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Pressure? Mike Brown scoffed at the notion. Even if owner James Dolan said in January he felt the Knicks “absolutely” had to reach the NBA Finals and “should” win them, the first-year coach had that mindset all along after taking the job. “People have talked about a mandate — like I’m coaching to win,” Brown said Tuesday. “It doesn’t matter what others say. I’m disappointed if we’re not in the Finals and having a chance to win it.”
“He doesn’t listen to the outside noise and doesn’t let that affect him. And he’s focused every day on how he can come in and make this team better,” Josh Hart said. “He listens to his coaches and listens to us with our feedback and what we have to say and asks us questions and stuff like that. So I think it’s just a good line of communication with everyone within the organization. … And he’s doing an amazing job with that outside noise.”
Mike Vorkunov: James Dolan asked about SG&A costs on the Sphere Co. earnings call and he admitted he couldn't help himself. "Boy, I'm really tempted to crack a joke here. So I guess I will. So SG&A is a great basketball player. And when we get to the finals, I'm sure we're going to beat them."
Fred Katz: Josh Hart on Kelly Oubre saying that Brunson has a big head: "I feel like that's something that's very well documented."
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J.R. Smith, 40, was at Madison Square Garden to see the Knicks dominate the Philadelphia 76ers in a 137-98 win on Monday, May 4, giving New York a 1-0 edge in the second-round series. But Smith, who played for the New York Knicks for four seasons, became a victim of the chaos as the celebrations poured into the city streets. As seen in a video shared by New York Basketball, fans became rowdy while celebrating the playoff win, and Smith got caught in the middle of the raucous.
“Relax man relax “
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 5, 2026
JR Smith joined the crowd outside MSG
At one point it got out of hand pic.twitter.com/LCHRWM0EJN
Nick Nurse is away from the 76ers on Tuesday to attend the funeral services for his brother, Steve, who died unexpectedly last week, the team told The Inquirer and The Athletic. Steve Nurse, 62, died last Wednesday, the day before Game 6 of the Sixers’ first-round series win over the Boston Celtics. Nick Nurse left New York City following his team’s Game 1 loss to the Knicks Monday night to travel to his hometown of Carroll, Iowa, for the services. The coach expects to rejoin the Sixers in New York later Tuesday.
Donovan isn’t the only widely respected, veteran head coach who’s hoping for a return to the sidelines, though, as league sources say Tom Thibodeau is also very interested in a comeback. The 68-year-old was fired from his Knicks post last summer but is looking for the right fit for his coaching future again. And yes, league sources say, that includes the prospect of a Bulls reunion if the Reinsdorfs and new executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham, who was hired away from the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, had interest.
Joel Embiid grabbed his stomach as play stopped late in the second quarter for teammate Kelly Oubre Jr., to shoot free throws. The 76ers’ star big man had just set a screen in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series against the Knicks, when Mikal Bridges hit and extended his arm into that area of Embiid’s body. It served as a reminder of the latest postseason ailment that Embiid is playing through, less than a month after an appendectomy. And following the Sixers’ dreadful 137-98 loss Monday night at Madison Square Garden, Embiid said he did not believe Bridges’ contact was “necessary” because Tyrese Maxey had already gotten past both players with the ball.
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SportsCenter: BIG APPLE BRUNSON The Knicks take a 1-0 lead after a dominant series opener vs. Philly
Keerthika Uthayakumar: Knicks win their third straight game by 20+ points, tied for the longest streak in NBA history. They're just the third team to do it in NBA playoff history. Lakers in 1986 Cavs in 2009 Knicks this season
James L. Edwards III: The Knicks are a plus-135 over their last four playoff games lol.