History in New York: Brunson’s Masterclass Leads Knicks to Record-Breaking Game 1 Rout over 76ers
The New York Knicks made a statement that echoed through the NBA on Monday night, delivering a historic 137–98 blowout victory over the Philadelphia 76ers to open the Eastern Conference semifinals. In a performance that bordered on surgical, New York became the first team in league history to win three consecutive playoff games by 25 points or more, proving that their current momentum is far more than just a hot streak.
From the opening tip, the atmosphere at Madison Square Garden was electric, and the home team fed off that energy to dismantle a weary Philadelphia squad that had just come off a grueling seven-game series.
Brunson’s Blistering Start
Jalen Brunson continued his postseason tear, putting the game away almost single-handedly in the first half. He dropped 27 of his game-high 35 points before the halftime buzzer even sounded. His ability to navigate the paint and find his rhythm from beyond the arc left the Philadelphia defense scrambled.
While Brunson was the headliner, the supporting cast was equally elite. OG Anunoby was nearly perfect, contributing 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting, while the trio of Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart provided the defensive grit and scoring depth that has defined this New York roster.
A Struggle for the Stars
On the other side of the court, the 76ers looked like a team running on empty. Coming off a dramatic comeback against Boston just 48 hours prior, Philadelphia struggled to find any offensive rhythm.
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Joel Embiid: Managed just 14 points on a difficult 3-of-11 shooting night.
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Tyrese Maxey: Was held scoreless until deep into the second quarter, finishing with 13 points.
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Paul George: Provided a small spark with 17 points, but it wasn’t nearly enough to halt the New York avalanche.
The Stats That Defined the Game
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Shooting Efficiency: New York shot a staggering 63% from the field, one of the highest marks in franchise playoff history.
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Dominant Lead: The lead ballooned to as many as 40 points in the second half, allowing the starters to rest for most of the fourth quarter.
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Historical Context: This win marks the first time since play-by-play tracking began in 1996 that a team has led three straight playoff games by 30+ points.
What’s Next?
As the series moves toward Game 2, the pressure shifts entirely to Philadelphia. For the 76ers, the priority will be recovery and finding a way to slow down a New York offense that currently looks unstoppable. For the Knicks, the goal remains simple: maintain the focus on “attention to detail” that Brunson emphasized after the game.