Jalen Brunson delivered a sensational performance, notching a career playoff-high 47 points and dishing out 10 assists to lead the New York Knicks to a hard-fought 97-92 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first-round series.
Brunson’s remarkable display set a franchise playoff scoring record for the Knicks and marked a historic milestone as he became the first player in franchise history to record consecutive playoff games with at least 30 points and 10 assists.
With the win, the Knicks now hold a commanding 3-1 series lead, with Game 5 scheduled for Tuesday in New York.
Despite appearing to injure his knee towards the end of the third quarter, Brunson exhibited resilience by returning to the court early in the fourth quarter. His stellar performance saw him shoot 18 of 34 from the field and convert 9 of 11 free throws, including crucial ones in the final seconds to seal the victory.
OG Anunoby contributed with 16 points and 14 rebounds, while Miles McBride added 13 points and Josh Hart pulled down an impressive 17 rebounds for the Knicks.
Notably, New York’s center Mitchell Robinson was sidelined for Game 4 due to a sprained left ankle, further showcasing the team’s resilience in securing the win without one of their key players.
For the 76ers, Joel Embiid led the charge with 27 points and 10 rebounds, despite struggling with his surgically repaired left knee. Tyrese Maxey chipped in with 23 points, while Kelly Oubre Jr. and Tobias Harris contributed 19 and 10 points respectively.
Embiid’s valiant effort in Game 4 followed his playoff career-high 50-point performance in Game 3, where he battled through challenges including a diagnosis of Bell’s palsy, underscoring his determination and resilience on the court.