The New York Knicks opened the Eastern Conference semifinals with a dominant 137-98 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night at Madison Square Garden, extending one of the most statistically dominant postseason stretches in franchise history.
Despite the 39-point margin, Mikal Bridges kept the focus firmly on control and consistency rather than celebration.
“It’s good but just one game. Goes back to game two. We’d be happy but you got to stay like that,” Bridges said after the Game 1 win.
New York shot 63% from the field and built a 40-point lead at one stage, continuing a playoff run that has produced four wins in a row by a combined 135 points.
Bridges finished with 17 points, contributing efficiently as part of a balanced offensive attack that saw five Knicks score in double figures.
The wing emphasized that the team’s approach is not tied to scoreboard swings, even in blowouts.
“Not really playing the score, just stay hungry no matter what the score is. If you’re up 10, up 20 or 30, just keep fighting, keep going and just keep trying to play the right way,” he said.
That mindset has helped New York become the first team in NBA history to win three consecutive playoff games by at least 25 points, according to league tracking data.
Bridges also highlighted the importance of ball movement in sustaining the Knicks’ offensive efficiency.
“Good things happen when we share and just try to make, I think all of us are trying to make the right read and do whatever it takes to win,” he said, pointing to the team-wide commitment to role sacrifice and spacing.
The Knicks recorded 34 assists in Game 1, with Jalen Brunson scoring 35 points and Karl-Anthony Towns adding 17 points and six assists in limited minutes.
Defensively, New York held Philadelphia’s top scorers in check, including Tyrese Maxey, who was limited to 13 points on a slow shooting night.
Bridges credited collective effort rather than individual assignments for slowing down the 76ers’ attack.
“Great team defense. Everybody just wanted to shrink. Really good,” he said.
He also acknowledged the difficulty of defending Maxey’s offensive profile, which includes scoring at all three levels and constant movement without the ball.
“He can score on all three levels, move without the ball, does a lot of great things on offense, so that obviously makes it difficult,” Bridges said.
New York’s depth also played a key role, with rotation minutes maintaining pressure throughout the game, including impactful stretches from reserve forward Ariel Hukporti.
“The team did a great job, especially Ariel coming in, playing great minutes,” Bridges said.
Even with a 1-0 series lead, Bridges emphasized the need for adjustment before Game 2.
“You got to take it to be too concerned. To be more aggressive these last two games takes away,” he said, underscoring the importance of continued defensive discipline.
Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday night in New York, with the Knicks aiming to maintain momentum before the series shifts to Philadelphia.
