Knicks-76ers Prediction Already Losing Steam After Game 1
The New York Knicks absolutely blew out of the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, May 4, 137-98, in Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals, and it sent a message to the league.
The Knicks are the real deal, and they’re not looking to make this a seven game series.
In a piece out on Monday, May 4 for USA Today, Lorenzo Reyes gives his predictions for the second round of NBA matchups. “It took three Game 7s and three series that ended in six,” he states, “but the first round of the NBA playoffs have wrapped up, which means the conference semifinals are already upon us.”
In his predictions, he has the Knicks taking the series but having to work for it and having it go for a full seven games. After seeing how the Knicks performed on Monday, a Game 7 just doesn’t seem to be in this series’ future.
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“This 76ers team is not only peaking at the right moment, they actually look like legitimate threats,” he states in the piece. “As long as Joel Embiid is playing the way he has since returning from his appendectomy, Philadelphia will have an argument. Embiid's size and scoring ability makes him a nightmare to defend. It also stresses Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns and demands a big series from backup center Mitchell Robinson.”
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My Take: Knicks vs. 76ers Series
My thoughts: It’s not wise to predict a series based on the first game, but seeing this lopsided victory for the Knicks has to make one think twice about Game 7 predictions for this series.
The New York Knicks have been hungry all season, and they’re strong. I’d actually say it’s the Knicks, not the 76ers, who are peaking right now. Jalen Brunson scored 35 total points in the game, 27 of which were in the first half, and was a centerpiece for New York. Other Knicks players also stepped up, including Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges. This series could be over before it started.
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This story was originally published May 5, 2026 at 10:42 AM.