Sixers-Knicks news: Knicks take Game 1, 111-104, but not before a valiant comeback fueled by Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey at the Garden
Embiid went down with a scare for the second time since returning from meniscus surgery but led the charge in erasing a double-digit deficit in third quarter. Game 2 is Monday night (7:30 p.m., TNT)
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The Philadelphia 76ers will take on the New York Knicks in Game 1 of their first-round NBA playoff series. The game will air on both NBC Sports Philadelphia and ESPN beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern.
Joel Embiid is listed as questionable for tonight's game, but is expected to start. He faces a legacy series and has never looked more prepared, writes columnist David Murphy.
The Sixers will face former Villanova star Jalen Brunson, who averaged nearly 29 points a game leading the Knicks' to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
It's been three decades since the Sixers faced the Knicks in the playoffs. It didn't go so well for Philly last time.
Here are some storylines to watch and our staff predictions for this Sixers-Knicks series.
Tobias Harris' tenure with the Sixers is expected to end once their postseason run concludes.
Embiid leaves for locker room with left knee injury, returns after halftime
Joel Embiid went to the locker room with 2 minutes, 37 seconds left in the first half after injuring his left knee.
The 76ers center appeared to land awkwardly and bumped knees with Mitchell Robinson after delivering a nasty dunk in Game 1 of his team's first-round matchup against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. He would later return after halftime.
Shake Milton 'not surprised' by Tyrese Maxey's success
Shake Milton has known Tyrese Maxey for nearly a decade.
So when they were 76ers teammates, Milton was never surprised when Maxey produced dominant scoring performances.
Nick Nurse coaching against former pupils
All of Nick Nurse’s previous playoff coaching experience came with OG Anunoby at his side. The two won an NBA championship together in Toronto in 2019, Nurse’s first season as head coach of the Raptors.
But now Nurse is coaching against Anunoby, and fellow former Raptor Precious Achiuwa, as the Sixers face the Knicks in his first playoff run in Philly.
Start time for Game 1 pushed back
Game 1 of Sixers-Knicks is advertised as a 6 p.m. start time on ESPN, but play won’t begin until a few minutes later.
Tip-off for the first game of the series is officially scheduled for 6:23 p.m. as Game 1 between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns ran over.
Welcome to the playoffs, Buddy
In his eighth NBA season, Buddy Hield will finally experience his first playoffs.
Following Wednesday’s play-in victory over the Miami Heat, Hield expressed appreciation for reaching that career benchmark. That came after a strong finish to the regular season, including seven points and six assists Wednesday to help fuel the Sixers’ second-half turnaround. He has also been the NBA’s ultimate ironman this season, playing in 86 games including Wednesday and the In-Season Tournament finals.
A Sixers-Knicks hype video to get you ready to Game 1
Ridley Park native Kevin Taddei might have retired his @DidTheSixersWin account on X much to the disappointment of Sixers fans, but that doesn't mean he's stopped making the hype videos that became a staple of that account.
Check out his latest for the Sixers-Knicks first-round series, their first postseason meeting since 1989 ...
» READ MORE: Twitter account @DidTheSixersWin retires after a decade of documenting the team’s fortunes
— Matt Mullin
Is this the year for the Sixers to get past the second round?
As the No. 7 seed in their first-round series, which begins at 6 p.m. Saturday at Madison Square Garden, The Sixers would avoid a nightmare second-round matchup with the top-seed Boston Celtics. But because of injuries to the Milwaukee Bucks’ best players, the more likely outcome has them in line to face an Indiana Pacers squad that defeated them in two of this season’s three meetings in the conference semifinals.
Despite that regular-season outcome, the Sixers would be favored if Joel Embiid can stay healthy. The 7-foot-2, 280-pounder is the league’s most dominant player. And the Sixers could be the East’s most talented team outside of Boston.
Five Sixers-Knicks storylines to watch in first round
When asked Wednesday night for his initial thoughts on the Knicks, Tyrese Maxey rattled off these descriptors.
Grimy.
Predictions for Sixers-Knicks series
The Sixers' first-round series against the Knicks kicks off Saturday at Madison Square Garden. Currently, their series is expected to be as close as any — at least according to oddsmakers. At DraftKings, the Knicks are small favorites to win the series (-120), while the Sixers are even money (+100).
So what do our experts think? They're similarly predicting a close series, with all five writers predicting it going at least six game. They're also split, 3-2, over who they think wins the series.
Joel Embiid injury update: Listed as questionable, expected to play
Joel Embiid is listed as questionable on the Sixer's injury report, but is expected to play, according to The Inquirer's Keith Pompey.
Embiid played 38 minutes in the Sixers' win over the Miami Heat Wednesday, but at times appeared bothered by the same left knee that forced him off the court for two months.
What was the Sixers' record vs. the Knicks this season?
The Knicks won three of this season’s four series meetings against the Sixers. All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson, a former Villanova standout, averaged 22.3 points, 7.8 assists, and 3.0 rebounds during those four games.
However, New York will be without All-Star Julius Randle, who opted earlier this month to have season-ending shoulder surgery.
Sixers to face former Villanova star Jalen Brunson
This season has been another giant leap for Jalen Brunson, the crafty-yet-undersized point guard who spent much of his childhood living in Cherry Hill before playing at Villanova, where he became a two-time college basketball national champion and Player of the Year.
The 27-year-old has been one of the NBA’s premier success stories, as a first-time All-Star, likely All-NBA selection, and legitimate MVP candidate in his sixth season.
Sixers-Knicks playoff schedule
Game 1: Sixers at Knicks, Saturday, 6 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia and ESPN)
Game 2: Sixers at Knicks, Monday, 7:30 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia and TNT)
Game 3: Sixers vs. Knicks, Thursday, 7:30 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia and TNT)
Game 4: Sixers vs. Knicks, Sunday April 28, 1 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia and ABC)
Game 5: Sixers at Knicks, Tuesday, April 30, TBD (TBD)
Game 6: Sixers vs. Knicks, Thursday, May 2, TBD (TBD)
Game 7: Sixers at Knicks, Saturday, May 4, TBD (NBC Sports Philadelphia and TNT)
– Rob Tornoe
76ers vs. Knicks: Start time, how to watch and stream Game 1
The Sixers are back on NBC Sports Philadelphia tonight as they take on the New York Knicks in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.
Kate Scott, in her third season as the TV voice of the Sixers, will call all the action alongside analyst Alaa Abdelnaby.
Eastern Conference playoff bracket
Despite losing Jimmy Butler to a right MCL injury, the Miami Heat defeated the Chicago Bulls 112-91 in their Friday night play-in game. That makes them the final playoff team in the Eastern Conference, meaning they'll take on the Boston Celtics beginning Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
Butler is expected to miss several weeks.