Jalen Brunson torches 76ers as Knicks extend playoff dominance in Game 1 blowout

But it wasn’t a one-man show. New York beat Philadelphia inside and out and on both sides of the court. Four Knicks starters scored in double figures and shot 50% or better from the field and from 3.

Karl-Anthony Towns overcame early foul trouble to finish with 17 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks in just 20 minutes while shooting 7 of 11 from the field. OG Anunoby added 18 points on a 7-of-8 effort. Mikal Bridges scored 17 point on 7-of-10 shooting from the field.

As a team, the Knicks shot 64% from the field and a scorching 54% (19 of 36) from 3.

Joel Embiid, 76ers look gassed

Joel Embiid had played just 57 regular season games and one at MSG since that 2024 playoff series prior to Monday night. Knicks fans welcomed him back with chants of f*** Embiid before the game’s opening tip.

For about a quarter, Embiid responded by keeping the 76ers competitive. He drew two early fouls on Towns to send his longtime rival to the bench midway through the first quarter. He picked up another on Mitchell Robinson and scored six of his eight first-half points from the line.

But Embiid was playing in his fifth straight game after recovering from an emergency appendectomy. And over the course of the game, he struggled from the field against a physical Knicks defense that limited him to 3 of 11 shooting. He missed both of his 3-point attempts and finished the game with 14 points and four rebounds in 25 minutes.

And the 76ers, who battled back from a 3-1 deficit for a Game 7 win over the Boston Celtics on Saturday, looked a lot like a team that was running on fumes.

As a team, they shot 41% from the field and surrendered a 39-28 rebounding advantage.

The 76ers will have to find a way to regroup and recharge ahead of Game 2.