New York Knicks sweep past the Philadelphia 76ers and into NBA Eastern Conference Finals

LOS ANGELES – The New York Knicks used a stunning three-point barrage to crush the Philadelphia 76ers 144-114 and advance in the NBA play-offs on May 10, as the Minnesota Timberwolves held off the San Antonio Spurs to level their series.

The Knicks matched the NBA play-offs record with 25 three-pointers, setting an early tone with record-equalling 11 first-quarter treys and 18 in the first half.

With their seventh straight win in these play-offs, the Knicks polished off a 4-0 sweep of the 76ers in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semi-finals.

The Timberwolves knotted their Western Conference semi-final series at 2-2, pulling away late for a 114-109 victory over the Spurs – who played most of the game without Victor Wembanyama.

The French star was ejected for elbowing Naz Reid in the jaw early in the second quarter.

The Knicks reached the conference finals for the second straight year and will face either the top-seeded Detroit Pistons or fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers for a place in the NBA Finals.

“One game at a time,” Knicks star Jalen Brunson said, after New York humbled the 76ers on their home floor for a second straight game.

“We still have a lot of work to do and our focus needs to be better.”

Miles McBride made seven three-pointers on the way to a game-high 25 points and Brunson drained six from beyond the arc in scoring 22.

Six players scored in double figures for the Knicks, who were without forward OG Anunoby for a second straight game with a hamstring strain.

New York started strongly in the first quarter with 43 points.

Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse exhorted his team during one timeout to stay positive and “play harder”. But with their Xfinity Mobile Arena turned into hostile territory by a legion of raucous Knicks fans, the 76ers could not find an answer.

By the time the Knicks took an 81-57 lead into the break, it was virtually over and they pushed the lead to as many as 44 points, enabling them to rest their starters in the fourth quarter.

Joel Embiid, soldiering through hip and ankle injuries that struck after his April appendectomy, hit all eight of his shots and six of seven free throws to lead the 76ers with 24 points.

Tyrese Maxey added 17 but the Sixers, who shocked the second-seeded Boston Celtics in the first round, have now failed to go beyond the second round since 2001.

“Quite frankly, New York, they were just better than us in everything,” Embiid said.

In Minneapolis, Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards scored 16 of his 36 points in a frantic fourth quarter that featured five lead changes.

Rudy Gobert converted a three-point play that put the Timberwolves up for good, 103-101, with 3min 2sec left. Ayo Dosunmu converted another three-point play to push Minnesota’s lead to 110-103 as they closed out the win in a game that neither team led by more than nine points.

Defensive Player of the Year Wembanyama was tossed from a game for the first time in his NBA career early in the second quarter.

Bottled up by Reid and Jaden McDaniels after an offensive rebound, he turned back towards Reid and jabbed his elbow, sending the Timberwolves player sprawling.

But with 24 points apiece from De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper and 20 from Stephon Castle, the Spurs kept themselves in it and led 94-86 with 8min 51sec to play.

“When Wemby got thrown out of the game, we came out thinking it was going to be easy,” Edwards said.

“But those guys are really good, even without Wemby. So we just had to play hard and I had to just take it upon myself to try to get us a win.”

Reid finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, and McDaniels added 14 points for the Timberwolves, who assured the series will return to Minneapolis for Game 6 after the Spurs host Game 5 on May 12. AFP