Bogdanovic's Perfect Return, Precious Rebounds Help Knicks Survive Sixers' Comeback
Like George Washington before them, the New York Knicks earned a crucial victory by crossing the Delaware.
The Knicks got their post-All-Star-break slate started on a relative high note, ending a four-game losing streak with a 110-96 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on Thursday night.
New York (34-22) led by as much as 26 in the first half before a furious Philadelphia rally whittled it all the way down to six but it managed to survive despite a night of struggles for returning All-Star Jalen Brunson (5-of-18 from the field, 7 turnovers).
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Back in the lineup after a one-game medical absence, Bojan Bogdanovic scored 22 points to lead the team. The metropolitan newcomer made Knicks history as he became just the sixth New Yorker to have a perfect night from deep with a minimum of six attempts. Precious Achiuwa (18 and 11) and Josh Hart (18 and 12) each used scoring and rebounding to earn double-doubles while Brunson went 11-of-11 from the free throw line en route to 21 points and dished out 12 assists despite his issues.
Thursday's return to action took on a decidedly metropolitan feel despite the stylized 76 at midcourt: chants for Brunson's MVP candidacy are perhaps commonplace these days but Knicks fans made their presence felt with raucous cheers that only amplified when they built their first half lead despite the continued absence of both OG Anunoby (elbow) and Julius Randle (shoulder).
Bogdanovic did most of his damage in the first half, scoring 19 points in the second quarter alone for over half of the Knicks' 37-point period output. New York also drastically outrebounded a Philadelphia group dealing with its own medical issues, as Achuiwa, Hart, and Jericho Sims united to pull in 24 while the 76ers had only 15 as a team in the first half.
Still reeling from the departure of Joel Embiid, Philadelphia (32-23) began the second half on an immediate 10-2 run, narrowing the affair for the rest of the way. Tyrese Maxey justified his own All-Star prescience with an 18-point third quarter reduced to a snail's pace thanks to a dozen foul calls over the final six minutes (seven in the last 1:44 alone). Brunson preserved the Knicks' lead by going 8-of-8 from the foul line and scored 12 of the Knicks' 22 points.
A defensive shutdown restored sanity as the Knicks allowed only 10 points over the final eight-plus minutes. Appropriately, Villanova alumni delivered the finishing touches in their returns to Wells Fargo Center: three-pointers from Hart and Donte DiVincenzo (also back on the floor after a one-game medical absence established a permanent double-figure lead that allowed both sides to empty their benches.
In another Wildcats connection, the 76ers debuted Kyle Lowry after signing the former South Floridian last week. Despite having to leave after sustaining an unintentional elbow from Sims, Lowry put up 11 points over 25 minutes of action, trailing Maxey, who led all scorers with 35. Maxey's output was far from enough to avoid fate, as the Sixers have now dropped six of nine sans Embiid, who is indefinitely sidelined with a knee injury.
If the NBA regular season ended today, the Knicks and 76ers would meet in a first-round playoff matchup of Nos. 4 and 5 seeds. With the win, the Knicks secured their first sweep of their annual two-game trek to Philadelphia for the first time since the 2015-16 season. Rematches are scheduled for Mar. 10 and 12 at Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks are back in action on Saturday when they open a four-game homestand at Madison Square Garden against the Boston Celtics (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
