New York dominates game 4, won 144-114, with McBride and Brunson earning applause. Now the winner of Detroit-Cleveland awaits. The 76ers, eliminated, must think about rebuilding: what if they part ways with Embiid?
Oh mama. The Knicks exclaim it as they show their muscles and best profile in Philadelphia on Mother’s Day. They dominate Game 4 144-114, exhibit an epochal 3-point show in the first half and close the second round series with the 76ers at 4-0. They win for the seventh time in a row in the 2026 playoffs, even. And so they return to the Conference final in the East 12 months later, as the number 3 seed, but as favourites, in any case, against whoever emerges victorious from the series between Detroit and Cleveland. The match at the Xfinity Mobile Arena essentially lasts just 12 minutes after which New York, which is chasing its first Finals since 1999, is already ahead by 19 points. Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride or Josh Hart: the shooter changes, not the result, the retina always moves on the visitors’ conclusions from the perimeter.
76ERS SINKING
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The 76ers look terrible. Fresh from the feat against Boston, the 4-3 comeback made even more precious by the unexpected victory in Game 7 at the Garden, they collapse in front of their fans. Joel Embiid seems to be in decline due to his physical condition and “strike” in defense, Paul George marginal for a team with legitimate ambitions. They are paid their weight in gold, however, under the salary heading. The management’s first objective will have to be to get rid of at least one of the two in the summer, perhaps the long, worn and bruised one, and start again with the young guards, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.
the match
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OG Anunoby still out due to the muscle injury suffered in Game 2. Embiid not at his best, but available. Knicks immediately 17-6 thanks to three straight triples by McBride. New York starts 11/12 from 3 points, NBA record for threes scored in the playoffs in the first quarter of a game. After 12′ of the match the score is 43-24. Already decided, in practice. So 59-32 becomes a humiliation for the 76ers, indecent due to the lack of defense, intensity and that bit of pride that it would be their duty to demonstrate. New York even wins 5 rebounds in a row in a single possession, 76ers unjustifiable. At half-time it was 81-57 with 18 threes for the Knicks, another record. Even 122-83 at the end of the 3rd quarter, the team from the Big Apple rages and only the New York fans can be heard in the arena. They’re partying, it seems like a good year. The Knicks, ahead by 44 points, at least look like they are in the Finals, 27 years later.
Philadelphia: Embiid 24 (6/6, 2/2, 6/7 tl), Maxey 17, Oubre 10. Rebounds: Edgecombe 6. Assists: Edgecombe 7.
New York: McBride 25 (0/1, 7/9, 4/4 TL), Brunson 22, Hart/Towns 17. Rebounds: Hart 9. Assists: Towns 10.
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