The New York Knicks have long commanded a passionate following, even during lean years, and that loyalty is now being rewarded with a championship-caliber run. On Sunday afternoon, the Knicks routed the Philadelphia 76ers 144-114 to complete a four-game sweep in their Eastern Conference semifinal series. The victory marked the highest single-game point total in Knicks playoff history, as they also tied an NBA postseason record with 25 made 3-pointers—all while star forward OG Anunoby missed his second straight game.
Though the contest was held at Philadelphia’s Xfinity Mobile Arena, the crowd was dominated by New York fans who made the short trip south. They celebrated loudly, echoing the scenes from Friday’s Game 3 win and the Knicks’ first-round defeat of the 76ers two years ago. Head coach Mike Brown, who joined the team last July, admitted he was surprised by the fervor of Knicks supporters on the road. “I was like, ‘Wow,'” Brown told reporters after the game. “You love it. You love seeing stuff like that. I’ve got a lot of respect for them. The more you’re around, the more you appreciate and understand why they are like that. But more than anything else, they’re knowledgeable.”
This sweep is only the third seven-game series sweep in Knicks history, joining the 1969 team that defeated the Washington Bullets and the 1999 squad that swept the Atlanta Hawks—both in the second round. Some fans brought brooms to the arena on Sunday, a playful nod to the sweep, reminiscent of the Knicks’ 1989 first-round sweep of the 76ers. In that era, playoff success was rare, but these Knicks are now on a hot streak not seen in New York since the 1990s.
With the win, the Knicks advance to the conference finals for the second straight season—the first time they have done so since 1999 and 2000. Last year, they fell to the Indiana Pacers in six games during their first conference finals appearance in 25 years. This time, they look much stronger, aiming for their first NBA Finals berth since 1999 and a first championship since 1973.
For the 76ers, the loss extends their streak of failing to advance past the second round to 25 consecutive seasons. They have not reached the conference finals since 2001, when they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. Just eight days after rallying from a 3-1 series deficit to beat the Boston Celtics in the first round, the 76ers struggled from the opening tip on Sunday. New York jumped to a 43-24 lead after the first quarter, matching the highest-scoring quarter in franchise playoff history, while hitting 11 of 13 from beyond the arc. At halftime, the Knicks led 81-57, shooting 18-for-29 on 3-pointers.