Eastern semis begin: Knicks host 76ers in Game 1 at MSG tonight

The East semifinal in New York starts with a matchup almost nobody penciled in a week ago. The Knicks were waiting at Madison Square Garden after handling Atlanta in six games. The 76ers looked cooked against Boston — then ripped off three straight wins and turned the bracket upside down. So Game 1 on Monday night is really about two things at once: New York trying to cash in its steadier season, and Philadelphia trying to prove that comeback changed the shape of its playoffs. (nba.com) ### Why does this series feel surprising? Because the surprise team is Philadelphia. The 76ers trailed Boston 3-1 in the first round, then won Game 5, Game 6, and Game 7 — finishing the comeback with a 109-100 road win on May 2. That flipped what looked like a routine Celtics path into a second-round date with the Knicks instead. (northjersey.com) ### What did New York do to get here? The Knicks were much less dramatic. They beat the Hawks 4-2 and closed the series with a demolition — 140-89 in Game 6 on April 30. That matters because New York got extra rest, avoided a Game 7, and kept home-court advantage for this round thanks to its better regular-season record. (nba.com) ### When is Game 1, exactly? Game 1 is Monday, May 4, 2026, at Madison Square Garden. NBA and ESPN listings show an 8:00 p.m. ET start, with NBC and Peacock carrying the game. Game 2 is set for May 6 before the series shifts to Philadelphia. (api-hub.nba.com) ### What(nba.com)le is Karl-Anthony Towns against Joel Embiid. NBA’s series preview framed the matchup around star power at guard and center, but the Embiid-Towns piece is the one that can bend everything else — spacing, foul trouble, rebounding, and who gets t(api-hub.nba.com)der the headline. (nba.com) ### Does home court really matter here? Probably more than usual. New York went 53-29 and earned the No. 3 seed, which gives the Knicks Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 at home in the usual 2-2-1-1-1 format. In a series that already looks swingy, opening with two games at MSG gives the Knicks a clean chance to put pressure back on a team that just spent a week surviving elimination. (espn.com) ### Is the 76ers comeback a blessing or a tax? Both. The upside is obvious — Philadelphia enters with real momentum and the confidence of having solved a stronger first-round opponent than expected. But the catch is wear and tear. The Sixers had to empty the tank through seven games, while the Knicks have (espn.com)e starting the series half a step faster. (northjersey.com) ### Why does this matter beyond one opener? Because the bracket is suddenly softer for whoever survives. Boston is out. The East semifinal field now includes a No. 7 seed that just pulled off a comeback and a Knicks team whose championship odds shortened after its first-round finish. This series is no longer just a rivalry matchup — it’s a real path question. (espn.com) ### Bottom line The Knicks have the cleaner setup — home court, extra rest, and a dominant close to Round 1. The 76ers have the louder recent statement. Game 1 should tell you which force matters more: structure, or momentum.