF!
Who deserves the gold stars? Quoth foiegrastyle, “NOVA KNICKS.” The Villanova alums Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges carried the game tonight, combining for 68 points, 19 rebounds, and 14 assists. Sure, Landry Shamet (15 PTS, +20, 26 MIN) and Mitchell Robinson (4-8 FT, 6 REB, +16) provided a huge lift off the bench, and Karl-Anthony Towns played pretty well (8 PTS, 12 REB, 7 AST, 5 FLS, 26 MIN). But those ‘Nova cats were next level. Campus is just 17 miles from Philly, right? Maybe they’ll crash a frat party while they’re in town.
First Half
A strained hamstring kept OG Anunoby from traveling with the team. The absence was acutely felt in the first quarter. OG has played career-best basketball of his career this postseason, so it was no coincidence that Philly made more buckets and the Knicks offense fizzled early on.
The Sixers came ready for war. They scored the game’s first seven points and their defense forced four misses and two turnovers. The guests fell behind by nine, and after more sloppy play, trailed 15-8 at 7:30. Less than a minute later, thanks to a miss at the rim by Brunson and an offensive foul by Hart, they had surrendered five more points, digging a 12-point hole. Miles McBride, starting with OG out, recorded two blocks in the quarter, but heaved two bricks, once again failing to make much of an impact offensively.
Paul George (15 PTS, 6-18 FG, -14) carried the scoring load to start Game Two and repeated that tonight…for awhile He scored six of his team’s first 11 makes, tallying up 15 points in the opening frame. He would be much less effective as the game went on. Meanwhile, the visitors had coughed up the rock six times, which cost them nine points, and they lost the first period, 31-27.
To start the second quarter, Jalen Brunson (33 PTS, 11-22 FG, 9 AST, +13) took a breather after getting heavily harassed by VJ Edgecombe (11 PTS, 7 RBS, 40 MIN) for 12 minutes. New York continued a roll they’d started at the end of the first period, and when Jordan Clarkson assisted Landry Shamet on a dunk, they knotted the score at 33. When Alvarado drilled a 29-footer, New York had their first lead of the contest. And when Mitchell Robinson sonned Embiid with a dunk on his overlarge noggin, the difference was five and the stadium rocked with NY cheers.
There was a ton of physicality in the frontcourt. KAT and Joel Embiid (18 PTS, 6 RBS, 5 AST, -9) fell all over each other (literally) and both collected three fouls in the first half. By the break, the Knicks are winning 60-52. They had shot 53% and 43% while hammering Philadelphia inside for a 36-24 edge in points in the paint and out-rebounding them, 25-16. After six turnovers in the first quarter, New York had only two giveaways in the second. At the same time, Philly’s sizzling first quarter shooting had faded to 46% and 36% at the break. Mikal Bridges (23 PTS, 8-14 FG, +15, 37 MIN) and Kelly Oubre, Jr. (22 PTS, 8 RBS) topped their teams with 15 points apiece at the half.
Second Half
Out of the locker room, McBride finally hit from beyond the arc. A couple of misses and a few Sixer baskets narrowed the score, but Brunson and Towns were distributing crisp passes that set the twilight reeling.
A fourth infraction sent Karl-Anthony to the bench at 6:27. The teams traded baskets, shoves, and choice words. With three minutes to go, Josh Hart (12 PTS, 11 REB, 40 MIN, 2 damaged digits) fouled a driving Embiid. The big Cameroonian crashed to the floor and came up gingerly, massaging his hip—a hip that was already sore and kept him out of Game Two. His two free throws cut the differential to three. At the other end, Nick Nurse played Hack-a-Mitch (Robinson made one). Then Embiid battled Mitch at the rim, missing dead on, then making a fiercely contested putback. They hacked Mitch again, and this time he made both.
MSG, I mean, Xfinity Mobile Arena erupts after Mitchell Robinson makes 2 consecutive free throws pic.twitter.com/CyXPc1PyfK
When Edgecombe missed the basket completely on a long attempt, a cheer of “Airballll!” came from Xfinity Mobile; when Shamet swished from range, he capped a 7-0 run; and when the quarter ended, New York held an 85-76 lead.
OAKAAKUYOAK Quentin Grimes waited until the final quarter to make his three-pointers. He drilled two, and the differential was four with nine minutes to play. After a timeout, the Knicks responded with an 11-2 run, thanks to timely buckets by the Villanova Three and another steal by Bridges. Many times tonight, the Cheesesteaks got within sniffing distance, and every time they did, New York pumped the gas to open up some distance.
A chyron on the TV showed a startling stat: through nine playoff games, the Knicks have a +238 point differential in the fourth quarter. That’s the third-best in the NBA in the last 70 seasons. And they weren’t done scoring! Embiid had sat through the first half of the fourth, and frankly, his team had played better without him. After his return, our heroes went up by 16 with just under four minutes left. One starts to wonder if Daryl Morey regrets trading Jared McCain (the youngster had 18 points in 18 minutes for OKC yesterday). With two minutes left and down by 16, Nick Nurse surrendered, subbing out all five of his guys for reserves. Somewhere, Tom Thibodeau was screaming about that time Tracy McGrady scored 22 points in 30 seconds! Never surrender! Gaaaahhh!!!
Knicks coach Mike Brown responded in kind, letting Tyler Kolek, Jeremy Sochan, Pacome Dadiet, Mohamed Diawara, and Ariel Hukporti finish out the win. With it, New York is one game away from returning to the Eastern Conference Finals. Another fun tidbit from the broadcast? No NBA team has ever come back from three games down in a seven-game series.
Up Next
Game Four will be played on Mother’s Day afternoon. Not convenient. Rest up, Knickerbockers.
PHILADELPHIA — Jalen Brunson scored 33 points and sealed the game with big buckets late to the delight of roaring Knicks fans, leading New York to a 109-94 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night for a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.
With 2016 and 2018 Villanova national championship banners hanging in the rafters, the so-called Nova Knicks all took turns taking the fight out of the Sixers in the fourth quarter, turning a four-point lead into another double-digit victory
Josh Hart had 12 points and 11 rebounds and Mikal Bridges added 23 points, pushing the Knicks and first-year coach Mike Brown within one victory of their second straight conference finals appearance.
The Knicks have the luxury not to rush back forward OG Anunoby, who’s averaging 21.4 points per game in the postseason. He sat out with a strained right hamstring and remains day to day.
Joel Embiid scored 18 points for the Sixers in his return after he missed Game 2 with a sprained right ankle and a sore right hip.
Embiid’s return from an appendectomy helped spur the Sixers’ rally from a 3-1 deficit in the opening round to stun the Celtics.
Beating the Knicks four straight times — including twice in New York — seems like a much harder hill to climb for Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and the Sixers.
Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 22 points and Maxey added 17.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 7: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dribbles the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during Round Two Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 7, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder shifts to LA, where Game 3 will be held on Saturday. The purple and gold aim to protect homecourt by finally getting a win over the Thunder.
Despite a stronger all-around performance from Austin Reaves and a better overall effort to match the Thunder’s pace and style of play in Game 2, the Lakers once again failed to steal a win on the road. They came into Game 2 with a couple of solutions, but those were wiped out by more problems the Thunder presented.
Now down 2-0 in the series, time is ticking for Los Angeles to figure it all out.
The good news for the purple and gold is that they’re back home for Game 3, where they’ll look to capitalize on home court and fight their way back into the series.
Match the Thunder’s depth
Putting aside all the talk about the officiating in this series, OKC has established that they simply have better depth than the Lakers.
Look at how the Thunder stepped up last game when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was off the floor. They went on a 32-14 run, led by Chet Holmgren, Jared McCain and Ajay Mitchell, who overwhelmed the Lakers. That can’t happen in Game 3 if the Lakers hope to win.
Luke Kennard on what the Lakers need to do in the non-Shai Gilgeous-Alexander minutes, which they've lost by a combined 22 points across 33 minutes in Game 1 and Game 2:
"We need to up our physicality. Obviously, we've been putting the 2 guys on Shai a lot. And kind of let some… pic.twitter.com/csR0IhMv0m
If anything, it’s Los Angeles’ role players that badly need to step up. What if Luke Kennard gets more than a total of five attempts from the field? How about more opportunities for Rui Hachimura, who has by far been the most consistent role player in this series? Can the Lakers shoot better in Los Angeles? Hopefully the supporting cast puts together their best performance yet.
Control the controllable
In my preview for Game 2, I mentioned that the Lakers have to do a better job of rebounding and preventing second-chance opportunities. That absolutely didn’t happen, as OKC produced 17 second-chance points and, worse, took advantage of the Lakers’ 21 turnovers, which led to 14 fastbreak points. This was where the Lakers lost the game.
By now, the Lakers know the Thunder are the kind of elite team that makes opponents pay for their mistakes. Even the thinnest of errors can be so impactful in determining the outcome of this one.
Deal with “physicality”
For as much as I’d like to blast how the officiating has been so far in this series, akin to what JJ Redick and Austin Reaves did, it feels moot at this point because it’s not like that will change anything. The Lakers simply have to adjust to how the game is being officiated.
The worst possible scenario here is to continue getting worked up on these calls to the point that it significantly affects their performance on the court.
So, with a tall task ahead of them, let’s see whether or not the Lakers can make it a series on Saturday.
Notes and Updates
For the Lakers’ injury report, Jarred Vanderbilt (right finger dislocation) has been upgraded to questionable, and Luka Dončić (left hamstring strain) remains out.
As for the Thunder, Jalen Williams (left hamstring strain) and Thomas Sorber (ACL surgery recovery) will not suit up.
The Knicks took the 76ers' best shot early and turned a tight game into another comfortable victory in their 108-94 win over the Sixers in Game 3 on Friday night.
Here are the takeaways...
- The Sixers got off to a fast start, as Karl-Anthony Towns tipped the opening tip toward his own basket, where Kelly Oubre was waiting and he made an easy layup and turned it into a 9-0 run. The Knicks had a hard time getting decent looks on offense, and their defensive intensity was lacking, but New York would fight back, causing turnovers and turning them into baskets. However, back-to-back alley-oops from Tyrese Maxey to VJ Edgecombe forced coach Mike Brown to call his first timeout with Philly up 15-8.
The Sixers were noticeably more intense on both ends of the floor, and that helped them end the first with a 31-27 lead. It could have gotten away from the Knicks, but four offensive rebounds helped them cut into the deficit. Both teams shot around 50 percent, but the story of the first frame was the refs. Both teams were not happy with the foul and no-calls. The Knicks were called for six fouls in the first (Towns picking up two) while the Sixers had four. Joel Embiid, who missed Game 2, was back for this one and while he only scored four points, his presence was felt on the glass and spacing the floor.
Paul George was on fire in the opening frame, scoring 15 points on 6 of 8 shooting (3-for-4 from three). He torched the Knicks for 11 points in the first quarter of Game 2.
- Despite having two fouls, Towns was on the floor to start the second, along with Josh Hart, Landry Shamet, Jordan Clarkson and Jose Alvarado. This lineup gave the Knicks their first lead of the night on the back of Shamet's scoring and better defense from the team. However, after Alvarado's three put the Knicks up for the first time, Towns and Embiid stumbled to the floor and the Philly big man was called for the foul. Sixers coach Nick Nurse challenged and it was overturned to give Towns his third foul with eight minutes to go in the half.
With Towns on the bench with foul trouble, the Knicks picked up their big man by going on a run themselves, thanks to their patented defense-to-offense approach. They finally started getting to the line -- didn't have a free-throw attempt in the first -- and Mikal Bridges was especially huge, scoring six points and guarding his tail off -- he kept George scoreless in the second once Bridges took on that assignment. With 3:37 to go, the Knicks flipped their 12-point deficit to a 12-point lead.
The final few minutes saw the teams go basket for basket with Oubre making a corner three as time expired. The Knicks entered halftime up 60-52. Bridges and Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 15 points apiece. However, the Knicks outrebounded Philly, 25-16, and the New York bench outscored the Sixers' 16-0.
- The Knicks continued to outwork the Sixers, especially on the boards. But the Knicks missed five straight shots, allowing the Sixers to cut the deficit to just five points. Towns also picked up his fourth foul with six minutes remaining in the third. With Towns on the bench, the Sixers pushed the pace and were seemingly more energetic, as they gradually cut the Knicks' lead to three with three minutes to go. Philly resorted to the hack-a-Mitch strategy, but the Knicks big man made 3-of-4. In the final two minutes, the Sixers couldn't buy a basket as the Knicks got out to a 7-0 run to end the frame, capped by Shamet's three. New York took an 85-76 lead into the final frame.
- The fourth quarter lineup was the same as the one that started the second. But unlike that quarter, the combination couldn't get going offensively, forcing Brunson and the other starters back in. And that's when the Knicks started to pull away, building a 16-point lead -- the largest of the night to this point -- with 3:46 to go. The defense and ball movement were just too much for Philly and the Sixers offense was disjointed. Nurse waved the white flag with a couple of minutes to go with the Knicks taking a commanding 3-0 lead.
- Brunson had a game-high 33 points on 11-of-22 shooting. He now has the most 30-plus playoff games in Knicks history. Bridges had 23 points on 8 of 14 shooting.
Oubre had a team-high 22 points for Philly with Embiid going for 18 and Maxey just 17. Philadelphia shot 43 percent.
- With OG Anunoby out with a hamstring strain, Miles McBride was inserted into the starting lineup. The guard scored just three points on 1 of 6 shooting and was a minus-4 on the floor.
Game MVP: Mikal Bridges
Bridges complemented Brunson on the offensive end, and his defense on George and Maxey was superb.
The Knicks gave the 76ers a few glimmers of hope. But, just as they kept beginning to believe they could actually make it a series, the Knicks kept yanking it right away, like a big brother toying with his little brother.
After absorbing an early double-digit deficit, the Knicks completely took over in the second quarter. They let the 76ers pull within four near the end of the third quarter and early in the fourth, but quickly reestablished double-digit leads both times.
The second time elicited a loud “Let’s go Knicks” chant from the plethora of their fans taking over Xfinity Mobile Arena. The 76ers’ PA announcer didn’t even try to hide it — he responded with a “C’mon, 76ers fans” plea to drown them out.
But it was a useless effort. The Knicks soon after rattled off a 13-3 run to take a 16-point lead. Jalen Brunson put the 76ers away. There was nothing left for 76ers fans to yell about. Xfinity Mobile Arena became a Knicks party.
And they brought themselves within touching distance of reaching the conference finals for the second straight year with a 108-94 victory Friday night in Game 3 to take a commanding 3-0 series lead.
“They jumped out and they kind of punched us in the mouth to start the game,” coach Mike Brown said. “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.”
The Knicks have won six consecutive postseason games, their most since 1999.
They did it without OG Anunoby, who was out with a right hamstring strain. And they did it with minimal contribution from Karl-Anthony Towns, who again was glued to the bench for large stretches of the game due to foul trouble.
Jalen Brunson greets Mikal Bridges after scoring in the second quarter in of the Knicks’ 108-94 Game 3 win over the 76ers on May 8, 2026 in Philadelphia. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Brunson, after starting 0-for-4 and 2-for-8 from the field, largely carried the offense and finished with a game-high 33 points — on 11-for-22 shooting from the field — along with nine assists. Nine of those points came in the fourth quarter.
Mikal Bridges, without Anunoby, stepped up and delivered 23 points — 10 of which came in an impressive second quarter. His defense on Tyrese Maxey was terrific, and he also spent significant time on Paul George.
Josh Hart had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Rapper Fat Joe watching the game in the fourth quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Miles McBride started for Anunoby, but it was Landry Shamet — reentering the rotation — who provided huge minutes in his place. He recorded 15 points on 5-for-6 shooting and closed in the fourth quarter. It was part of a huge bench advantage for the Knicks, who held an 18-point edge in bench points.
“It was definitely a team effort,” Brunson said. “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.”
Towns played just 26 minutes and finished with eight points and 12 rebounds.
Mikal Bridges goes up for a layup during the Knicks’ Game 3 win over the 76ers. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The Knicks trailed by as many as 12 points in the first quarter. George was torching them and had 15 points (6-for-9 shooting) in that first quarter. The Knicks committed six turnovers as the game threatened to get away from them. But they weathered the storm and only trailed by four heading into the second quarter.
Within four minutes of the second quarter, they took the lead. And they went on to dominate the second quarter, outscoring the 76ers by 12 points. It came with a key defensive tweak, at times switching Bridges onto George as opposed to Hart.
George went scoreless the rest of the game, missing all nine shots he took.
Josh Hart (left) and Karl-Anthony Towns double team Joel Embiid in the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ Game 3 road victory over the 76ers. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
“We had to mix up coverages on him,” Brown said. “…Obviously with OG out, we were down a big wing. Mikal had to take that part over.”
Mitchell Robinson caught a lob from Brunson off an inbounds and dunked all over Joel Embiid to give the Knicks a five-point lead with 7:09 left in the second quarter. It was around then they took control and never looked back.
After they took the lead with 8:20 left in the second quarter, they led the rest of the way.
Mitchell Robinson dunks over Joel Embiid during the Knicks’ Game 3 road win over the 76ers. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“That’s just what our identity is,” Hart said. “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.”
Much of the third quarter was defined by Robinson’s free-throw shooting. The 76ers went Hack-a-Mitch, and he was also fouled twice going up for a lob and layup. He went 4-for-8 from the line in the quarter.
Embiid had 18 points for the 76ers, while Maxey added 17. But the Knicks made them footnotes.
“We withstood the first punch,” Towns said. “That’s a great team.”
The Knicks have made them look extremely ordinary.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 8: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket 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
Yeah, this is going to be a harder one to come back from.
The Sixers were outclassed again by the New York Knicks, falling 108-94 in Game 3 and into a 3-0 series deficit.
After missing Game 2, Joel Embiid never looked quite right, finishing with 18 points shooting 7-of-17 from the floor along with six rebounds and five assists. Tyrese Maxey had another passive first half, going for 17 points along with seven assists shooting 8-of-12 from the field.
Paul George couldn’t score after the first quarter, finishing with 15 points on 6-of-18 shooting. VJ Edgecombe had 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting with seven rebounds and four assists.
Kelly Oubre Jr. led the Sixers with 22 while Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 33.
OG Anunoby was out with a hamstring strain.
Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.
First Quarter
Boston had it thoroughly scouted, but the Sixers were able to hit the opening tip off right to Oubre in the frontcourt for an easy layup. It was a solid start, as picking up Brunson full court helped the Sixers get stops on the first four possessions of the game. Embiid found George open twice passing out of double teams as the Sixers started on a 9-0 run.
Even with that, Embiid started the game furious at the refs for the calls he wasn’t able to get. He and Karl-Anthony Towns were so physical to start the game they might as well have been wrestling. Once he seemed to settle down he got on the board with a midrange jumper. Defensively the Sixers threw a lot at the Knicks. On top of picking up full court, Embiid would occasionally be assigned to Josh Hart so he could roam. Three of their first four baskets were putbacks, and the Sixers were able to force four early turnovers. Brunson and Mikal Bridges hitting back-to-back threes felt like their first good looks of the night.
Maxey and Edgecombe used those turnovers well to control the game in transition, but George’s shotmaking gave them the biggest lift early as he had 15 in the first. The Knicks were slowly able to catch up as they continued to crash the glass. They grabbed four offensive rebounds and got 10 second-chance points in the quarter. Quentin Grimes’ layup attempt at the buzzer was no good, keeping the Sixers lead at four.
Andre Drummond was again the backup for Embiid. Dominick Barlow got some earlier playing time, checking in alongside Embiid as they replaced Drummond. Barlow picked up two early fouls which put an abrupt end to this shift. Between Embiid being unable to draw the fouls he wanted and the Sixers missing a ton of layups, they were playing a lot tighter on offense than they were to start the game. As detrimental as the tussling between the centers was, Embiid was at least able to draw Towns’ third foul relatively early in the quarter thanks to a challenge.
Mitchell Robinson throwing down a lob over Embiid really got the Knicks fans in the building loud. Maxey knocked down a much needed jumper, but the Sixers were struggling to stop the bleeding. Brunson answered that by drilling a three just in time toe beat the shot clock. Nick Nurse mixed things up again pulling Drummond for Adem Bona a couple minutes into his second shift. On his first offensive possession George turned it over when Bona didn’t know a pass was coming, then he fouled Bridges on the transition layup to make it an and-1.
The Sixers just looked like they were in their own heads as the Knicks kept pouring on baskets, which was jarring to see given the start they had. Maxey had only missed once, but he had only taken five shots, and he continued to be sloppy with the ball at an alarmingly casual rate. Embiid had a couple free throws rim out on him and telegraphed a moving screen badly. George had to sit for the final minute and a half of the quarter in foul trouble. Oubre trying to pressure the rim was really their most consistent offense in the quarter. He got a three to bounce in at the buzzer that cut the Knicks lead to eight.
A much needed three for the Sixers stubbornly falls for Kelly Oubre after a nice fake pass from VJ Edgecombe pic.twitter.com/UAwGsfEfCS
Fittingly, the first points of the second half came after Towns grabbed an offensive rebound over Embiid, giving Miles McBride a second chance to bury the corner three. The Sixers did have a response by finding Oubre near the basket and Edgecombe knocked down a three. George, who was still looking for his first points since the first quarter, missed his first two jumpers of the half. Embiid’s struggles continued from three as he hit the front of the rim. Brunson ended any chance of a run by beating Oubre for an and-1.
Maxey finally showed some aggression. His first three didn’t fall but he was able to create a couple baskets getting to the rim. Embiid hitting another midrange seemed to settle him as he was able to drive down the paint and hit Oubre in the dunker on the next possession. The offensive process had dramatically improved, the problem was they weren’t able to slow Brunson down on the other end.
Maxey with the quick pass to Embiid while being blitzed leads to an easy dunk for Oubre pic.twitter.com/6lqyUbPPiS
Oubre had appeared to draw an offensive foul on Brunson, but a challenge overturned the play and the foul was called on Edgecombe. The Sixers were still able to get that stop as the Knicks sailed an inbounds pass, Edgecombe was able to chase it down, cutting it to four with a fast break dunk. They got Robinson on the line who split a pair of free throws, but that was in the midst of two straight turnovers for the Sixers.
Embiid cut it to three at the line, but he took a hard foul in the process and was favoring his hip. After that the Sixers went back to hack-a-Mitch. It backfired on them with Robinson making three of his four attempts. The Sixers were unable to answer that, and a pair of Brunson free throws followed by another three from Landry Shamet put the Knicks back up by nine.
Fourth Quarter
Still looking for their first bench points of the game, Barlow returned, this time as a small-ball five. This quarter also started with the Knicks grabbing an offensive rebound and hitting a three on their second attempt. At least the Sixers finally got those elusive first bench points when Grimes hit a three on his fourth shot attempt.
After that first possession the Sixers were able to take advantage of some Brunson-less minutes. After a few stops, Grimes was able to drill another three to pull them within four and force a Knicks’ timeout. They put Brunson back in the game and ripped off an 11-2 run in response. Things only continued to look precarious as Grimes turned it over coming out of a Sixers’ timeout.
A loose ball finding its way to Maxey had him take another three and it fell, giving the Sixers a glimmer of hope. Brunson got right down the floor and answered with a bucket. Bridges beat everyone down the floor off a miss, the fast break layup putting the game away for good. The Sixers didn’t have any of the requirements to win this game. Not the effort, the shooting, rebounding, defense — none of it was good enough to get this one done.
