The 76ers defeated the Miami Heat 105-104 in the NBA Play-In Tournament on Wednesday night, advancing to the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
The Sixers begin a best-of-seven series Saturday at Madison Square Garden at 6 p.m. Game 2 will be played Monday at 7:30 p.m., also in New York.
The Sixers (47-35) will enter the playoffs as the seventh seed, while the Knicks (50-32) will enter the playoffs as the second seed.
What is the schedule for the Sixers vs. Knicks playoff series?
Game 1: Sixers vs. Knicks, Saturday, April 20, 6 p.m., ESPN
Game 2: Sixers vs. Knicks, Monday, April 22, 7:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3: Knicks vs. Sixers, Thursday, April 25, 7:30 p.m., TNT
Game 4: Knicks vs. Sixers, Sunday, April 28, 1:00 p.m., ABC
*Game 5: Sixers vs. Knicks, Tuesday, April 30, TBA
*Game 6: Knicks vs. Sixers, Thursday, May 2, TBA
*Game 7: Sixers vs. Knicks, Saturday, May 4, TBA
*-If necessary
3 things to know about the Knicks
1.The Knicks dominated the series: The Knicks have won three of four games this season, and each victory was by at least 14 points. Joel Embiid only appeared in Game 1 on Jan. 5, which the Knicks won 128-92. Embiid had 30 points and 10 rebounds in that game. The Knicks won the game on February 22nd, 110-96.
The Sixers won 79-73 on March 10, but lost 106-79 on March 12.
2. The Knicks also have injury problems: The Knicks played most of the season without forward Julius Randle, who averaged 24 points per game. Randle last played on Jan. 27, when he dislocated his shoulder and required surgery. They played a long game without OG Anunoby, who returned to the lineup.
3. Donte DiVincenzo’s connection to Villanova: Even without Randle, the Knicks won 50 games, the most since going 54-28 in the 2012-13 season. That's because they were led by Villanova alums Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, as well as Delaware native Donte DiVincenzo.
Brunson led the Knicks in scoring with 28.7 points per game. Salesianum star DiVincenzo averaged a career-high 15.5 points in his first season with the Knicks. DiVincenzo signed a four-year contract worth $50 million last summer after spending last season with the Golden State Warriors.
DiVincenzo also made 284 3-pointers, ranking third in the NBA behind Golden State's Stephen Curry (357) and Dallas' Luka Doncic (284).
Please contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. X Follow @Mfranknfl.
