Sixers Look To Offseason As The Knicks Prepare To Host Pacers In Round Two

The New York Knicks sealed the series against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night in a thrilling Game 6 that ended 118-115 with a massive 41-point performance from star guard Jalen Brunson and a clutch three-pointer from Josh Hart.

A gritty, hard-fought and intense series in the Northeast played right into the Knicks’ basketball style. It felt even sweeter in Brunson’s hands.

Early on, it looked like the Knicks would run away with the game after opening a 17-4 lead and then extending it to as high as 22 points in the first half. Once shooting guard Buddy Hield came in off the bench for the Sixers, the game got a lot closer as Hield’s 17 points in the first half helped them take a four-point lead into the halftime break.

The second half brought everything fans have come to expect in this series – grit, physicality, intensity and remarkable shot-making from both teams.

Fourteen of Brunson’s game-high 41 points came in the fourth quarter, but the Sixers kept fighting back with plays from Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. It wasn’t until Hart’s three-pointer with 24.4 seconds left that the Knicks took control of the game.

The Knicks made their free throws down the stretch and held on to win the series 4-2 in Philadelphia despite a valiant Sixers effort.

Earlier that night, the Indiana Pacers secured their spot in the Eastern Conference semifinals, winning their series against the Milwaukee Bucks 4-2 on the road.

The Knicks and the Pacers will face off in New York in Game 1 on Monday as the number two and six seeds, competing for a spot in the Eastern Conference finals.

Meanwhile, the Sixers and the Bucks will look ahead to the offseason and begin to reform their rosters after another disappointing early exit for superstars Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Article by Nathan Weick

USports writing intern and second year student-athlete at Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA pursuing BA in Professional Writing and BA in Spanish/Hispanic Cultures. Juniata College Mens Soccer Captain and former president of the Juniata College Class of 2026.