Knicks defeat 76ers in Game 2 after historic 25 lead changes

[p]Having been thrashed in game one, the underdog Sixers were without star man [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/embiid-joel/G2hZm0nI/"]Joel Embiid[/a], who was ruled out with multiple injuries just hours before tip-off.[/p][p]But they put up a much fiercer fight at Madison Square, in a game featuring 25 lead changes - the most for a playoff game in 11 years - before the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-york-knicks/WCNO4nbt/"]Knicks[/a] pulled decisively clear in the final minutes.[/p][embed guid="bdb2513e-b499-419d-aa03-9f9590791c0b" url="https://x.com/NBA/status/2052221178312368156?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/brunson-jalen/YLRvL3v7/"]Brunson[/a]'s clutch play - including eight fourth-quarter points - ensured victory, with the Knicks talisman joint top-scoring on 26 points.[/p][p][b]"It's a playoff basketball game. You know, the game was ugly offensively,"[/b] said Knicks coach Mike Brown.[/p][p][b]"You give the Sixers a lot of credit. We knew that they were going to come out, they were gonna be physical."[/b][/p][p]The Sixers started brightly, taking a seven-point lead five minutes into the game that would prove to be the largest of the night.[/p][p]In Embiid's absence, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/maxey-tyrese/r9DvnZeC/"]Tyrese Maxey[/a] stepped up with 15 points in the second quarter alone, as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/philadelphia-76ers/vwRW2QSh/"]Philadelphia[/a] eked out a single-point half-time lead. Veteran [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/george-paul/KOvfaZVQ/"]Paul George[/a] was deadly from range, with five three-pointers.[/p][p]But the Knicks' [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/towns-karl-anthony/8np46E9P/"]Karl-Anthony Towns[/a] came alive after the break, scoring 20 points plus 10 rebounds and seven assists, while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/anunoby-og-ogugua/jiNJMxEa/"]OG Anunoby[/a] went 9-of-17 from the field for his 24 points.[/p][p]With the scores level 99-99 and five minutes to go, Brunson applied the pressure just as the Sixers ran out of steam, losing their shooting touch.[/p][p]Two Brunson field goals gave New York a four-point lead - their biggest of the night to that point - before [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bridges-mikal/hCRWwI1R/"]Mikal Bridges[/a]' step-back shot made it a 9-0 run and a six-point lead.[/p][embed guid="a646f9d8-d873-4e36-b0a2-ef008da61e6b" url="https://x.com/NBA/status/2052215536658878611?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Maxey made a late driving layup - finishing with 26 points - but it was not enough to close the gap.[/p][p][b]"We played good enough defense to win that game, especially in the fourth,"[/b] said Philadelphia head coach Nick Nurse, who bemoaned his team's ability to score late in the game.[/p][p][b]"We played great offense. We just didn't make shots."[/b][/p][p]The absence of Embiid, the 2023 league Most Valuable Player, ultimately told for the Sixers, who now face a steep uphill battle to reach the next round.[/p][p]Embiid had been a key figure in the Sixers' upset of second-seeded [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/boston-celtics/KYD9hVEm/"]Boston[/a] in the previous round, averaging 28 points in four games as the Sixers recovered from a 3-1 deficit.[/p][p]But he was ruled unable to play due to right hip soreness and a right ankle sprain, leaving the Sixers sweating on his fitness for Friday, when the series continues in Philadelphia.[/p]