The New York Knicks are in the middle of something that has never been done before in the NBA playoffs, and Monday night only extended the streak.
New York beat the Philadelphia 76ers 137-98 at Madison Square Garden to open their second-round series, a 39-point margin that cemented the Knicks as the first team in league history to win three consecutive playoff games by at least 25 points. The win came four days after they closed out the Atlanta Hawks 140-89.
Jalen Brunson was the engine. He scored 27 of his game-high 35 points in the first half, leaving Philadelphia with no answer before halftime. OG Anunoby, the London-born forward, added 18 points in the win.
The Knicks also became just the second team in NBA history to end one playoff series and immediately begin another with back-to-back victories by at least 30 points.
Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse tried to keep perspective afterward. "Wasn't any fun to be a part of, to be honest," he said. "But it's 0-1. Doesn't really matter if it's six points or 36 or whatever the hell it was."
Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday at Madison Square Garden.
