Deuce McBride shines with 21 points, propelling the New York Knicks to a 111-104 win against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 of their NBA playoff first-round series.
The chants inside Madison Square Garden shifted from the usual “MVP!” for Jalen Brunson to a vibrant “Deuuuuuce!” in honor of Deuce McBride, whose outstanding performance off the bench played a pivotal role.
While Brunson and Josh Hart each contributed 22 points, McBride stole the spotlight. In a postgame interview, when asked about the key to the Knicks’ success, Brunson promptly credited McBride, who ended the game with 21 points.
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
McBride was particularly explosive in the second quarter, scoring 13 points alone during this period, a critical stretch that saw Joel Embiid exit temporarily with a knee concern.
Embiid, who has been managing recovery from meniscus surgery since February, did make a return, rallying the 76ers to lead in the second half briefly. However, Hart’s crucial three-pointers in the fourth quarter sealed the win for the Knicks. Hart also contributed significantly on the boards, grabbing 13 rebounds.
Tyrese Maxey led all scorers with 33 points, while Embiid added 29 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Knicks’ bench strength. Bojan Bogdanovic added 13 points, and Mitchell Robinson contributed eight points and 12 rebounds, focusing his efforts on containing Embiid.
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
The Knicks’ bench was instrumental, outperforming the 76ers’ reserves across the board. The Knicks led by 37 points with McBride on the floor, 27 with Bogdanovic, and 20 with Robinson playing.
Hart emphasized the importance of this support, stating, “When your top dog is not shooting well, you need other guys to pick it up for him and that’s what they did.”
Despite the 76ers listing Embiid as questionable before the game, he proved his resilience by returning after his injury scare. However, the Knicks displayed a balanced attack that was too much for the 76ers, reflecting the depth that helped them secure their first 50-win season since 2012-13.
Brunson, a key factor in the Knicks’ successful season, did not have his best shooting night, going 8 for 26, but he filled the stat sheet with seven rebounds and seven assists.
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
McBride, meanwhile, took advantage of the attention Philadelphia paid to Brunson, saying, “If that’s the poison they pick, you’ve got to make them pay.”
As the series progresses with Game 2 in New York, the Knicks have set a strong precedent for teamwork and resilience, hoping to build on their initial success in the upcoming games.
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