The New York Knicks took command of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Friday night, securing a 108-94 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center to go up 3-0 in the series. Jalen Brunson fueled the win with 33 points and clutch late-game execution.
After the loss, Kelly Oubre Jr. broke down the factors that allowed New York to pull away, emphasizing their edge on the boards. “I think they did a better job of tracking down the long rebounds. It’s an instinctual thing. They took more three-pointers, had five more attempts than us, and we made the same number, but they capitalized on grabbing those long misses,” Oubre said.
Philadelphia struggled to match New York’s extra possessions during crucial stretches. When asked about regrouping for Game 4, Oubre replied, “Stay swaggy. We’ll go in tomorrow, learn from tonight’s mistakes, and try to capitalize. As you’ve seen, resilience defines this team. We have no choice but to fight.”
He stressed the urgency ahead of Sunday’s matchup. “We have to take it one game at a time. We’ve dug ourselves a deep hole, but only we—together in this organization, in this locker room—can dig ourselves out.”
Philadelphia started strong but couldn’t sustain energy over 48 minutes. “We came out very hot, with a lot of energy, but as we always say, it’s a 48-minute game and we have to keep that consistently,” Oubre noted. Turnovers late in the third quarter again proved costly as the Knicks built control.
“We have to figure out a way to make each other better, keep uplifting each other when someone is down or tired,” Oubre added. “Communication in our huddle is key.”
New York’s defensive pressure on Tyrese Maxey and attention to Jalen Brunson’s actions shaped possessions. Oubre acknowledged, “JB is a great player and he’ll find ways to be effective because his team needs him to. But it’s up to us to slow him down a bit.”
Asked about the 76ers’ home crowd creating a tough atmosphere, Oubre kept focus inward. “At the end of the day, we’re the show on the court. We’re not focused on the crowd. Obviously we need them and love our fans, but we have to lock in on our tasks.”
He also addressed New York
