Knicks try sweep in Game 4

The Knicks are trying to turn a strong series into a short one. Sunday, May 10, is Game 4 in Philadelphia, and New York is up 3-0 on the 76ers after taking Game 3 by 14 points. That matters for the obvious reason — one more win sends the Knicks to the Eastern Conference finals. But it also matters because a sweep changes the calendar, and in May the calendar is half the battle. ### Why is Game 4 such a big deal? Because 3-0 is basically the doorstep. New York already handled Philadelphia twice at Madison Square Garden, then went on the road Friday and won 108-94. That pushed the Sixers into elimination territory and gave the Knicks a chance to finish the series before it can get messy. For a team that has spent the playoffs looking deeper and calmer than people expected, that’s a huge opening. (nba.com) ### What has New York done so well? The Knicks have controlled the shape of the series. Game 1 was a blowout — 137-98. Game 2 was tighter, but New York still closed it out, 108-102. Game 3 was the cleanest sign yet that the Knicks can win in different ways: not just by overwhelming Philadelphia early, but by hanging around, then letting Jalen Brunson take over late. That’s what good playoff teams do — they don’t need the same script every night. (espn.com) ### Why does Brunson feel like the center of this? Because he is. Brunson scored 33 points with nine assists in Game 3, and he has been the steady hand every time the series threatens to wobble. He can score in bunches, but the more important thing is that he keeps New York organized. When Philadelphia makes a push, the Knicks don’t start freelancing. Brunson slows the game down, gets to his spots, and makes the next possession feel deliberate instead of frantic. (espn.com) ### What’s the injury angle here? OG Anunoby missed Game 3 with a hamstring strain, which is the one real warning light for New York. The Knicks still won comfortably, but losing a two-way wing in the middle of a playoff run can change matchups fast. The encouraging part for them is simple — they showed they can survive without him for a night. The catch is that surviving one game is not the same as cruising through two more rounds. (espn.com) ### Why hasn’t Philadelphia flipped this yet? Because the Sixers haven’t been able to control either end for long enough. They’ve had stretches, but not sustained command. Joel Embiid returned to the lineup for this series, yet Philadelphia still hasn’t found a version of itself that can consistently pressure New York. Tyrese Maxey and Paul George can create offense, but the Knicks have kept dragging the games back to their pace and their preferred spots on the floor. (nbcsports.com) ### Why does a sweep matter beyond this series? Rest. That’s the real prize. The other East semifinal — Cleveland against Detroit — is still going, with Detroit up 2-1 heading into the next game. If the Knicks end this on Sunday, they get days to recover, reset rotations, and maybe get healthier while the other side keeps absorbing minutes and contact. In the playoffs, that kind of edge can feel small on paper and huge in practice. (espn.com) ### So what should you watch first? Watch whether Philadelphia can force the game into chaos early. That’s the Sixers’ best chance. If the Knicks keep it orderly, get another Brunson control game, and avoid letting the crowd turn the afternoon into a track meet, they have a real shot to end this right now. Basically, Game 4 is about whether New York can make the series feel inevitable. (nbcsports.com) The bottom line is simple — the Knicks aren’t just trying to win a road playoff game. They’re trying to buy time, protect their legs, and turn a good playoff run into a cleaner path to the East finals. Sunday can do all of that at once. (nba.com)