Knicks Reach Eastern Conference Finals After Dominant 144-114 Win Over 76ers

The New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves produced major play-off storylines, with New York storming into the Eastern Conference finals and Minnesota levelling their Western Conference semi-final. Both games turned on three-point shooting and late momentum, while officials also played a role when Victor Wembanyama was ejected in San Antonio.

The Knicks crushed the Philadelphia 76ers 144-114, completing a 4-0 sweep in the Eastern semi-finals and reaching the conference finals for the second straight year. New York’s offence overwhelmed Philadelphia from long range and extended a dominant seven-game winning streak that began after trailing 2-1 against the Atlanta Hawks in the first round.

New York tied an NBA play-off record with 25 made three-pointers, showcasing relentless perimeter shooting. The Knicks hit 11 threes in the opening quarter alone, setting a play-off record, and converted 18 shots from beyond the arc before half-time to open an 81-57 advantage that effectively ended Philadelphia’s hopes in Game 4.

Miles McBride again replaced OG Anunoby, who remained sidelined with a hamstring injury, and punished the 76ers defence. McBride made seven threes and finished with 25 points, while Jalen Brunson added 22 points and six three-pointers. Josh Hart and Landry Shamet each connected four times from deep, spreading the floor for New York throughout the contest.

Across their last seven play-off games, the Knicks outscored the Hawks and 76ers by an average of 26.4 points. During that stretch, New York shot 54.8 per cent from the field and 43.2 per cent from three-point distance. The run included a 51-point win over Atlanta in Game 6, which sealed the opening-round series in emphatic fashion.

New York now prepares for the Eastern Conference finals against either the Detroit Pistons or Cleveland Cavaliers. The top-seeded Pistons hold a 2-1 advantage over fourth-seeded Cleveland in that semi-final. New York lost to the Indiana Pacers in six games in the previous season’s East finals, adding context to this return.

Philadelphia’s exit followed a demanding route through the NBA Play-In Tournament and a dramatic comeback against the Boston Celtics. The 76ers eliminated second-seeded Boston by becoming the 14th team to recover from a 3-1 series deficit. However, against New York, two of Philadelphia’s four defeats came by margins of at least 30 points.

Perimeter struggles contributed heavily to Philadelphia’s problems against the Knicks. Over the final two games of the series, the 76ers combined to shoot 17 of 67 from three-point range, just 25.4 per cent. That contrast in outside accuracy highlighted the gap between the teams and underpinned New York’s comfortable sweep.

Key New York shooting numbers illustrated that gap further. The Knicks’ three-point totals and scoring distribution from several perimeter players created constant pressure on Philadelphia’s defence and ensured the game was effectively decided by half-time, reinforcing New York’s strong offensive trends throughout this post-season.

In the Western Conference semi-finals, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the San Antonio Spurs 114-109 in Game 4 to tie their series 2-2. Minnesota capitalised on the early dismissal of Victor Wembanyama, then finished strongly in the fourth quarter to overturn a deficit and regain momentum.

Wembanyama had dominated Game 3 with 39 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks in a 115-108 victory that put second-seeded San Antonio 2-1 ahead. In Game 4, Wembanyama received a Flagrant 2 foul early in the second quarter for elbowing Naz Reid above the neck, leading to an ejection that changed the contest.

The Spurs still led 84-80 after three quarters without the NBA Defensive Player of the Year and MVP finalist. However, the absence was felt late as Minnesota outscored San Antonio 34-25 in the final period. The Timberwolves’ energy and execution in the closing minutes turned the game and levelled the Western semi-final.

Anthony Edwards drove Minnesota’s comeback with a huge final quarter. Edwards scored 16 of Minnesota’s 34 points in the fourth and finished with 36 overall. Naz Reid provided 15 points, nine rebounds and four assists from the bench, while Rudy Gobert added 11 points, 13 rebounds and four assists inside.

San Antonio still received strong contributions from several players. DeAaron Fox and Dylan Harper each scored 24 points, and Stephon Castle added 20. The Spurs will host sixth-seeded Minnesota in Game 5 on Tuesday, with the series now effectively reduced to a best-of-three battle for a spot in the Western Conference finals.

Those performances highlighted how key contributors on both sides responded to changing circumstances, particularly after Wembanyama’s ejection. With the Knicks already through in the East, attention now turns to how the remaining play-off series, including the Spurs–Timberwolves clash, will shape the final stages of this NBA post-season.