Knicks Take 2-0 Lead On Sixers, 108-102, Behind Brunson's 26

Knicks 108, Sixers 102. The closest game of the second round so far, and Philadelphia still couldn't take one without Joel Embiid in the lineup. New York heads to Philly up 2-0 with a chance to bury this series at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday.

Jalen Brunson — 26 points, 6 assists, the late-game pick-and-roll daggers everyone has come to expect. OG Anunoby 24 on 9-of-15 shooting and another night of locking up Tyrese Maxey late. Karl-Anthony Towns 20-10-7 with three blocks. The Knicks led wire-to-wire but never by more than 12 — Maxey kept the Sixers in it with 26 of his own, and Paul George had a quiet 18-7-6.

Embiid (knee) was downgraded to out 90 minutes before tip after Philadelphia floated him as questionable all day. Without him on the floor, the Sixers can't generate enough rim pressure to keep up when the Knicks lock in defensively in the fourth. Mitchell Robinson and KAT erased everything inside down the stretch.

Game 3 in Philly on Saturday afternoon. Embiid is reportedly hopeful but no one's promising anything. The Knicks haven't been to a Conference Finals since 2000. They're four wins away.