May 6, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) celebrates after scoring against the Philadelphia 76ers during game five of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
The New York Knicks were inevitably bound to come back down to earth during their semifinal series against the Philadelphia 76ers. Yet, they pulled off a 108-102 triumph in Game 2, taking a 2-0 series lead thanks to a decisive fourth quarter performance.
On Wednesday night, under the lights of Madison Square Garden, the Knicks trailed at the end of the first three quarters, but then held the Joel Embiid-less Sixers to just 12 points in the final stanza.
Miles McBride opened the quarter with a deep three, as Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby outpaced Tyrese Maxey and Paul George, who scored 26 and 19 points in the absence of the superstar center, Embiid
Nevertheless, Brunson continued his postseason brilliance, scoring eight of his 26 total points in the fourth. Anunoby once again rose to the occasion, scoring 24 points with five rebounds and four steals. Karl-Anthony Towns anchored down the interior, tallying 20 points and 10 rebounds against a short-handed 76ers frontcourt.
New York’s defense remained on point, forcing 18 turnovers and stripping the ball eight times. Maxey got just one of his six three-point attempts to fall, as George missed eight of his 13 long-range shots. While Kelly Oubre and VJ Edgecombe scored in double figures, neither forward shot better than 50% from the field.
However, the Knicks’ defense was a shell of itself to start the game. Oubre and George got the 76ers’ offense going, as Anunoby and Towns led New York. Neither team found the edge until Maxey and Edgecombe put their team ahead by two to end the quarter.
More of the same continued in the second quarter, with Maxey scoring 11 against the Knicks’ defense in less than four minutes. And if it wasn’t for Brunson and Anunoby’s scoring, New York might have been down more than one going into halftime.
The third quarter brought more similarities, as both teams remained within reach of retaking the lead. 11 points from Towns rallied the Knicks, but Oubre and George continued to knock down shots. Nine points courtesy of Anunoby put his team ahead, only for Philadelphia to end the quarter up one.
But the veteran forward’s scoring surge was a precursor to New York playing an effective fourth quarter. Josh Hart’s triple tied the game, as Brunson scored the next two baskets. Mikal Bridges increased the score to six, while Brunson sealed the razor-close win with a pair of free throws.
With the Knicks in control of the series, two more wins are all they need to reach their second straight Eastern Conference Finals. But that is easier said than done, with the 76ers holding home court advantage for Friday’s Game 3 and Sunday’s Game 4 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
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