Jalen Brunson showcased his scoring prowess, netting 35 points with 27 coming in the first half, as the New York Knicks overwhelmed the Philadelphia 76ers 137-98 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals. This victory marked a historic moment, as the Knicks became the first team in NBA history to win three consecutive postseason games by at least 25 points.

The Knicks continued their impressive run, shooting 63 percent from the field and leading by as much as 40 points during the game. Center Karl-Anthony Towns emphasized the importance of staying focused, stating, "We're playing well, but it doesn't mean anything if we can't find a way to get three more wins."

OG Anunoby contributed 18 points on 7-for-8 shooting, while Towns and Mikal Bridges each added 17 points. After falling behind 2-1 against Atlanta, the Knicks have now won four straight games by a total of 135 points, making history as the first team since detailed play-by-play tracking began in 1996-97 to lead three consecutive playoff games by at least 30 points.

Brunson attributed the team's success to improved focus and attention to detail, which he believes will aid them in tighter matchups. Game 2 is set for Wednesday, with the series shifting to Philadelphia thereafter. The 76ers, led by Paul George with 17 points, struggled offensively, with Joel Embiid scoring only 14 points on 3-for-11 shooting.

Despite having just one day off after their comeback win against Boston, the 76ers looked outmatched, prompting coach Nick Nurse to note, "They were obviously picking us apart, moving a lot better than we were."

Brunson's limited minutes, playing just 31, prevented him from reaching 40 points for a fourth consecutive playoff game against the 76ers, a feat he accomplished previously in their first-round series.