The Knicks secured a hard-fought victory in the opening game of their Eastern Conference playoff series against the 76ers, with Miles McBride leading the charge. McBride, who had limited playing time during last year's postseason, scored 21 points and was a significant contributor to the team's success.
McBride made an impact from the get-go, scoring eight points in the first quarter alone. He continued his impressive performance in the second quarter, where he netted 13 points and hit five three-pointers. McBride's shooting helped turn the tide for New York as they went into halftime with a 12-point lead.
The Knicks bench trio of Miles McBride, Mitchell Robinson, and Bojan Bogdanovic outscored the 76ers bench by a total of 42 points. Robinson received multiple standing ovations from the MSG crowd and finished with eight points, 12 rebounds (seven offensive), a plus-20 rating, and four blocked shots in 30 minutes.
Bogdanovic registered eight of his 23 points in his Knicks playoff debut and combined with McBride for six three-pointers in the first half. The duo's shooting prowess was crucial as the Knicks outscored the 76ers by 37 points when McBride was on the court.
Joel Embiid, who had to leave after appearing to reinjure his surgically repaired left knee on a dunk, returned but rallied the 76ers into the lead in the second half. However, it wasn't enough as Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart combined for 44 points for New York.
The Knicks had better balance on their roster than the 76ers, with Brunson being a first-time All-Star who was fourth in the league in scoring with 28.7 points per game. The team's depth and strong performances from their bench proved to be decisive factors in securing the victory.
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