May 8, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Vj Edgecombe (77) is fouled by New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) alongside guard Jalen Brunson (11) during the first quarter of game three of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
PHILADELPHIA -- The pace at which the Sixers and New York Knicks started Game 3 was the kind of frenzied play that certainly couldn't be upheld throughout much of the game.
The Sixers proved that to be the case. The Knicks didn't, and sprinted their way to a 108-94 victory to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the second round best-of-seven series. Game 4 will be at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Despite the Sixers getting Joel Embiid back into the lineup, and despite the Sixers jumping out to a 9-0 lead to start the game, and despite being without starting forward OG Anunoby and even having three early fouls called on starting center Karl-Anthony the Knicks still were able to erase a 12-point Sixers lead and build up their own advantage to 12 points in the first half, with the help of a 27-11 run in the second quarter.
The Knicks got scoring from nine different players in the first half in building a 60-52 lead, while using 10 players. The Sixers got just 16 combined minutes off the bench from their subs and no points. Further evidence that the pace of play just wasn't conducive to the way they could keep up with the Knicks.
Kelly Oubre, Jr. led the Sixers with 22 points, while Embiid added 18. Tyrese Maxey, who seemed to look more to pass than shoot, probably due to an injured pinky, had 17. Paul George scored all of his 15 in the first quarter and missed his final nine shots, while VJ Edgecombe added 11.
Jalen Brunson scored 33 and added nine assists, while Mikal Bridges added 23 and Josh Hart collected 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks.
George gave the Sixers their biggest lead of the game with a three to make it 20-8 with 6:27 to go in the first. The Sixers held a 31-27 lead after the first, but that soon vanished as New York used a 27-11 run to take a 54-42 lead with 3:37 to go when Jalen Brunson made a floater in the lane.
The Sixers old nemesis, rebounding, came back to haunt them in the first 24 minutes as the Knicks owned a 29-19 advantage on the glass, despite Towns playing just 10 minutes due to his three personals in the half.
MITCHELL ROBINSON.
SUR JOEL EMBIID.
😳 pic.twitter.com/khPUObXHuX
Maxey had eight points at the half, but only attempted five shots. Getting him shots has been a problem at times during the playoffs, and the first half on Friday was an example of that.
"Got to give them credit, they certainly have turned the heat up on Tyrese," said coach Nick Nurse. "I thought we made some mistakes against that. We have to do a better job."
The first half may have been even more lopsided had it not been for George, who made 6-of-9 from the field in the first quarter, including 3-of-4 from three. However, he didn't score a point in the second quarter on just two shots.
"I think Paul's played great," said Nurse. "I think he's been able to find some areas to create good shots, create some offense, not only for himself but for others. I think his size really helps him find things. He's just trying to make the right play out there. If he's going down the lane and the lane is closing in on him he's going to find kick outs. I think his defense this whole playoff run, from Play-in to now, has been just like A-plus. He's just been so good defensively, he's making everybody work. He's guarding all kinds of different positions now."
After a steal and dunk by Edgecombe cut the Knicks lead to 76-72 with 4:03 to go in the third, things got interesting. After Mitchell Robinson made one-of-two free throws, Embiid hit two of his own to cut the New York lead to three. Nurse then implored his team to foul Robinson. They did so twice, but the center, who shot 48 percent from the line in the regular season, made 3-of-4, and the last two gave the Knicks a 80-76 lead. The Knicks then score five in a row to take a nine-point lead into the final quarter.
JOEL EMBIID SHOULDN'T HAVE ASKED US NOT TO COME pic.twitter.com/3OZ0lw7vvq
The Knicks just had too much. Too much physicality, too many hands in play, too many counters to whatever the Sixers tried to do. And despite the efforts of many, plenty of Knick fans found their way into Xfinity Mobile Arena to cheer on their team.
Sunday may be even worse. On many counts.
