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Knicks dominate Game 1: +39 on 76ers, Towns: “We haven’t done anything”

Sandy Verma | May 7, 2026 12:24 PM CST

The New York Knicks are going through a stretch where everything seems to be working perfectly. After an up-and-down season, the team has found identity and consistency at the most important point of the year.

And Game 1 against the Philadelphia 76ers was a clear example of that.

The game was decided early: Jalen Brunson dominated the first half with 27 points and finished with 35, pushing the Knicks to a 23-point halftime lead. The final score, 137-98 at Madison Square Garden was emphatic.

Knicks make NBA history

The Knicks became the first team in NBA history to win three consecutive playoff games by at least 25 points. A dominant run built on pace, intensity, and unreal shooting numbers: 63% from the field and 51% from threewith the lead growing as large as 40 points.

Karl-Anthony Towns summed up the team’s mindset this way:

He then added an important point about the group:

Jalen Brunson echoed the same message:

76ers struggle, Knicks in complete control

The 76ers never truly found rhythm. Joel Embiid struggled shooting the ball, while Tyrese Maxey barely got any real scoring chances in the first quarter.

Maxey explained it without concern:

Already looking ahead to Game 2

Despite the blowout, the message around the Knicks is clear: nothing changes.

Brunson made that point directly:

The Garden erupted, the numbers made history, but the feeling around New York is that nobody believes they’ve accomplished anything yet. The Knicks are rolling – but they know the real challenge is staying at this level when the pressure rises.