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PHILADELPHIA — The Knicks beat the snot out of the Sixers.
Behind a stout defense, Jalen Brunson’s continued offensive brilliance and unlikely heroics from Miles McBride, Tom Thibodeau’s squad annihilated the Sixers on the road, 128-92, remaining undefeated since the arrival of OG Anunoby.
The Knicks (20-15), winners of three straight, led by double digits for the final 30 minutes, holding the supposed title contender to just 37 points in the second half.
Toward the end of the beat down, the Wells Fargo Center erupted in chants of “Let’s Go Knicks” and “Go New York, Go New York, Go,” with the outnumbered visiting fans emboldened by a fourth-quarter onslaught that included a 26-5 run.
Just like a year ago when the Knicks reeled off nine straight wins after dealing for Josh Hart, the reimagined Knicks — plus Anunoby and minus RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley — are rolling.
“I don’t know, I feel like we’re a pretty good post-trade team, if you know what I mean,” Hart joked. “Maybe we can make some more trades.”
Brunson won his head-to-head battle with Tyrese Maxey, dropping 30 points in 32 minutes. Anunoby provided his usual disruptive defense, alternating between guarding Joel Embiid and Maxey.
Isaiah Hartentstein continued to assert himself as the worthy starting center, dropping 17 points with a plus/minus of +26.
statement win against the 76ers. AP
But the bench, which had struggled mightily two nights prior against Chicago, also had a claim for the game ball. Collectively.
Led by McBride’s 15 points, Quentin Grimes’ resurgence (18 points) and Josh Hart’s energy, the reserves dominated their minutes and shifted the momentum permanently in the first and second quarters.
They sparked a 21-4 run — with McBride nailing four treys, tying his career high in just five minutes — which turned into a 20-point lead at the break.
“They sparked us in the first half, really got us going,” Brunson said about the bench. “And continued throughout the game.
“They were a big part of the reason we won tonight.”
The Knicks never allowed the Sixers to get back in it despite Embiid finishing with 30 points and Julius Randle (eight points, 1 for 11 shooting) riding the struggle bus.
It was the first of four matchups this season against the Sixers, a team widely considered in the top 3 of the Eastern Conference with Embiid as a candidate for back-to-back MVPs.
The Knicks hadn’t fared well in these type of “measuring stick” matchups — losing six of seven games against the Bucks and Celtics — but they absolutely punked the Sixers (23-11) in Philadelphia.
“You play the top teams in the league and the conference, it’s always a measuring stick to see at this point in the season where you are, what you gotta do to improve, what you’re doing well,” Randle said. “So, it’s definitely a measuring stick.”
The Knicks passed the test and might as well have smacked the Sixers with the measuring stick.
“We’re playing good basketball,” Randle said. “Honestly, I think everybody is playing for each other. I think we know what we’re trying to accomplish out there.”
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