Knicks win back-and-forth battle with Joel Embiid-less 76ers, take 2-0 series lead

Knicks win back-and-forth battle with Joel Embiid-less 76ers, take 2-0 series lead

There was no runaway for the New York Knicks Wednesday night against the Philadelphia 76ers.

But the end result was the same. The Knicks pulled away late for a 108-102 win in a tightly contested Game 2 against a 76ers team playing without Joel Embiid. The Knicks now have a 2-0 series lead and a five-game playoff win streak.

This time, they won while facing a fight. New York won its previous four games by 19-plus points each and a playoff-record combined 135 points. Wednesday’s contest was tight throughout, and the 76ers went into the fourth quarter holding a 90-89 lead.

But New York’s balanced effort ultimately prevailed. The Knicks took a 101-99 lead on a Jalen Brunson jumper with 5:06 remaining. The lead change was the 25th of the night, the most in a playoff game since 2015.

There wouldn’t be a 26th. New York pulled away down the stretch and the 76ers went cold at the worst possible time.

For most of the game, the 76ers were noticeably freer without an ailing Embiid on the floor. Embiid was clearly battling through lower-body injuries in Game 1 that limited his mobility in a Knicks rout.

Without Embiid Wednesday night, the 76ers ran up and down the floor with ease as Tyrese Maxey took the lead on offense. But the Knicks were ready to run too and spread the ball around as four players scored 16 points or more in the win.

And mistakes ultimately doomed Philadelphia’s offense down the stretch as the 76ers finished the game with 18 turnovers.