76ers unfazed after taking ugly Game 1 loss to Knicks: Well be ready

Two years ago, the Knicks outscored the 76ers by just one point (650-649) throughout their thrilling six-game first-round series.The rematch began with the 76ers’ worst playoff loss since 1982, their most points allowed in a playoff game since 1970 and the ninth-biggest blowout of any series opener in NBA history.The Knicks’ 137-98 win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals also resulted in the 76ers becoming the second team in NBA history to lose three playoff games by at least 30 points in the same postseason.But the Sixers bounced back from similar beatdowns in the first round, responding to a series-opening blowout loss in Boston with a 14-point win in Game 2.

Then, after being embarrassed in Game 4 by the heavily favored Celtics, Philadelphia found rhythm and resolve, becoming the first team in franchise history to come back from a 3-1 series deficit.“If we lose by seven points, or 70 points, it doesn’t really matter,” Tyrese Maxey said after Monday’s loss.“They won one game and we lost one game.

We’re gonna make some adjustments and we’ll be ready for Game 2.Game 1 doesn’t carry over to Game 2.”The Knicks started this series with advantages on paper, but also the edge of being off the previous three days, following three stress-free victories over the Hawks. The 76ers played their sixth game in 11 days, entering Madison Square Garden less than 48 hours after leaving Boston with one of the team’s biggest victories in decades.“We can’t use the fatigue as an excuse,” Paul George said.

“But it has been an emotional roller coaster.You go from a Game 7, you get one day off and then you’re right back into another matchup.

I think there was some carryover of us trying to get up and trying to get prepared for this next matchup.But we definitely should have come out and did a better job.”Rest and renewed purpose may not help against Jalen Brunson, who averaged 35.5 points in the 2024 series and just carved up the Sixers ...