Di New York Knicks don beat Philadelphia 76ers for Game 2 of dia second-round playoff series, 108-102, for Madison Square Garden. Di win give Knicks 2-0 series lead.
Di game na tight battle from start to finish, with no team leading by more dan seven points. Di Sixers carry one-point lead into di fourth quarter, but dia offense start to stagnate. Fatigue bin dey show for dia short rotation, as dem just finish a tough seven-game series against Boston Celtics.
Nick Nurse, di Sixers coach, talk say dem do above average job defending Jalen Brunson, but Brunson still score important points for di fourth quarter. Brunson bin get 30 points for Game 1, but for Game 2, di Sixers make am work harder.
VJ Edgecombe, di rookie, play important role for defense, tracking Brunson across all 94 feet and navigating screens well. But for di fourth quarter, Edgecombe miss two open three-pointers, and Tyrese Maxey miss one from di corner. Brunson connect on mid-range jumpers, and Mikal Bridges add one too. Maxey turn over ball, and Dominick Barlow also turn over.
Maxey draw foul but only split free throws, and Brunson knock down two shots at di line to give Knicks three-possession lead. Maxey finally convert a late shot, but George airball seal di Sixers fate.
Karl-Anthony Towns bin limited to eight minutes for di first half because of foul trouble, but whenever he dey for game, he torment Andre Drummond. Di Sixers miss Joel Embiid, wey no play because of injury. Adem Bona come back for di mix and hold up well, grabbing seven boards and swatting two shots for di first half. But Bona also pick up fouls.
Dominick Barlow, di starting power forward, play well for small-ball five, making quick reads and defending Brunson and Deuce McBride. He help change di tenor of di game, but di Sixers still fall short.
Di series now go to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Friday night. Di Sixers need to find answer for dia center problem when Embiid no dey, as Drummond and Bona both get flaws.
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