Key Takeaways
- The New York Knicks routed the Atlanta Hawks 140‑89, setting the NBA playoff record for largest halftime lead after a 67‑13 run.
- The Philadelphia 76ers forced a Game 7 against the Boston Celtics with a 106‑93 win, erasing an early deficit thanks to Tyrese Maxey’s 30 points.
- Minnesota Timberwolves advanced past the Denver Nuggets 110‑98 despite missing Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo, Ayo Dosunmu and Kyle Anderson; Jaden McDaniels scored 32 points and Rudy Gobert added a double‑double.
- Three Eastern Conference series are tied 3‑2 (Detroit‑Orlando, Cleveland‑Toronto, Lakers‑Houston), setting up potential Game 7s.
- The Knicks will meet the winner of the Boston‑Philadelphia series in the second round, while the Timberwolves will face the San Antonio Spurs in the West.
Knicks blow out Hawks
New York opened the game with an aggressive start and never looked back, building a 20‑point advantage after the first quarter. By halftime the Knicks had erupted on a 67‑13 run that pushed their lead to 38 points, the biggest halftime margin ever recorded in postseason play. The run halted when Mitchell Robinson and Hawks forward Dyson Daniels exchanged words that led to a brief altercation, resulting in both players being ejected late in the second quarter. Despite the disruption, New York’s offense stayed hot. OG Anunoby led all scorers with 29 points on 11‑of‑14 shooting, finishing the game in just 27 minutes. The bench contributed heavily, with ten different reserves combining for 44 points, underscoring the depth that helped turn a competitive series into a decisive victory. Jalen Johnson paced Atlanta with 21 points, but the Hawks could not stem the tide as the Knicks closed the series 4‑2.
Road to the second round
With the Hawks eliminated, New York now awaits the outcome of the Boston‑Philadelphia series. The winner will face the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, giving New York a chance to avenge their Eastern Conference Final loss from last spring. The Knicks’ blend of star production and bench scoring, coupled with their defensive intensity, makes them a formidable opponent regardless of whether they meet the Celtics or the 76ers.
Sixers force Game 7
Philadelphia’s Game 6 victory over Boston was a classic comeback. After trailing by five points early in the second quarter, Tyrese Maxey ignited a run that saw the Sixers erase the deficit and never relinquish the lead. Maxey finished with 30 points, while Paul George added 23 and Joel Embiid contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds. Boston’s leading scorers, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, were each held under 20 points, a testament to Philadelphia’s defensive adjustments. The win sends the series back to Boston for a decisive Game 7, the date of which has yet to be announced. The victor will earn the right to meet the Knicks in the next round.
Timberwolves survive Nuggets onslaught
Minnesota’s Game 6 clash with Denver was a tightly contested affair that remained within single digits until the final minutes. With the Timberwolves leading 100‑97 and two minutes left, Terrence Shannon Jr. was fouled on a layup and made both free throws to push the advantage to six points. The Nuggets answered with a basket to cut the gap to five, but Jaden McDaniels responded with a pull‑up jumper that restored a six‑point lead. Minnesota then sealed the victory by hitting five consecutive free throws, finishing 110‑98. The win was especially notable given the absence of four key contributors—Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo, Ayo Dosunmu and Kyle Anderson—due to injury. Stepping into the void, McDaniels delivered a game‑high 32 points on 13‑of‑25 shooting, grabbed 10 rebounds and added one three‑pointer. Rudy Gobert posted a double‑double with 10 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, while Nikola Jokić still managed a solid line of 28 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, but it was insufficient to keep Denver alive. Minnesota will now face the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Semifinals.
Other series at 3‑2
Three additional Eastern Conference matchups sit at 3‑2, raising the possibility of Game 7s. The Detroit Pistons trail the Orlando Magic 3‑2 and will play Game 6 in Orlando at 7 p.m. ET. The Cleveland Cavaliers hold a 3‑2 edge over the Toronto Raptors, with Game 6 scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET in Toronto. In the West, the Los Angeles Lakers lead the Houston Rockets 3‑2 and will contest Game 6 at 9:30 p.m. ET in Houston. Should any of these teams force a deciding game, the schedule could shift dramatically, but as of now the immediate focus remains on the upcoming Game 7s in Boston and the potential second‑round pairings.
Updated playoff picture
With the Hawks and Nuggets eliminated, the second‑round matchups are taking shape. In the East, the Knicks will meet the winner of the Boston‑Philadelphia series. In the West, the Timberwolves advance to face the San Antonio Spurs, who dispatched the Memphis Grizzlies earlier in the playoffs. The remaining series—Detroit‑Orlando, Cleveland‑Toronto, and Lakers‑Houston—will determine the other participants in the semifinals. Fans can expect a flurry of high‑stakes basketball over the next few days, as teams vie for a chance to chase the NBA championship.