The NBA Playoffs are heating up and one of the most exciting matchups of the second round is now here. The Philadelphia 76ers face the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 5, 2026 at Madison Square Garden. This is a series that nobody saw coming, at least not with Philadelphia playing in it after pulling off a remarkable upset in the first round.
Match Information
Series: NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals
Game: Game 1 of 7
Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York
Tip-off: 5:30 AM IST
Seedings: New York Knicks (3 seed) vs Philadelphia 76ers (7 seed)
Win Probability: New York Knicks 70.9% – Philadelphia 76ers 29.1%
How Both Teams Got Here – Series Timeline
Philadelphia 76ers vs Boston Celtics – First Round Recap
Philadelphia came into the playoffs as a 7 seed and very few people gave them a real chance. They were up against the 2-seeded Boston Celtics, one of the most experienced teams in the East. What followed was one of the best first round series of the 2026 playoffs.
Game 1: Boston 123 – Philadelphia 91. Boston dominated from start to finish and it looked like this series might be short. Philadelphia had no answer for Boston’s pressure.
Game 2: Boston 97 – Philadelphia 111. Philadelphia bounced back in a big way. Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid got going and the Sixers looked like a completely different team. Series tied 1-1.
Game 3: Philadelphia 100 – Boston 108. Back in Philly but it was Boston who won. The Celtics took control of the series again and Philadelphia found themselves down 2-1.
Game 4: Philadelphia 96 – Boston 128. A tough night for the Sixers. Boston was clicking on all cylinders and it looked like Philadelphia’s run was going to come to an end quickly. Down 3-1.
Game 5: Boston 97 – Philadelphia 113. With their backs against the wall, Philadelphia put together a gutsy performance. They won by 16 and kept the series alive. Down 3-2.
Game 6: Philadelphia 106 – Boston 93. Another strong performance by the Sixers forced a Game 7. Joel Embiid was huge and the team played with the kind of energy and desperation you need in a must-win game.
Game 7: Boston 100 – Philadelphia 109. The Sixers completed the comeback. In one of the best Game 7 performances of the season, Joel Embiid dropped 34 points and Tyrese Maxey added 30. Philadelphia won the series 4-3 and pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the playoffs.
New York Knicks vs Atlanta Hawks – First Round Recap
The Knicks had a slightly easier path in round one. They faced the 6-seeded Atlanta Hawks and won the series 4-2.
Game 1: New York 113 – Atlanta 102. A solid opening win for the Knicks at home.
Game 2: New York 106 – Atlanta 107. Atlanta stole one at Madison Square Garden to tie the series.
Game 3: Atlanta 109 – New York 108. A heartbreaker for New York as Atlanta took the lead in the series.
Game 4: Atlanta 98 – New York 114. The Knicks responded and leveled things back up at 2-2.
Game 5: New York 126 – Atlanta 97. The Knicks took back control with a dominant home performance.
Game 6: Atlanta 89 – New York 140. New York closed out the series in stunning fashion. A 51-point win in the closing game showed just how good this Knicks team can be when they are rolling.
Team Overview
New York Knicks
The Knicks finished the regular season as the third seed in the East and they have been building momentum throughout the playoffs. What makes New York so difficult to beat is their depth and their defensive intensity. They have multiple players who can guard different positions, they get out in transition, and they rarely beat themselves with turnovers or bad decisions.
In their series against Atlanta, they showed they can win close games and they can also blow teams out. Their home record has been excellent throughout the season, which is a big advantage heading into Game 1 at Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks also have the edge of rest coming into this series. They closed out Atlanta in Game 6 and had a few extra days to recover and prepare. Philadelphia on the other hand played a physically and emotionally draining 7-game series and just finished it days ago.
Philadelphia 76ers
Nobody talks about confidence builders like winning a 3-1 comeback in the playoffs. That is exactly what Philadelphia did against Boston and it has given this entire team a belief in themselves that you simply cannot teach. Joel Embiid is playing with purpose and Tyrese Maxey is operating at a level that puts him among the best guards in the league right now.
The concern for Philadelphia is fatigue and depth. They played 7 hard games against an elite Celtics team. They do not have the bench depth of the Knicks and their top players logged heavy minutes throughout the Boston series. Whether they can sustain that same level of energy against a fresh New York team is the biggest question heading into this series.
Key Player Stats
Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid (Center) Joel Embiid was the best player on the court in Game 7 against Boston. He scored 34 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, handed out 6 assists and blocked 1 shot while shooting 46.2% from the field and 81.8% from the free throw line. He also drew 14 fouls, which is a number that changes how the game is officiated around him. When Embiid is healthy and engaged, he is one of the two or three most impactful players in the entire league. How he feels physically coming off 7 games against Boston will be the most important story of Game 1.
Tyrese Maxey (Guard) Maxey put up 30 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists in Game 7 against Boston while shooting 61.1% from the field and 50% from three-point range. He committed only 1 turnover all game, which is a sign of a player who is completely in control. Maxey has become the engine of Philadelphia’s offense. He creates his own shot, gets to the line, and makes good decisions under pressure. The Knicks will likely throw multiple defenders at him throughout this series.
VJ Edgecombe (Guard) The young guard has been one of the surprise stories of Philadelphia’s playoff run. In Game 7, he scored 23 points on 47.1% shooting and hit 5 of his 11 three-point attempts. He also had 6 rebounds, 4 assists and was a massive plus-19 on the night. His ability to hit big shots and play with energy off the bench or in a starting role gives Philadelphia a different dimension.
Paul George (Forward) Paul George has had moments in this series where he has looked like the veteran difference-maker Philadelphia needs. In Game 7, he scored 13 points on an efficient 50% from the field including 60% from three. He brings experience, playmaking and a level of composure that Philadelphia needs in big moments.
New York Knicks
Jalen Brunson (Guard) Brunson is the heart and soul of this Knicks team. He is a natural leader and a scorer who makes everyone around him better. In the series-clinching Game 6 against Atlanta, he dropped 17 points with 8 assists, 2 steals and was a monster plus-41 on the floor. His ability to get into the paint, draw fouls and create shots for teammates makes him the most important player in the series for New York.
Karl-Anthony Towns (Center) Towns recorded a triple-double in Game 6, finishing with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. He also had 3 steals. Towns is a nightmare matchup for Philadelphia because he can step out and shoot the three-pointer while also being a physical presence inside. Embiid versus Towns is going to be one of the most interesting individual battles of this series.
OG Anunoby (Forward) Anunoby was the best player in the building during Game 6. He put up 29 points on an incredible 78.6% shooting from the field, grabbed 7 rebounds and recorded 4 steals. His combination of offense and defense makes him one of the more complete players in the Eastern Conference. He will likely be tasked with guarding Paul George or making life difficult for Maxey at times.
Mikal Bridges (Guard/Forward) Bridges scored 24 points on 83.3% shooting in the closeout game and was a plus-40 for the night. He is a player who never seems to have a bad shooting night and his versatility on both ends gives the Knicks a major advantage. When Bridges and Anunoby are both playing at a high level, New York becomes very hard to stop.
Josh Hart (Forward) Hart is the kind of player that does not always show up in the box score but whose impact is felt throughout the game. He scored 14 points, had 5 rebounds and was plus-35 in Game 6. He attacks the offensive glass, defends multiple positions and never takes a possession off. The Knicks are a better team when Hart is competing at his best level.
Preview – What to Watch in Game 1
Home Court Advantage Matters
Madison Square Garden is one of the loudest and most intense arenas in basketball. The Knicks have been excellent at home throughout this season and the crowd will be heavily in their favor. Philadelphia will need to stay focused and not let the environment affect their rhythm in the early stages.
The Fatigue Factor
This is the biggest question heading into Game 1. Philadelphia just played a 7-game series that went right to the wire. Embiid and Maxey both played huge minutes throughout. New York had more rest, more preparation time and more energy in the tank. If Philadelphia can get through the first game with their legs under them, they have a chance. If fatigue sets in early, it could be a long night.
Embiid vs Towns
Both big men can score from the post and from the perimeter. Whoever controls this matchup will go a long way toward determining who wins Game 1. Philadelphia will try to force the ball into Embiid early and often. New York will look to use Towns in the pick-and-roll and space the floor around him.
Can Philadelphia’s Bench Keep Up?
New York has one of the deeper rosters in the playoffs. Their bench contributed 44 points in the Game 6 closeout. Philadelphia’s bench scored just 3 points in their Game 7. That gap in bench production is something the Sixers have to address if they are going to compete in this series.
Prediction
This is a tough call because Philadelphia has shown they can do things that seem impossible. They came back from 3-1 against Boston. They have Embiid playing at an all-time level and Maxey who might be the best player on the floor in any given game.
However, the numbers and circumstances favor New York. The Knicks are the higher seed, they are playing at home, they are more rested, they are deeper, and they have a win probability of 70.9% going into this game. Brunson, Anunoby, Bridges and Towns make for an extremely well-rounded team that does not have many weaknesses.
Game 1 prediction: New York Knicks win, somewhere in the range of 112 to 101. Brunson leads the way for New York with a big first game at home. Embiid gives everything he has but the fatigue shows a bit by the fourth quarter.
That said, do not count Philadelphia out. This is a team that has already proven they can win games nobody thought they could win. Every game in this series should be worth watching.