The biggest challenge through two games for New Yorkers has been debating which food novelty is better — the Philly cheesesteak or the New York chopped
May 8, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson reacts after a play against the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter of game three of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images The biggest challenge through two games for New Yorkers has been debating which food novelty is better — the Philly cheesesteak or the New York chopped cheese. It’s been a quiet 2-0 series for the Knicks, with very few dramatics and dominance from the deep roster.
However, Game 3 brought a new challenge for the Knicks on the road: the loss of star wing OG Anunoby. Anunoby has been key to New York’s success in the playoffs, averaging the second-most points on the team with 21.1 PPG, along with seven rebounds and one assist per game. With Anunoby sidelined, the Knicks needed to rely on their bench play, particularly from Landry Shamet — who delivered. No OG, no problem.
The Knicks cruised to a 3-0 series lead on the road with a 108-94 victory. The key stat of the game came from the Knicks’ bench production, with New York outscoring the Sixers bench 16-0 through the first half alone. Shamet scored nine of those points, starting 4-for-5 from the field in his reunion with Philadelphia. The journeyman guard finished with 15 points, helping lead the Knicks to a 29-11 bench-point advantage.
Mikal Bridges was another key factor, providing his fourth straight strong offensive outing with 23 points, three rebounds, and two steals. Over the last four games, the former Net has averaged 20.5 points, providing the Knicks with a significant scoring option. Jalen Brunson was doing Jalen Brunson things, finishing Game 3 with 33 points, five rebounds, and nine assists.
Brunson continued his dominant playoff success, scoring 30-plus points for the 24th time as a Knick — the most in franchise history. The Sixers relied heavily on their emotional crowd, with Paul George fueling a 31-27 first-quarter lead thanks to 15 points in the opening nine minutes. George would not score again, locked down by the red-hot Bridges for the remainder of the contest.
The Knicks quickly responded to Philadelphia’s hot start, silencing the Philly faithful with a 20-8 run before finishing the half on a dominant 52-20 stretch. By halftime, the Knicks led 60-52 on the road. In the third quarter, however, the Knicks found themselves in trouble after Karl-Anthony Towns picked up his fourth foul early in the period — meaning it was time for the “Hack-a-Mitch” strategy.
However, a rarity occurred: Mitchell Robinson was hitting his free throws, going 4-for-8 from the stripe in the quarter. The Sixers, who found themselves down four, missed six consecutive shots, allowing the Knicks to take an 85-76 lead into the final quarter. The Knicks were in the driver’s seat, carrying a 7-0 run with five minutes remaining while holding their largest lead of the contest at 13.
Bridges hit the running man, Brunson dapped up his teammates and the Knicks were in full control while the 76ers sat on the bench showing signs of defeat. For the first time since 2000, the Knicks will have the opportunity to sweep the 76ers on Sunday at 3:30 p.m., with Anunoby potentially returning for Game 4, taking place in Philadelphia.
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