New York Knicks look to take 2-0 series lead after Game 1 thrashing of Philadelphia 76ers
NEW YORK -- The New York Knicks will look to keep their playoff hot streak rolling in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Wednesday night against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks to a 137-98 Game 1 rout over the 76ers on Monday night and will look to do the same in Game 2.
Working in their favor -- 76ers' center Joel Embiid will miss Game 2 with a sprained right ankle and a sore right hip.
The 76ers had listed Embiid as probable to play, mentioning only the ankle, before adding the hip problem and ruling him out on the injury report about six hours before trying to even the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Embiid struggled through a short nightin Game 1, scoring 14 points on 3-for-11 shooting in 25 minutes before the starters were benched with the game out of reach.
Embiid had been listed as probable to play in that game with a bruised right hip before being cleared, and the Knicks repeatedly took advantage of his lack of mobility to create open shots.
Embiid returned from a late-season appendectomy during Game 4 of Philadelphia's first-round series against Boston and helped the 76ers overcome a 3-1 deficit to win the series. He has averaged 25.2 points in five games thus far.
It's unclear whether the pain around Embiid's hip is related to the appendectomy. He winced and grabbed his abdomen at one point in Game 1 after Knicks guard Mikal Bridges collided with him on a screen in the first half.
Meanwhile, the Knicks, after trailing 2-1 against Atlanta have won four straight games by a total of 135 points. They are the first team since detailed play-by-play began in 1996-97 to lead three straight playoff games by at least 30 points, according to Sportradar.
Brunson said the Knicks' focus and attention to detail have been better since they fell behind.
"Yes, it's turned into obviously big wins, but those attention to detail things are going to help us in the close ones as well," Brunson said.
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