25-26 Knicks Close Out Game Two of the East Semifinals with a 2-0 Lead

After a 51-point win in Game Six of the first round against the Atlanta Hawks and a 39-point win in Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers, the New York Knicks went back to work in front of the home crowd at MSG on Wednesday night. Even without the 2022-2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid in the lineup, the Sixers made all the right adjustments heading into Game Two. New York and Philadelphia combined for 25 lead changes, going back-and-forth in this tightly competitive matchup. Behind Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns, who combined for 70 points, the Knicks took a 108-102 win. Game Three on Friday comes to us live from Philadelphia, where the 76ers will look to stop the Knicks’ momentum, while New York wants to assert a 3-0 lead and possibly command a sweep into the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals.

76ers Played with Force & Looked Much Better

While only eight Sixers players received minutes during Game Two, overall, their unit looked much better than it did in Game One. Tyrese Maxey finished with 26 points, while Kelly Oubre Jr. and Paul George dropped 19 in the loss. Philly’s rookie V. J. Edgecombe had 17 and also looked great defensively. Turnovers were an issue during this Game Two loss, with Maxey and Edgecombe combining for 10 of the 76ers’ 18 turnovers. They committed 19 turnovers in Game One; however, this was their biggest issue in Game Two, aside from not shooting as well from the field or the free-throw line as New York did. Surely, with Game Three in front of their home fans, Philadelphia will be looking to take back this series and make it a 2-1 deficit instead of 3-0.

Towns Tried to Prove the Doubters Wrong

During the Game Two win, Towns finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and a steal. The six-time all-star’s inconsistency in either shooting the ball or rebounding did not come up during this game, which proved to be pivotal as Towns helped the Knicks get a huge win at home to put New York up 2-0 in the series. This game was a case where Towns wanted to prove all the doubters and naysayers wrong. Going forward, the 30-year-old big man must display the same effort, confidence, and ability he showcased on Wednesday night.