Knicks rout Sixers 137-98 in Game 1 as Brunson drops 35

This wasn't a basketball game. This was a public execution.

The Knicks beat the Sixers 137-98 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semis Monday night at MSG. Jalen Brunson dropped 35 — 27 of them in the first half — on 81.3% true shooting. OG Anunoby went 7-of-8 for 18. Mikal Bridges 7-of-10 for 17. KAT 7-of-11 for 17. As a team: 61.4% from the field, 19-of-37 (51.4%) from deep. Five Knicks scored in double figures before Joel Embiid made his first bucket five minutes into the second quarter.

Paul George led Philly with 17. Embiid finished with 14 on 3-of-11. Maxey had 13. The MSG crowd let Embiid hear it all night.

This is now a historic run — the Knicks are the first team in NBA history to win three straight playoff games by at least 25 points. They closed out Boston by 25 in Game 6, opened the second round with a 39-point thumping, and the trend isn't slowing down. Game 2 is Wednesday. The Sixers need a miracle.