New York Knicks close in on conference finals after going up 3-0 on Philadelphia 76ers

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/new-york-knicks-WCNO4nbt/philadelphia-76ers-vwRW2QSh/?mid=djwtpcnJ"]It was a sixth straight victory[/a] for the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-york-knicks/WCNO4nbt/"]Knicks[/a], who have not dropped a game since rallying from 2-1 down in their first-round playoff series with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atlanta-hawks/xAO4gBas/"]Atlanta[/a].[/p][p]Having nudged New York across the line in a tense game two, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/brunson-jalen/YLRvL3v7/"]Brunson[/a] looked composed as he poured in 33 points and added nine assists.[/p][p]He was backed up by muscular defensive performances including a combined 23 rebounds from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/towns-karl-anthony/8np46E9P/"]Karl-Anthony Towns[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hart-josh/Cjknv7yj/"]Josh Hart[/a], to put the Knicks up 3-0 in the best-of-seven series.[/p][p]No team has ever come back from 3-0 down in a seven-game NBA series.[/p][embed guid="02a57d1e-43b2-43f7-b495-9c8f1ea21592" url="https://x.com/NBA/status/2052934906968236523?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Playing in front of a raucous home crowd for the first time this series, the Sixers came out with huge energy from tipoff.[/p][p]Philadelphia's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/george-paul/KOvfaZVQ/"]Paul George[/a] had 15 points in the first quarter alone, as his side led by 12 against a Knicks side missing the injured [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/anunoby-og-ogugua/jiNJMxEa/"]OG Anunoby[/a].[/p][p]But the Knicks immediately fought back, tightening up defensively and making 33 points while shooting at 57 percent in a stellar second quarter, to lead at half-time.[/p][p]Towns and a returning [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/embiid-joel/G2hZm0nI/"]Joel Embiid[/a] were locked in a feisty physical duel, with each player committing three fouls before the break, in what resembled a wrestling bout at times.[/p][p]The Sixers briefly closed the gap back to two points late in the third quarter, before missing six straight shots including a couple of bad airballs from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/edgecombe-jr-valdez/GSA6NTGG/"]VJ Edgecombe[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/grimes-quentin/UZAxPaLn/"]Quentin Grimes[/a].[/p][p]Powered by another late show by talisman Brunson, the Knicks pulled clear in the final quarter, and the Sixers lost hope. Remarkably, George did not add a single further point after his first-quarter blitz.[/p][p]The Knicks cemented their status as the bookmakers' favorites to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.[/p]