Paul George Sparks 76ers vs Knicks Playoffs: Live Score

The Eastern Conference semifinals resumed at Madison Square Garden on May 6, 2026 as the New York Knicks hosted the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2 of the series.

The Knicks entered the matchup with a 1‑0 series lead after a dominant 137‑98 victory in Game 1, while the Sixers were missing their injured star Joel Embiid.

Embiid’s absence was confirmed earlier in the day due to lingering ankle and hip issues, leaving Philadelphia to rely on a reshuffled frontcourt.

Coach Nick Nurse emphasized the need for collective effort, noting that the Sixers must compensate for the loss of their premier interior presence.

Philadelphia’s starting lineup featured Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, Kelly Oubre Jr., and a surprise entry for Ariel Hukporti in the paint.

Hukporti, thrust into action after Mitchell Robinson’s illness and Karl‑Anthony Towns’ early foul trouble, posted five points, nine rebounds, and two blocks in limited minutes.

New York, coached by Tom Thibodeau, kept a familiar rotation with Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, OG Anunoby, and Karl‑Anthony Towns anchoring the frontcourt.

Early in the first quarter, the Sixers executed a rapid 7‑of‑9 shooting run, building a 17‑14 lead thanks to Paul George’s hot start.

George had amassed 11 points, including three three‑pointers, within the first six minutes, showcasing his ability to create offense without Embiid.

Kelly Oubre Jr. contributed a layup and two early three‑point attempts, helping Philadelphia finish the opening eight possessions 7‑5.

The Knicks responded with a quick basket from OG Anunoby, who used a pump‑fake to finish a go‑ahead layup, putting New York ahead 18‑17 at 4:48.

Julius Randle’s presence in the paint forced a turnover that led to a fast‑break dunk by Brunson, extending the Knicks’ lead to 20‑18.

Mid‑quarter, a flagrant‑1 foul was called on Oubre Jr. after contact with Karl‑Anthony Towns, sending Towns to the free‑throw line.

Towns converted both free throws, tying the game at 22‑22 before the quarter concluded.

Philadelphia’s three‑point shooting was efficient early, going 5‑of‑8 from beyond the arc, a crucial factor given the lack of interior scoring.

Conversely, the Knicks struggled from long range, shooting 1‑of‑6 from three, but excelled inside the arc at 5‑of‑5.

Tyrese Maxey, who had been quiet in the first quarter, began to find rhythm with a mid‑range jumper that trimmed the deficit to one point.

Brunson’s playmaking continued as he delivered a precise pick‑and‑roll pass to Randle, who finished with a powerful dunk, pushing New York ahead 30‑27.

Defensively, the Knicks emphasized protecting the paint, a strategy that limited the Sixers’ second‑chance points and forced perimeter attempts.

OG Anunoby’s defensive intensity was evident as he forced a turnover that led to a transition bucket by Maxey, tying the game at 33‑33.

In the second quarter, the Knicks capitalized on foul trouble for the Sixers, drawing four free throws on a single possession.

Paul George’s aggressive driving resulted in an offensive foul, but he quickly responded with another three‑pointer, maintaining his scoring momentum.

The Sixers’ bench contributed modestly, with VJ Edgecombe adding two points and a defensive stop, while the Knicks’ bench provided energy through Josh Hart’s hustle plays.

By halftime, the scoreboard read 45‑42 in favor of New York, reflecting a tightly contested first half despite Philadelphia’s missing big man.

Statistical summary of the first half is presented below.

Team	Points	Rebounds
Philadelphia 76ers	45	22
New York Knicks	48	26

Entering the third quarter, the Knicks maintained their defensive scheme, forcing the Sixers into contested mid‑range shots.

Paul George continued his scoring burst, adding another three‑pointer to push his total to 18 points by the end of the quarter.

Kelly Oubre Jr. attempted to answer with a pair of jumpers, converting one to keep Philadelphia within striking distance.

Hukporti’s presence grew as he secured a crucial offensive rebound that resulted in a put‑back dunk, energizing the Sixers’ bench.

Julius Randle’s dominance on the boards was evident, pulling down nine rebounds in the third quarter alone.

New York’s backcourt, led by Brunson, executed crisp ball movement, culminating in a high‑pick‑and‑roll that freed Anunoby for a corner three.

The Knicks’ three‑point shooting improved to 4‑of‑12 by the end of the third, narrowing the gap with Philadelphia’s earlier efficiency.

Meanwhile, the Sixers’ free‑throw shooting remained strong, converting 12 of 15 attempts in the period.

With 2:15 left in the third, the Knicks held a slim 68‑66 lead after a clutch steal by Anunoby led to a fast‑break layup by Maxey.

Paul George answered with a deep three‑pointer, tying the game at 69‑69 and setting the stage for a tight final quarter.

The fourth quarter began with heightened intensity as both teams exchanged leads multiple times.

Brunson’s leadership shone when he drew a foul on a contested drive, sinking both free throws to give New York a two‑point edge.

Philadelphia’s response came from Maxey, who hit a step‑back jumper to regain the lead at 73‑71.

In the final minutes, the Knicks relied on their veteran presence, with Towns securing a crucial offensive board and passing to Randle for a put‑back.

Paul George’s late three‑pointer pushed his total to 26 points, keeping the Sixers within a single basket.

With 30 seconds remaining, the Knicks executed a decisive defensive stop, forcing a turnover that led to a fast‑break dunk by Brunson.

The Knicks’ final free‑throw attempt was missed, leaving the score at 89‑86 in favor of New York.

Philadelphia’s final possession resulted in a missed three‑point attempt by Oubre Jr., sealing the Knicks’ 2‑0 series lead.

The official final score was New York Knicks 89, Philadelphia 76ers 86.

Post‑game, Coach Thibodeau praised his team’s resilience, highlighting the collective effort required to overcome the loss of Embiid.

Coach Nurse commended Paul George’s performance, noting his ability to generate offense and keep the Sixers competitive.

Paul George finished the night with 28 points, shooting 7‑of‑12 from the field and 4‑of‑6 from three‑point range.

Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 22 points, adding six rebounds and three assists.

Julius Randle contributed 18 points and 11 rebounds, recording a double‑double for the Knicks.

OG Anunoby added 15 points on 7‑of‑8 shooting, continuing his postseason scoring surge.

Kelly Oubre Jr. tallied 12 points, including three successful three‑pointers, despite the flagrant‑1 foul controversy.

Ariel Hukporti posted a respectable line of 8 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 19 minutes.

Statistical comparison of key players is shown below.

Player	Points	Rebounds
Paul George (PHI)	28	4
Tyrese Maxey (PHI)	22	6
Julius Randle (NYK)	18	11
OG Anunoby (NYK)	15	3

The victory positions the Knicks as favorites to clinch the series in five games, according to Veezstream analysis.

The Sixers now face a daunting task to rebalance their offense and protect the paint without Embiid for the remainder of the series.

Historically, teams that win the first two games at home in the Eastern semifinals have a 78% chance of advancing to the Conference Finals.

Philadelphia’s ability to adapt will be crucial, especially in managing foul trouble that plagued both teams in Game 1.

Both coaches emphasized the importance of disciplined defense moving forward, noting the high free‑throw counts in the opening game.

The series will shift back to Philadelphia for Game 3, where the Sixers will look to leverage home‑court advantage.

With Embiid’s status still uncertain, the Sixers may explore additional rotations, potentially increasing playing time for HakPorti and other bench contributors.

The Knicks will likely continue to exploit their interior defense, relying on Towns and Randle to dominate the boards.

Fans and analysts will watch closely how the tactical adjustments unfold, as the outcome of this series could shape the Eastern Conference landscape.