Knicks edge 76ers, book NBA 2nd round clash with Pacers

LOS ANGELES: Jalen Brunson scored 41 points and the New York Knicks held on for a 118-115 victory over Philadelphia on Thursday (May 2), clinching a 4-2 series win to book an NBA playoffs second-round clash with the Indiana Pacers.

The Pacers powered into the Eastern Conference semi-finals with a convincing 120-98 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks that sealed their 4-2 series win.

It came down to the wire in Philadelphia, where Knicks forward Josh Hart, fed by Brunson, drilled a three-pointer to put New York up 114-111 with 25.6 seconds remaining.

Sixers star Joel Embiid cut the deficit to one with a driving layup seconds later but then fouled out and the Knicks polished it off with free throws from Donte DiVincenzo and Brunson.

Brunson said that after failing to close out the 76ers at home in game five, the Knicks knew they needed a faster start in this one.

They led by 22 points in the first quarter, only to see the 76ers claw back to lead by three at halftime and push their advantage to as many as 10 in the third quarter.

"Obviously they fought back and took the lead, but that good start helped us," he said. "The way we kept fighting, that's what we've been talking about all year - just making sure we keep fighting no matter what.

"No matter what the situation is, we're going to stick together, we're going to fight."

Brunson added 12 assists, DiVincenzo scored 23 points with two steals and three blocked shots and OG Anunoby contributed 19 points.

Hart finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds and heard the cheers rain down from Knicks fans who made the trek to Philadelphia, despite the fact that the 76ers owners bought 2,500 tickets on the secondary market to try and limit the invasion of New York supporters that irked Embiid