Knicks make 25 threes, sweep Sixers

The Knicks didn’t just finish off the 76ers. They detonated the series. New York beat Philadelphia 144-114 on Sunday, May 10, to complete a 4-0 sweep in the Eastern Conference semifinals, and the game barely felt competitive after the opening burst. The headline number was 25 made threes — tied for the most any team has ever hit in an NBA playoff game. But the bigger point is simpler: this wasn’t a lucky shooting night. It looked like a team that knows exactly what it is. ### Why did this game feel over so fast? Because the Knicks hit Philly with the kind of first punch that changes the whole geometry of a game. After the Sixers scored first, New York ripped off a 20-4 run, led by 20 before the first quarter ended, and pushed the margin as high as 44. By halftime, the Knicks had already made 18 threes. That’s the part that breaks you — not just the points, but the sense that every defensive mistake is instantly fatal. (nba.com) ### Why do the 25 threes matter so much? Because 25 isn’t just “a lot.” It tied the playoff record for any team in any postseason game, and it set a Knicks franchise record for either the regular season or playoffs. New York finished 25-for-44 from deep — 57%. Philadelphia went 8-for-35. That 25-to-8 gap from three was tied for the third-biggest three-point differential in playoff history. Basically, the Knicks won one of basketball’s most important math battles by a ridiculous margin. (nba.com) ### Was this only about hot shooting? No — that’s the trap. Hot shooting explains the score, but it doesn’t explain the series. The Knicks averaged 124.3 points across the four games and won every game by double digits. They took the series 137-98, 108-102, 108-94, and 144-114. That’s not a coin-flip heater. That’s control — over tempo, over spacing, and over where the other team is allowed to operate. (nba.com) ### Who led the closeout? Miles McBride had the loudest night. He scored 25 points and hit 7 of 9 from three, leading six Knicks in double figures. But this is also why New York suddenly feels deeper than the old version of itself. When a closeout game turns into a McBride avalanche instead of a pure Jalen Brunson rescue act, opponents have a different problem. The defense can load up on one star and still get buried by the rest of the floor. (nba.com) ### What made the offense so hard to guard? Volume and confidence. Through the first half, 29 of New York’s 53 shots came from three. That’s 55% of its attempts. The Knicks weren’t just accepting open threes — they were hunting them, over and over, until the Sixers had to choose between helping at the rim and giving up another clean look outside. It’s like trying to plug one leak and watching water come through three more holes. (nba.com) ### What does this change for the Knicks? It changes the conversation. Last year, a conference finals run could still be framed as a breakthrough. This year, getting back there after a sweep makes New York look established. The Knicks are now headed to a second straight Eastern Conference finals, and they got there with a mix that travels in May — defense, shot creation, and absurd three-point volume. (nba.com) ### So what’s the real takeaway? The Knicks didn’t just advance. They announced a version of themselves that looks harder to scheme against than before. When a team can bury you from deep, defend hard enough to keep the game tilted, and close a series without drama, contender talk stops sounding premature. It starts sounding overdue. (nba.com)