The New York Knicks took a commanding 3-0 lead over the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals, as Knicks fans once again filled Xfinity Mobile Arena. Sixers star Joel Embiid, after the loss, took a thinly-veiled shot at game officials, pointing out the Knicks shot twice as many free throws.
"I guess it’s good when New York wins," said Embiid, whose team shot 16 free throws compared to New York’s 32. "Maybe (some potential fouls) was let go or not. We attack, put the ball on the ground. I don’t know."
Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, and Jalen Brunson keyed a 9-0 fourth-quarter run to seal the win, delighting visiting fans including celebrities Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller, and Spike Lee. Embiid had urged fans not to sell tickets to New Yorkers, and the Sixers restricted sales and donated hundreds of tickets to local first responders.
The Knicks will seek the sweep Sunday in Philadelphia.