As Knicks await second-round opponent, Jalen Brunson stresses need to ‘refocus’

All they can focus on at the moment is regrouping after a first-round series in which they dropped two of the first three games, then overwhelmed the upstart Hawks with back-to-back-to-back blowout victories.

“During this series, we didn’t play our best basketball,” Karl-Anthony Towns said after recording his second triple-double of the series in Game 6 — a historic rout in which the Knicks at one point led by 61.

“For us to make a statement about who we could be when we’re clicking on all cylinders [is important]. It’s great for us to have this kind of tape, so that we can look back at it and see, when we’re playing our best, what are we doing correctly? But it’s about consistency in the playoffs. How many times can we do that in a seven-game series?”

The Knicks also have recent playoff history with the Sixers, whom they defeated in six games in the first round in 2024.

This year’s 76ers finished 45-37 in the regular season, but their starting lineup often wasn’t whole. That’s why the Sixers — with a star-powered core of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Paul George — aren’t your typical 7-seed.

The Knicks went 2-2 against Philadelphia in the regular season. They went 3-1 against Boston but did not face the Celtics in a game in which Tatum and Jaylen Brown both played.

Extra rest figures to benefit the Knicks, especially as the two teams vying to face them in the second round engage in a do-or-die battle on Saturday.

The Knicks plan to be mentally prepared, too.

“It’s something that we’re going to have to flush, and turn the page and get ready,” Brunson said of the Hawks series. “Happy with the way we performed, but it’s time to turn the page and refocus.”