New York Knicks reach Eastern Conference Finals with record-breaking three-point display

The New York Knicks continued their dominant run in the NBA playoffs after sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers 4-0 in the Eastern Conference semi-finals, sealing qualification with an emphatic 144-114 road victory.

The Knicks left no doubt about their superiority, imposing their offensive rhythm from the opening moments and delivering one of their finest performances of the season — particularly from beyond the arc, where they tied the all-time playoff record with 25 three-pointers. They also exploded out of the gates by knocking down 11 triples in the first quarter alone, matching the best start in playoff history.

That remarkable offensive display allowed New York to establish a huge early advantage, taking an 81-57 lead into halftime before eventually extending the margin beyond 40 points in a game that highlighted the enormous gap between the two teams both technically and mentally.

With the victory, the Knicks secured their seventh consecutive playoff win and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second straight season, where they will face either the Detroit Pistons or the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Star guard Jalen Brunson once again led the way and stressed after the game that the job is far from finished, insisting the team must remain fully focused with the decisive stages of the postseason still ahead.

The Knicks’ collective strength was also on full display, with six players scoring in double figures — clear evidence of the team’s offensive depth and their ability to cope with the continued absence of British forward OG Anunoby, who missed his second consecutive game through injury.

On the other side, the Philadelphia 76ers struggled badly to match the pace and intensity of their opponents despite repeated attempts by coach Nick Nurse to inspire his players. The large contingent of Knicks supporters inside the arena also turned into an additional source of pressure on the home team, who lacked both defensive answers and attacking solutions for most of the contest.

Despite battling difficult health conditions, Cameroonian star Joel Embiid still delivered an impressive offensive performance, finishing with 24 points to lead Philadelphia’s scoring while continuing to deal with multiple injuries following his recent appendix surgery. Tyrese Maxey added 17 points, but it was nowhere near enough to avoid elimination.

Western Conference series heats up

Meanwhile in the Western Conference, the semi-final series between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the San Antonio Spurs burst back into life after Minnesota levelled the series at 2-2 with a hard-fought 114-109 home win.

Anthony Edwards was the standout performer, taking over in the fourth quarter by scoring 16 of his 36 points during the decisive period to guide the Timberwolves to a crucial victory that reset the series.

French centre Rudy Gobert also played a key role late on, giving Minnesota the lead in the closing minutes before Ayo Dosunmu added decisive points to strengthen the hosts’ advantage.

The game’s major turning point came in the second quarter when French sensation Victor Wembanyama was dismissed after swinging his elbow at Naz Reid during a battle for possession, forcing the Spurs to play most of the game without their franchise star.

Even so, San Antonio remained competitive thanks to strong performances from De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper, who both scored 24 points, while Stephon Castle contributed 20.

The series is now completely open heading into Game 5 in San Antonio.

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