The Knicks (3rd) host the Sixers (7th) in what should be a red-hot Eastern Conference semi-final. On one side, New York’s slick, well-oiled machine, back in the last eight for the fourth straight year. On the other, a Philadelphia side that has just pulled off one of the most outrageous comebacks of the decade. Home-court edge, star power, bench depth under pressure: who takes control of the series? Analysis, player to watch and a mathodds prediction.
The mood heading into the semi-finals
The Knicks (53-29) finished off Atlanta in style, blowing the Hawks away 140-89 in Game 6 for the biggest win in franchise playoff history, while also setting a record 47-point half-time lead. After back-to-back one-point losses in Games 2 and 3, New York never looked back. Their bench has been the second most productive in these playoffs, with Miles McBride dominating his 118 minutes on the floor against the Hawks. The Knicks arrive rested, confident and convinced their team game can beat anyone in the East.
KNICKS ARE DOMINATING THE HAWKS 83-36 AT HALFTIME 🤯😱
BIGGEST HT LEAD IN NBA PLAYOFF HISTORY 🚨 pic.twitter.com/sfNxo5Zhna
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 1, 2026
The Sixers, though, turn up at Madison Square Garden carrying something even stronger than confidence: the belief that they have already done the impossible. Philadelphia are the first team in NBA history to win a series after losing two games by 32 points or more. Embiid, back from appendicitis after missing the first three games, completely flipped the series on its head: 34 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists in Game 7 in Boston. One big question hangs over the whole matchup: Embiid appeared to tweak his knee late in Game 7, and with the schedule coming thick and fast, can that knee really hold up over a full series?
Joel Embiid in the first Game 7 win of his career:
🪣 34 PTS
🎯 12-26 FG
💪 12 REB
🏀 6 AST
🚫 1 BLKFull highlights 🎬 pic.twitter.com/GFAXKrBmxw
— Vote The Process (@VoteTheProcess) May 3, 2026
Knicks player to watch: Jalen Brunson
39 – +3800 – 38/1 points on 15-of-23 shooting and 8 assists in Game 5 against Atlanta, the performance that closed out a series the Knicks had come close to throwing away. Brunson is this team’s heartbeat, not just because of the points he scores, but because he makes the right call under pressure. His job against the Sixers is twofold: keep shaking free of defenders to get his own looks, and find Towns and Anunoby when the game is on the line.
Jalen Brunson 39 PTS, 3 REB, 8 AST, 15/23 FG, 3/5 3FG, 6/8 FT, 73.5% TS vs Hawks pic.twitter.com/wf4dyaeRo6 https://t.co/wVYp2nrRzA
— Basketball Performances (@NBAPerformances) April 29, 2026
These two sides will often be decided by the battle between their guards, and Brunson and Maxey both deserve All-NBA recognition this season. If Brunson carries over the form he showed at the back end of the Atlanta series, New York have a clear structural edge.
Sixers player to watch: Tyrese Maxey
46 assists and just 9 turnovers in 286 minutes against Boston – near-perfect ball security for a guard of his level. He added 30 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists in Game 7, plus the two biggest baskets down the stretch. Maxey is playing like a man possessed, and he knows it. His key in this series: attack in transition, force the Knicks to retreat, and take some of the offensive load off Embiid when the big man goes to the bench. League insiders are already calling him “clearly a problem for the Knicks in the next round.” If Maxey keeps this up over six or seven games, this series could go the distance.
mathodds prediction
Philadelphia 76ers in 7 games (4-3)
The 3 keys:
- Embiid’s health is the absolute key to the series. With him, the Sixers can beat anybody. Without him, or with a limited Embiid, the Knicks have enough firepower to handle it comfortably.
- New York have the better bench, and home court at Madison Square Garden carries real weight in a tight series. The Knicks have already shown that their collective can hold firm when the stars need a breather.
- OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges finished Game 6 against Atlanta with 29 and 24 points and eye-watering shooting numbers. If that wing duo keeps producing at both ends, the Sixers will not have enough bodies to keep everyone quiet at once.
The Sixers can drag this to seven if Embiid is at 100% and Maxey keeps flying. In that case, they could nick a huge win at Madison Square Garden.
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