By: Jennifer Portee
5/7/2026
This one wasn’t about speed or flash it was about patience and control, and once again, Jalen Brunson showed why the Knicks trust him to lead them through moments like this.
New York had to earn this one the hard way, grinding out a 108-102 win over Philadelphia on Wednesday night to take a 2-0 series lead. Nothing came easy this time it was about staying composed, making the right plays late, and once again, that’s where Jalen Brunson made his presence felt.
The All-Star guard had 26 points, but it wasn’t just the scoring it was the timing. With everything tight in the fourth, Brunson found his spots, knocked down a go-ahead shot, and followed it up with another big jumper to give the Knicks just enough breathing room.
“Stay locked into the moment,” Brunson said postgame, emphasizing a mindset that has become the Knicks’ identity this postseason.
This one looked nothing like Game 1. It was back-and-forth all night, with neither team able to pull away. Every possession felt important, every mistake stood out, and even without Joel Embiid, Philadelphia brought enough fight to make this a real battle.
Tyrese Maxey bounced back in a major way, dropping 26 points and setting the tempo early with an explosive first half. He had defenders chasing shadows in the second quarter, reminding everyone why he’s one of the league’s fastest-rising stars. Still, New York tightened up defensively after halftime, with Mikal Bridges stepping up to disrupt Maxey’s flow while contributing 18 points of his own.
OG Anunoby added 24 points before exiting late, leaving questions about his availability moving forward. Meanwhile, Karl-Anthony Towns delivered a well-rounded performance with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists.
Philadelphia didn’t go away, getting 19 points apiece from Paul George and Kelly Oubre Jr., plus a solid game from VJ Edgecombe. They had a chance late in the fourth, but cold shooting down the stretch cost them.
Head coach Nick Nurse pointed to execution rather than effort. “We generated clean looks just couldn’t convert when it counted,” he said.
Now the series heads to Philadelphia, where the pressure starts to rise. The Sixers will try to reset and maybe get Embiid back while the Knicks look to stay locked in and keep things rolling.
If these first two games are any indication, this series won’t be about blowouts anymore it’ll be about who can stay sharp when everything slows down.