Knicks complete four‑game sweep, eliminate 76ers from East semifinals

The Knicks didn’t just eliminate the 76ers on Sunday, May 10. They steamrolled them. New York won 144-114 in Philadelphia, finished a 4-0 second-round sweep, and punched its ticket back to the Eastern Conference finals. The big deal isn’t only that the Knicks advanced. It’s how overwhelming they looked doing it — fast, deep, and completely in control. ### Was this actually a sweep? Yes — and not a sneaky one. New York won all four games of the series: 137-98, 108-102, 108-94, and then the 30-point blowout in Game 4. By the end, this barely looked like a competitive matchup. The Knicks have now won seven straight playoff games, counting the end of their first-round series against Atlanta. ### What happened in Game 4? (nba.com) The Knicks detonated from 3. They tied the NBA postseason record with 25 made 3-pointers and dropped 144 points on the road in a closeout game. That’s the kind of number that usually means one thing — the game was functionally over long before the final buzzer. Philadelphia never found a way to slow the ball movement or the shotmaking. ### Who drove the win? Deuce McBride was the surprise hammer. He started for the injured OG Anunoby, hit seven 3s, went 4-for-4 from deep in the first quarter, and finished with 25 points. Jalen Brunson added 22, while Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns scored 17 each. That balance is part of why New York looks dangerous right now — this wasn’t Brunson dragging everybody home. It was a full-team avalanche. (nba.com) ### Why does McBride matter so much here? Because playoff series usually swing when a rotation cracks. Anunoby being out should have been a stress point. Instead, the Knicks got a huge two-way game from his replacement and never lost shape. Basically, New York turned an injury question into a depth flex. That’s a scary sign for the next opponent. (nba.com) ### How dominant have the Knicks been overall? Very. Through two rounds, New York’s average margin of victory is 19.4 points per game — the biggest through two rounds since the NBA expanded the playoffs to 16 teams in 1984. That stat tells you this run isn’t about surviving coin-flip endings. The Knicks are controlling games early and burying teams. (nba.com) ### What changed from last year? The Knicks are back in the conference finals for the second straight season, but the setup is different. Last year they got there for the first time in 25 years and then lost to Indiana. After that run, the franchise moved on from Tom Thibodeau and hired Mike Brown. Brown now has the team rolling, with seven straight playoff wins and another East finals berth in his first year. (nba.com) ### Who do they get next? New York will face the winner of Cleveland-Detroit. As of Sunday night, that series was still going, with Detroit leading 2-1 and Game 4 scheduled for Monday, May 11. The nice part for the Knicks is obvious — the sweep buys them real rest while the other side keeps grinding. ### So what’s the real takeaway? The Knicks didn’t just advance. (nba.com) They announced themselves. A team that can lose a starter, tie a playoff 3-point record, win by 30 on the road, and reach the conference finals in back-to-back years is not sneaking up on anybody now. They look like a real East favorite — or at minimum, a team nobody wants to see next.