Knicks one win from sweep after Game 3 victory, lead East semis 3-0

The Knicks are one win from ending this series, and the shape of it is getting hard to ignore. New York beat Philadelphia 108-94 in Game 3 on Friday, May 8, and now leads the East semifinal 3-0. That score was tighter than Game 1’s blowout, but the basic story stayed the same — the Knicks absorbed the first punch, controlled the middle of the game, and let Jalen Brunson finish it. ### What happened in Game 3? Philadelphia actually opened better. The 76ers led 31-27 after one quarter and had the crowd going, which mattered because this was their first home game of the series. But New York took over from there, outscoring Philadelphia 33-21 in the second quarter, then kept the game tilted the rest of the way for a 14-point win. (espn.com) ### Who decided it? Brunson did what stars do in playoff games that wobble for a bit and then suddenly belong to one team. He scored 33 points, and the big part wasn’t just the total — it was the timing. Late buckets from Brunson stretched the lead when Philadelphia still had a chance to make it weird. That has been the recurring problem for the 76ers: every time the game reaches the “someone has to settle this” stage, New York has the cleaner answer. (espn.com) ### Was this another blowout? Not exactly, but it was another control game. Game 1 was a 137-98 demolition. Game 3 looked more competitive because Philadelphia led early and stayed within range longer. The catch is that New York still won the second and fourth quarters, and still dictated the terms once the game slowed into half-court possessions. Basically, the Knicks did not need a perfect night to look sturdier. (espn.com) ### Why does 3-0 feel so final? Because in NBA history, 3-0 is almost always the end of the argument. Teams can steal a Game 4 at home. They can even force a trip back on the road. But four straight wins against the better, healthier, more organized team is a completely different task. New York now has four chances to get one win. Philadelphia has zero margin left. (espn.com) ### What’s gone wrong for Philadelphia? The 76ers have spent three games chasing the version of this matchup they wanted and not getting it. New York has been more physical, more stable possession to possession, and much less dependent on one hot stretch. Even with Joel Embiid back in the mix for the series, Philadelphia has not been able to turn that into sustained control. The Knicks have made every comeback attempt feel expensive. (espn.com) ### What about the Knicks without OG Anunoby? That might be the sneaky part of this result. NBA.com listed Anunoby out for Game 3 with a hamstring strain, and New York still handled the game well enough to win by 14 on the road. That matters because it suggests this isn’t just one perfect lineup steamrolling a vulnerable opponent. The Knicks have enough shot creation and defensive structure to survive a real absence and still look like the more complete team. (nba.com) ### When is the closeout chance? Game 4 is Sunday, May 10, in Philadelphia. ESPN’s playoff bracket had New York listed as a slight favorite even on the road, which tells you how sharply the series has swung. A week ago this looked like a real second-round fight. Now it looks like the Knicks have a chance to turn it into a statement. ### Bottom line (nba.com) This is no longer just a good Knicks run. It’s turning into the kind of series that changes how the whole conference is viewed. One more win, and New York won’t just advance — it will arrive. (espn.com)