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Latest York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) drives against Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr., bottom center, and guard Kyle Lowry, back left, through the first half in Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Madison Square Garden in Latest York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
NEW YORK — Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart each scored 22 points, Deuce McBride led an enormous effort by Latest York’s backups with 21 and the Knicks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 111-104 on Saturday night in Game 1 of their NBA Eastern Conference first-round series.
McBride outscored the 76ers by himself with 13 points within the second quarter, when Joel Embiid had to go away after appearing to reinjure his surgically repaired left knee on a dunk. He returned and rallied the 76ers into the lead within the second half, but Josh Hart hit a pair big 3-pointers within the fourth quarter to assist the Knicks pull it out.
Hart also had 13 rebounds for the Knicks, who had lost Game 1 the last 3 times they opened a series at home. They host Game 2 on Monday.
Game Won.
Brunson 22 PTS | 7 AST | 7 REB
Hart 22 PTS | 13 REB
Deuce 21 PTS | 4 AST | 3 REB
Bogey 13 PTS | 7 REB
OG 11 PTS | 4 REB pic.twitter.com/kNhfWoNeU0— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) April 21, 2024
Embiid finished with 29 points, eight rebounds and 6 assists. Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 33 points.
Bojan Bogdanovic got here off the bench for 13 points and Mitchell Robinson, the Knicks’ former starter at center who has been a reserve since getting back from ankle surgery, had eight points and 12 rebounds while playing half-hour and leading the hassle against Embiid.
Embiid was limited to 39 games this season and missed nearly two months after having left meniscus surgery Feb. 6. He still appears to be limited — definitely not the dominant player who rating a franchise-record 70 points just before his injury – but helped the 76ers past Miami in a play-in game to earn the No. 7 seed.
The 76ers listed Embiid as questionable to play and coach Nick Nurse said before the sport his big man would undergo his warmups before the team determined if he would play.
He did well when he was on the market, however the Knicks had much better balance on the roster of their first team to win 50 games since they were 54-28 in 2012-13.
READ: Jalen Brunson carries Knicks into No. 2 in East
Brunson has been the most important reason for that, a first-time All-Star who was fourth within the league in scoring. He shot only 8 for 26, with “MVP! MVP!” chants by the group during a raucous pregame at Madison Square Garden being replaced by the sound of “Deuce!” within the second quarter as the previous second-round pick whose real first name is Miles helped the Knicks outscore the 76ers 33-12.
Embiid went down with 2:49 remaining after his dunk cut it to 49-46. The Knicks scored the ultimate nine points of the quarter and led 58-46 on the break.
But Embiid returned to start out the second half and the 76ers quickly turned across the game. His 3-pointer capped a 23-11 surge out of the locker room and tied it at 69, and Philadelphia eventually went ahead 78-72 after outscoring the Knicks 32-14 to open the third.
Bogdanovic, Robinson and McBride had the Knicks’ first three baskets of the fourth to maneuver them back into the lead and Hart helped them hold on.
