Knicks blow past 76ers to take 3-0 lead despite return of Joel Embiid

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid was back in the lineup Friday night. It didn't matter.

The New York Knicks, beat the Sixers 108-94 in Game 3 Friday, May 8 to take a 3-0 series lead in the conference semifinals. No team has ever come back from a 3-0 hole in NBA history.

Jalen Brunson destroyed the 76ers defense. He finished with 33 points and nine assists. Mikal Bridges added 23 points and Landry Shamet came off the bench to score 15 on 5-of-6 shooting. New York showed it was deep enough to do this without OG Anunoby, who watched in street clothes with a hamstring strain.

Embiid returned from the hip and ankle injuries that kept him out of Game 2 and finished with 18 points. He shot just 41 percent and committed three turnovers. His status was uncertain until about half an hour before tipoff. Embiid's movement looked labored, especially after crashing with Karl-Anthony Towns several times in the paint.

Paul George scored 15 points – all in the first quarter – and went 0-for-9 the rest of the night.

The 76ers were out-rebounded 57-41 and gave up 20 second-chance points.

Game 4 is Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

Watch: Knicks vs. 76ers Game 3 highlights

Knicks win 108-94, lead series 3-0 behind Brunson's 33 points

Jalen Brunson finished with 33 points and nine assists as the Knicks beat the76ers 108-94, even with Philadelphia center Joel Embiid in the lineup. Mikal Bridges added 23, and Landry Shamet came off the bench to score 15, showing off New York's depth as they played without OG Anunoby. The Knicks take a 3-0 lead into Sunday's Game 4. The Sixers rallied from 3-1 down against the Boston Celtics to get here, but Friday night did not look like a team with that potential.

No team in NBA history has come back from a 3-0 deficit.

Embiid finished with 18 points.

Brunson, Knicks pull away heading into the fourth

Jalen Brunson has taken over. The Knicks point guard has 24 points and eight assists through three quarters, methodically dismantling a Philadelphia defense that has no answer for him. New York leads 85-76 going into the fourth quarter. Mikal Bridges has 17 points, and Landry Shamet has quietly torched the Sixers off the bench with 12 on 5-of-6 shooting.

For the Sixers, the cold reality is Paul George. He has not scored since the first quarter. Joel Embiid has 15 points, but also three fouls and three turnovers. Philadelphia missed their last six shots of the third quarter.

Knicks rally past 76ers for halftime lead

The glass is killing the 76ers.

The Knicks outscored the 76ers 33-21 in the second quarter to take a 60-52 halftime lead. The reason is simple. New York is eating the Sixers alive on the offensive boards. The Knicks have nine offensive rebounds leading to 15 second-chance points. They are doing whatever they want inside even without OG Anunoby, who was scratched before the game.

Jalen Brunson has 15 points and seven assists for the Knicks.

Joel Embiid has eight points on 3-of-7 shooting, two rebounds and three assists. He has two fouls crashing with Karl-Anthony Towns early and often. It forced him to spend several minutes on the bench in the second quarter. That came after Mitchell Robinson had a highlight-reel slam over the 76ers center.

Towns has three fouls.

Playoff Paul George erupts for 15 in first quarter as 76er come out strong

Paul George came out on fire in Game 3, torching the Knicks for 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting to propel the Sixers to a 31-27 lead after the first quarter. Maybe that makes up for his 0-for-5 in the fourth quarter of Game 2, including an airball in the final seconds. Joel Embiid, making his return after missing Game 2 with a sore hip and ankle sprain, finished with four points on 2-of-3 shooting to go with three assists and a block. Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns were crashing early under the basket. Embiid picked up a foul and Towns had two.

Joel Embiid scores first points in Game 3 on 13-foot jumper

Joel Embiid got on the board with 6:53 to go in the first quarter. The 76ers' center, playing through a right hip injury and ankle sprain, scored on a 13-foot jumper to push Philadelphia's lead to 17-8.

Embiid had sat out Game 2 Wednesday night when the 76ers lost 108-102 at Madison Square Garden.

Rookie throws down back-to-back dunks to spark Sixers early

VJ Edgecombe announced himself early in Game 3. The 76ers rookie guard threw down back-to-back slams off assists from Tyrese Maxey to get Philadelphia going. The first came with 7:37 to go in the first and the second was 12 seconds later. That fueled a 15-8 Philadelphia lead and got the home crowd rocking.

Is Joel Embiid playing Friday night vs Knicks?

Philadelphia 76ers Joel Embiid was still listed as questionable in the league's 5:30 p.m. ET injury update, but the team announced shortly before game time that the 2023 NBA MVP was available to play in Game 3 tonight.

Philadelphia 76ers Game 3 starting lineup

Joel Embiid will start for the Sixers tonight against the New York Knicks alongside forwards Kelly Oubre Jr. and Paul George and guards Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.

Nick Nurse provides Joel Embiid update prior to Game 3

Philadelphia 76ers Joel Embiid is feeling better and did participate in the team's shoot-around Friday morning. Though Embiid was still listed as questionable on the early evening injury report, Sixers coach Nick Nurse thought that Embiid would give it his best try to play.

"I mean he's getting better all the time," Nurse said. "He was a participant at shoot-around today. I think he's gonna give it a shot here. He's gonna have one last check here to see where he's at, but we'll see."

OG Anunoby injury out for Knicks in Game 3

New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby was ruled out for Game 3 of the series about an hour before tipoff, Knicks head coach Mike Brown confirmed to reporters pregame. Anunoby suffered a right hamstring strain late in the fourth quarter of Wednesday night's 108-102 win.

It's a significant blow even with the Knicks up 2-0. Anunoby is averaging 21 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 61% from the floor this postseason.

New York Knicks Game 3 starting lineup

The Knicks annnounced that Miles McBride will start in place of OG Anunoby for Game 3. Here is the Knicks starting lineup:

• G Jalen Brunson
• G Miles McBride
• G Josh Hart
• F Mikal Bridges
• C Karl-Anthony Towns

How to watch the Philadelphia 76ers vs New York Knicks Game 3

• Date: Friday, May 8
• Time: 7 p.m. ET
• Stream: Prime Video
• Location: Xfinity Mobile Arena (Philadelphia, PA)

76ers-Knicks playoff schedule

• Game 1: Philadelphia at New York | Monday, May 4, Knicks 137, 76ers 98
• Game 2: Philadelphia at New York | Wednesday, May 6, Knicks 108, 76ers 102
• Game 3: New York at Philadelphia | Friday, May 8 (7 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
• Game 4: New York at Philadelphia | Sunday, May 10 (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
• Game 5: Philadelphia at New York* | Tuesday, May 12, TBD
• Game 6: New York at Philadelphia* | Thursday, May 14, TBD
• Game 7: Philadelphia at New York* | Sunday, May 17, TBD