Knicks sweep 76ers in embarrassing takeover of Philly’s home court

McBride made seven by himself.

No sequence sent the building deeper into Knicks delirium than the knockout blow midway through the third quarter. With 7:30 left, Jalen Brunson crossed over Philadelphia’s Dominic Barlow twice before finishing a driving reverse layup. Mikal Bridges immediately stole the ensuing inbounds pass and found Brunson alone in the corner for three, pushing the Knicks’ lead back to a laughable 29 points.

Nick Nurse had no choice but to call timeout. In reality, he was waving the white flag.

And perhaps the most impressive part? The Knicks delivered two of their most dominant performances of the second round without OG Anunoby.

Mike Brown ruled Anunoby out before tipoff as he continues recovering from the right hamstring strain suffered late in Game 2. Brown offered no additional update beyond Anunoby remaining day-to-day. In his place, Brown inserted McBride into the starting lineup.

“Deuce, he’s not afraid. He gives us the ability to make shots from range and or the ability to go get a shot. He gives us another ball handler. He’s a really good defender, and he’s versatile,” Brown said before the game. “When he’s on the floor with Jalen, analytically they’re pretty good together. But he just brings a lot to the table for us on both ends of the floor, last thing offensively he’s got to be guarded because he can makes shots.”

McBride rewarded that trust immediately. On one first-quarter possession, he screened for Karl-Anthony Towns near halfcourt. Towns turned the corner, got downhill and dumped the ball off to Mitchell Robinson for an easy dunk.

The crowd erupted again.

The Knicks won’t get this kind of road-court advantage if they meet the Detroit Pistons in the conference finals. Detroit leads its second-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers 2-1, and Little Caesars Arena proved one of the Knicks’ toughest road environments a season ago.

Unlike the Sixers, the Pistons won’t roll over in a playoff game, either. They beat the Knicks by 31 and 37 during the regular season before completing the season series sweep with a 15-point victory in a game both centers Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart sat with suspensions.

The Pistons are 6-1 against the Knicks over the last two seasons. Last season’s playoff series, with some luck and missed calls, ended with the Knicks in six.

The Knicks needed six to get by the Atlanta Hawks. They only needed four to put away the very 76ers team responsible for ending the Boston Celtics’ season in the first round.

And now, they get at least a week to rest, recover, and get ready for Round 3. The Knicks will need all the R-and-R they can get. Because their first- and second-round playoff obstacles pale in comparison to what awaits with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line.