Knicks become first team through to East final with four-game sweep of 76ers

The Knicks didn’t just eliminate the 76ers — they detonated the series. New York won Game 4, 144-114, on Sunday, May 10, in Philadelphia and finished a clean four-game sweep to become the first team into the 2026 Eastern Conference finals. The score was ugly. The shot-making was even uglier for Philly. By the time the first quarter ended, this already felt over. ### How bad was Game 4? Really bad if you’re the Sixers. New York hit 25 threes in the game, tying an NBA playoff record, and knocked down 11 in the first quarter alone — the most ever in a postseason opening quarter. The Knicks scored 144 points, their highest total in a playoff game, and turned what should have been a desperate home elimination game into target practice. ### Who drove it for New York? The funny part is that it wasn’t one superstar going nuclear by himself. Miles McBride led the Knicks with 25 points and came out firing, while Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart kept the pressure on. That balance is what made this feel so crushing — Philadelphia couldn’t load up on one guy, and every defensive mistake turned into another clean look from deep. USA Today’s game write-up centered McBride for a reason: he made sure this never got tense. (apnews.com) ### Why does the shooting matter so much? Because this wasn’t random late-game heat-check stuff. It was structural. New York spaced the floor, moved the ball, and got comfortable early. Once a team hits 11 threes in the first quarter, the whole geometry of the game changes — defenders start lunging, rotations get longer, and the paint opens up too. It’s like trying to patch one leak while three more open behind you. Philadelphia spent the rest of the afternoon chasing damage it never really contained. (usatoday.com) ### Was the series actually close before this? Not really. Game 1 was a 137-98 Knicks blowout at Madison Square Garden, and New York entered Sunday already up 3-0. So Game 4 wasn’t some surprise collapse at the end of a tight matchup. It was the loudest version of a trend that had been there all week — the Knicks were simply better, deeper, and more organized across the series. ### Why is this a bigger deal for the Knicks? (apnews.com) Because this is no longer just a nice playoff run. New York is back in the Eastern Conference finals for the second straight year, and this time it got there fast enough to become the first East team through. That matters in two ways — rest, obviously, but also credibility. A sweep in the second round tells the rest of the bracket that the Knicks aren’t surviving; they’re dictating. (espn.com) ### What does this say about Philadelphia? That the gap was wider than anyone in Philly wanted to admit. Home court in an elimination game usually gives you one last puncher’s chance. The 76ers got run off the floor instead. Losing is one thing. Getting swept, then giving up 144 in the closeout, makes the offseason questions much harsher — roster fit, defensive identity, and whether this core can actually threaten the top of the East. (ny1.com) ### What happens next? The Knicks wait. ESPN’s updated playoff bracket has New York as the first team into the Eastern Conference finals, with the NBA Finals scheduled to begin on June 3. So the immediate reward for the sweep is simple — recovery time, scouting time, and a chance to watch the rest of the East fight to join them. ### Bottom line New York didn’t just advance. (apnews.com) The Knicks made a statement loud enough that the whole conference heard it — 144 points, 25 threes, no drama, no comeback window, and no doubt who owned this series. (espn.com)