Josh Hart has emerged as a sharpshooting threat for the New York Knicks in the NBA Playoffs, connecting on seven of his last nine three-point attempts. In the first half of Game 2 against the Philadelphia 76ers, Hart drained four of five threes to lead the Knicks with 19 points.
Despite an impressive All-Star season, Jalen Brunson has struggled to find success against the Philadelphia 76ers’ stingy defense. In the first game of their playoff series, Brunson shot just 8-of-26 from the field, contributing to the Knicks’ victory despite his subpar performance. Sixers head coach Nick Nurse attributes their success against Brunson to their ability to field a variety of defenders, including the likes of Kelly Oubre Jr., Nicolas Batum, Kyle Lowry, and Tyrese Maxey, who use their length to pose a challenge for the 6-foot-2 Brunson. Brunson’s regular season matchups against the Sixers also revealed similar difficulties, as he shot just 40% from the field and 30% from three-point range in their four encounters.
New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau was surprisingly omitted from the list of finalists for the NBA’s Coach of the Year Award, despite leading the team to a 50-win season despite numerous injuries. The three finalists are Mark Daigneault (Oklahoma City Thunder), Chris Finch (Minnesota Timberwolves), and Jamahl Mosley (Orlando Magic). Thibodeau expressed indifference to the omission, but his players expressed confusion and praise for his leadership under challenging circumstances.
Adjustments will be plentiful in the ongoing playoff series between the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers, both of whom have dealt with injuries to key players. The Knicks have been without Julius Randle (dislocated right shoulder), while the 76ers have had All-Stars Joel Embiid (meniscus) and Tyrese Maxey (illness) questionable for games.
With both teams having strengths and weaknesses, adjustments will be crucial in determining the outcome of the series. The Knicks will need to find a way to slow down Maxey, while the 76ers need to limit the contributions of Josh Hart, who has been a key factor off the bench.
Game 1 provided both teams with plenty of information to assess and make adjustments. The Knicks will likely try to make defensive adjustments to contain Maxey, while the 76ers may need to tweak their strategy to better defend Hart.
With the series tied 1-1, adjustments will be at the forefront of Game 3 as both teams look to take control.
Despite injuries, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey will play for the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2 against the New York Knicks. Embiid, who was questionable due to a knee injury, is expected to make a significant impact. Maxey, who is battling an illness, is a key contributor and a favorite to win Most Improved Player this season.
New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau was conspicuously absent from the Coach of the Year finalists, a decision that has left his players and the team questioning the validity of the selection process. Despite guiding the Knicks to a 50-32 record and the second seed in the Eastern Conference while navigating a season plagued by injuries, Thibodeau was overlooked in favor of Mark Daigneault, Chris Finch, and Jamahl Mosley.
The New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers will face off in Game 2 of their NBA Eastern Conference semifinal series on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks won Game 1 on Sunday night, 108-105, behind a strong performance from Jalen Brunson and Miles McBride. Brunson scored 22 points and McBride came off the bench to add 21 points for the Knicks. Joel Embiid led the way for the 76ers with 29 points, but he was forced to leave the game in the second half with a knee injury. Tyrese Maxey also had a big game for the Sixers, scoring 33 points.
The New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers face off in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference playoff series tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT. The game will air live on TNT, but there are also a number of ways to watch the game online without cable.
The NBA playoffs are underway with the Philadelphia 76ers facing the New York Knicks, the Los Angeles Lakers taking on the Denver Nuggets, and the Cleveland Cavaliers battling the Orlando Magic. Game 2 of the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs will see the 76ers trying to even up the series against the Knicks, while the Nuggets will look to take a 2-0 lead over the Lakers. The Cavs, after a strong performance in Game 1 against the Magic, will aim to extend their lead in the series.
The NBA Playoffs get into full swing this week with three games on Monday’s schedule. The Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, and Denver Nuggets will all look to take 2-0 series leads before the action shifts away from their home courts. The schedule from Monday through Sunday, April 28, features at least two NBA playoff games every day on the way to a 16-team field being narrowed to eight for the second round.
