Red-hot Knicks open 3-0 playoff lead against Sixers

TL;DR

The New York Knicks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 108-94, taking a 3-0 playoff series lead. Jalen Brunson scored 33 points, leading the Knicks to their sixth consecutive victory.

Key points

Knicks lead 3-0 in playoff series against Sixers
Jalen Brunson scored 33 points and had nine assists
No team has ever come back from 3-0 down in NBA playoffs
Knicks have won six straight games
Knicks are favorites to reach NBA Finals for first time since 1999

New York KnicksPhiladelphia 76ers

Jalen Brunson led the New York Knicks to a 3-0 lead against the Philadelphia 76ers (Emilee Chinn) (Emilee Chinn/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/Getty Images via AFP) Jalen Brunson starred again as the red-hot New York Knicks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 108-94 Friday to move within one win of the NBA Eastern Conference finals. It was a sixth straight victory for the Knicks, who have not dropped a game since rallying from 2-1 down in their first-round playoff series with Atlanta. Having nudged New York across the line in a tense game two, Brunson looked composed as he poured in 33 points and added nine assists. He was backed up by muscular defensive performances including a combined 23 rebounds from Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart, to put the Knicks up 3-0 in the best-of-seven series. No team has ever come back from 3-0 down in a seven-game NBA series. Playing in front of a raucous home crowd for the first time this series, the Sixers came out with huge energy from tipoff. Philadelphia's Paul George had 15 points in the first quarter alone, as his side led by 12 against a Knicks side missing the injured OG Anunoby. But the Knicks immediately fought back, tightening up defensively and making 33 points while shooting at 57 percent in a stellar second quarter, to lead at half-time. Towns and a returning were locked in a feisty physical duel, with each player committing three fouls before the break, in what resembled a wrestling bout at times. The Sixers briefly closed the gap back to two points late in the third quarter, before missing six straight shots including a couple of bad airballs from and . Powered by another late show by talisman Brunson, the Knicks pulled clear in the final quarter, and the Sixers lost hope. Remarkably, George did not add a single further point after his first-quarter blitz. The Knicks cemented their status as the bookmakers' favorites to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. amz/des

Q&A

What is the significance of the Knicks' 3-0 lead against the Sixers?

No NBA team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in a playoff series, making the Knicks' lead crucial for their chances of advancing.

How did Jalen Brunson perform in the game against the Sixers?

Jalen Brunson scored 33 points and provided nine assists, playing a pivotal role in the Knicks' victory.

What are the Knicks' chances of reaching the NBA Finals?

With their current form and a 3-0 series lead, the Knicks are considered favorites to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.