Knicks sweep 76ers to reach East finals as Timberwolves level Spurs series

WASHINGTON: New York powered into the NBA Eastern Conference finals on Sunday with a 144-114 victory over Philadelphia, completing a 4-0 sweep of their best-of-seven semi-final series, while Minnesota beat San Antonio 114-109 to square their Western Conference semi-final at 2-2.

The Knicks overwhelmed the 76ers with a barrage from long range, tying the NBA playoff record with 25 three-pointers. They also matched the playoff mark for three-pointers in a first quarter with 11 and equalled the first-half record with 18 as they seized control early.

New York, now on a seven-game winning streak in the playoffs, reached the conference finals for the second year in a row. The Knicks will next meet either the top-seeded Detroit Pistons or the fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers for a place in the NBA championship series.

“One game at a time,” Knicks star Jalen Brunson said after New York won on Philadelphia’s court for the second straight game. “I think we still have a lot of work to do and our focus needs to be better,” he said.

Miles McBride led the scoring for New York with 25 points and made seven shots from beyond the arc, while Brunson added 22 points and hit six three-pointers. Six Knicks players finished in double figures. New York were again without forward OG Anunoby, who missed a second straight game because of a hamstring strain.

With elimination looming for Philadelphia, the Knicks raced to 43 points in the opening quarter. During one timeout, 76ers coach Nick Nurse urged his players to stay positive and

“play harder.”

Philadelphia, playing in front of a crowd that included a large and vocal Knicks following at Xfinity Mobile Arena, had no response. New York took an 81-57 lead into halftime, stretched the margin to as many as 44 points and were able to rest their starters in the fourth quarter.

Joel Embiid, who has been dealing with hip and ankle injuries after his April appendectomy, scored 24 points for the 76ers, making all eight of his field-goal attempts and six of seven free throws. Tyrese Maxey added 17 points. Philadelphia, who had upset the second-seeded Boston Celtics in the first round, have still not advanced beyond the second round since 2001.

“Quite frankly, New York, they were just better than us in everything,” Embiid said.

Timberwolves respond after Wembanyama ejection

In Minneapolis, Anthony Edwards scored 36 points as the Timberwolves pulled away late to beat the Spurs 114-109 and ensure the series will return to Minneapolis for game six after San Antonio host game five on Tuesday.

Edwards scored 16 of his points in the fourth quarter of a tense finish that featured five lead changes. Rudy Gobert completed a three-point play to give Minnesota a 103-101 lead with 3:02 left, and Ayo Dosunmu added another three-point play to extend the advantage to 110-103. Neither side led by more than nine points during the game.

San Antonio played most of the contest without Victor Wembanyama, who was ejected early in the second quarter for the first time in his NBA career. After being tied up by Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels following an offensive rebound, Wembanyama turned toward Reid and drove his elbow into him, sending the Timberwolves player to the floor.

Even without Wembanyama, the Spurs remained in contention. De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper scored 24 points each, while Stephon Castle added 20. San Antonio led 94-86 with 8:51 remaining before Minnesota rallied.

“When Wemby got thrown out of the game we came out thinking it was going to be easy,” Edwards said.

“But those guys are really good even without Wemby. So we just had to play hard, and I had to just take it upon myself to try to get us a win.”

Reid finished with 15 points and nine rebounds for Minnesota, while McDaniels contributed 14 points.