In a stunning upset, the New York Knicks took down the Philadelphia 76ers in the series opener, thanks in large part to Coach Tom Thibodeau’s bold decision to stick with a three-man bench rotation.
Mitchell Robinson, Miles McBride, and Bojan Bogdanovic outplayed their counterparts on the 76ers’ bench, outscoring them 26-7 in the first half and 42-7 for the game. Robinson’s defensive prowess was on full display as he went head-to-head with Joel Embiid, finishing with an impressive stat line of eight points, 12 rebounds, and four blocked shots in just 14 consecutive minutes off the bench.
McBride heated up in the first half, netting 16 of his 21 points, while Bogdanovic added eight of his 23 in his Knicks playoff debut. The duo combined for six 3-pointers in the first half, helping the Knicks erase a 13-point first-quarter deficit and take a 12-point lead into halftime.
Despite Embiid’s return in the third quarter, the Knicks continued to hold their own, with Robinson, McBride, and Bogdanovic contributing to retaking the lead. McBride’s clutch fifth straightaway-3-pointer gave the Knicks a 91-86 advantage in the fourth quarter, propelling them to a hard-fought victory over the top-seeded 76ers.
Thibodeau’s faith in his three-man bench rotation paid off in a big way, setting the tone for what promises to be an exciting and unpredictable playoff series between the Knicks and the 76ers.
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