Knicks Defeat 76ers In Game 6 Thriller, Advance To Eastern Semifinals

The New York Knicks narrowly escaped the Wells Fargo Center with a thrilling 118-115 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 6, propelling them into the Eastern Conference semifinals for the second consecutive NBA season—a feat not accomplished since 2000.

Jalen Brunson was instrumental in the victory, scoring 14 of his 41 points in the fourth quarter. His standout performance included delivering the crucial assist to Josh Hart for the game-winning three-pointer with just 24 seconds left.

“I was able to get my feet set and just shoot an open uncontested shot,” Hart said.

“It means a lot,” Brunson said, reflecting on the significance of advancing, especially given the team’s recent playoff struggles.

The Knicks took an early lead, but the 76ers, led by Joel Embiid’s dominant 39 points and 13 rebounds, made a formidable comeback.

Philadelphia was bolstered unexpectedly by Buddy Hield, who had been quiet earlier in the series. Hield’s resurgence, scoring 17 points on 5-for-7 shooting from three-point range, fueled a 43-18 run that erased the Knicks’ early advantage.

“I’ve decided nothing matters. They kill us on the glass, it goes down to the buzzer. We kill them on the glass, it goes down to the buzzer,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse explained. “Joel scores 50, it goes down to the buzzer. Brunson scores 47, it goes down to the buzzer.”

The game was a back-and-forth battle into the second half. Philadelphia briefly took a ten-point lead, but New York quickly responded. The Knicks regained the lead with a tie at the end of the third quarter on an OG Anunoby three-pointer.

The fourth quarter was a showdown of key plays. Brunson’s runner gave New York a lead that the 76ers managed to erase, setting the stage for Hart’s late-game heroics.

After Hart’s three-pointer, the 76ers tied the game again but could not overcome the Knicks in the final seconds.

“The fourth quarter was just one big play after the next,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau noted, emphasizing the intensity of the closing moments.

This game not only highlights the Knicks’ resilience but also underscores the 76ers’ continuing woes in playoff elimination games at home, a narrative that has become all too familiar over the past few years.

The Knicks will now prepare for their next challenge: facing the Indiana Pacers in the semifinals, which will begin Monday night at Madison Square Garden.

With this victory, Brunson and the Knicks continue to make their mark, hoping to carry their momentum into the deeper rounds of the playoffs.