Brunson Drops 33 as Knicks Take 3-0 Lead Over Sixers

Sport

By lines

May 9, 2026

Jalen Brunson scored 33 points in Game 3 on Friday night. The Knicks held off the Philadelphia 76ers to go up 3-0 in the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals. Brunson’s big buckets late were the decisive factor, per ESPN.

Brunson Puts New York One Win From the Conference Finals

Brunson drained a deep three-pointer in the fourth quarter to extend the Knicks’ lead. New York made the key plays down the stretch when Philadelphia had a chance to pull close. The Knicks’ late-game execution proved to be the difference at Madison Square Garden on Friday.

Mitchell Robinson delivered a highlight-reel dunk on Joel Embiid in the second half. Robinson’s interior presence gave the Knicks a physical edge that the 76ers could not match. Embiid, the 76ers’ franchise center, was unable to shift the game’s momentum after Robinson’s play.

No NBA team has ever blown a 3-0 playoff series lead in league history. The Philadelphia 76ers now face elimination in their next game. Philadelphia must win the next four games in a row, a feat that has never happened in NBA postseason play.

The New York Knicks need one more win to reach the Eastern Conference Finals. Brunson has been the engine driving New York’s postseason run. The Knicks have a chance to close out the series in Game 4.