Knicks vs. 76ers Game 3 REACTION 💪 'Jalen Brunson was MAGNIFICENT!' - Danny Green | SportsCenter

0:00 You see her necklace, by the way,

0:01 the Olympic rings.

0:02 Cool Olympic rings.

0:03 All right, we're handing out trophies eventually in the NBA.

0:06 We got the Knicks and the Sixers.

0:08 Game three of their series.

0:09 Look who is back.

0:10 Joel Embiid back in the starting lineup now.

0:12 Middle of the first quarter.

0:13 Sixers.

0:14 They're up by five.

0:15 Tyresese Maxi forces the turnover.

0:16 It's a little defense into offense.

0:18 DJ Edco Ed with the Alioop.

0:21 There we go.

0:21 It's a seven-point lead.

0:23 Paul George was impressive early on in this game.

0:27 Sixers up seven.

0:29 Make it nine, get 15 points, his most in any playoff quarter since 2004.

0:36 Problem is, the man did not score again.

0:38 Sixers up four after one.

0:40 In the second, Jaylen Brunson throws it up

0:41 for Mitchell Robinson who just casually dunks on.

0:48 Well, you might see that in top plays later.

0:50 Knicks by five.

0:52 Now Brunson pulling up that three as the shot clock expires.

0:57 Knicks by six.

0:58 Still up by six.

1:00 George turns it over.

1:01 Male Bridges.

1:03 I do it myself.

1:05 And the foul.

1:06 Brunson and Bridges, by the way, scored or assisted on 22 second quarter points.

1:11 The Sixers had 21 in the second.

1:14 It was an eight-point lead for the Knickers.

1:16 For the Knickers, the Knicks at the half.

1:20 That's not a fix.

1:21 Brunson again in the third.

1:22 Knicks up by nine.

1:23 Embiid.

1:24 He did play 35 minutes, by the way.

1:28 Getting that one, he had 18 points.

1:30 Sixers down two.

1:32 But in the final seconds of the third, Knicks by six.

1:36 Landry Shamock.

1:37 It was 8576 through three.

1:39 And then just sort of continued along the same way in the fourth.

1:43 Brunson playing a great game.

1:47 Why get any closer when you can hit from there?

1:50 Knicks by nine.

1:51 Brunson again with six minutes remaining.

1:54 The lead now up to 11.

1:56 33 points for Brunson.

1:59 Even off the miss, Brunson's going to find his teammates.

2:04 Look, this is a massive lead in this series for the Knicks.

2:09 It's a three-0 series lead after what they did in this game in Philadelphia.

2:13 108 94.

2:15 They rattle off the Knicks to their sixth straight win this postseason.

2:19 that ties their longest playoff win streak in team

2:22 history with uh which was set back in 1999.

2:25 The last time the Knicks reached the NBA finals.

2:28 1999 was also the last time the Knicks swept a best of seven series.

2:32 New on Sports Center Nick Dur.

2:37 Yeah, we were we were uh it was just a a big run of of the same thing.

2:43 us not scoring, them playing in transition,

2:45 them scoring, us playing against half court defense,

2:49 um probably about 10 out of first 14 possessions and it just

2:54 they were they were up the floor in semi-transition and and um you

3:00 know making some good reads and making some shots obviously um and we

3:04 just didn't keep the scoreboard moving enough to get our defense set.

3:08 the bench the bench unit.

3:09 Um this obviously they weren't able to get going until the fourth quarter.

3:12 I guess what do you have to do to kind of get the bench going a little bit?

3:17 Um yeah, I mean just just uh you know just try

3:21 to find the right combinations of who stays and who comes

3:24 in and and um you know try to make sure we

3:27 we generate some you know makeable shots and and things like that.

3:31 And I think that's that's um you I think it kind of started

3:35 a little bit at the end of the first there where we

3:37 made some subs and and we didn't hold the water very good there

3:40 going at the end of the first and then again at the start

3:43 of the fourth we kind of got ourselves right back in the game

3:45 in the start of the fourth um you know Brunson was

3:49 was having a good game so we decided to blitz him a little

3:52 bit and they they they scored I think on three straight blitzes.

3:56 Yeah.

3:56 Nick, on on Paul, a couple games in a row now,

3:59 he's gotten off to pretty great starts and then really tailed off.

4:02 I think six for nine in the first quarter

4:03 and then 0 for nine the rest of the way.

4:05 Is there anything in the shots he's taking as the game goes

4:08 on, the way that they're adjusting their defense against him as the game

4:11 goes on that you think is contributing to that or do you

4:13 more chalk that up to just the es and flows of a game?

4:17 Uh, I think there's probably a couple, you know, mixed in there that are tough,

4:22 but he's also made a lot of those tough ones early in the game, too.

4:25 I think I think um he did he did have a couple tough looks there

4:29 as the game went on, but I thought he also had a couple um decent looks.

4:34 I mean, I I got to look at it.

4:36 I just got to get him in in some better um you know, situations.

4:40 I think the post ups and stuff we've done,

4:42 he's gotten some good looks and made those.

4:44 We did he did have a couple more

4:46 of those as the game went on and just didn't go in.

4:48 Um but um yeah, we just got to keep him keep him

4:52 getting him in the ball in some places where he likes it.

4:54 Yeah, Nick uh nurse and his family.

4:58 Um, you know, that that's just that's that's tough.

5:02 Uh, that's bigger than what we're doing right now.

5:04 And and I I I I truly I truly feel feel for him.

5:10 Um, and the rest of his family.

5:12 Uh, but what he's trying to do um getting this team

5:17 ready to play basketball games while dealing with that, uh,

5:21 I don't know how anybody does it.

5:22 It's that's it's tough.

5:24 So, again, pass my condolences along to him and and his family.

5:30 Um, our guys did a good job.

5:33 We we we knew that uh they were going to be energized uh by the crowd.

5:38 Um especially being down 02.

5:41 Uh they're they're a great team.

5:42 They're they weren't going to lay down.

5:44 They were going to bring a little extra.

5:46 We knew the crowd was going to help them bring a little extra.

5:49 and they jumped out and they kind of punched us in the mouth to start the game.

5:54 Uh, our guys settled down and they figured it out the next,

6:00 you know, three quarters after that first one went by.

6:03 But, um, great response by our group.

6:06 They're resilient.

6:07 They've been through a lot uh, as a veteran group and it showed tonight.

6:12 You know, did a good job trying to show

6:15 our hands and not send them to the free throw line.

6:18 We did a good job of trying to get back in transition

6:21 and not allow them to take advantage of us uh in the open court.

6:25 Uh and then, you know, we were really good on the offensive glass and we

6:30 were pretty good in transition ourselves and, you know,

6:34 trying to win the possession game, especially on the road, was huge.

6:38 and we didn't get it done in the turnover department,

6:40 but in the free throw department and um

6:45 uh in the second chance or offensive rebound department,

6:47 we did a pretty good job and that's what helped us win this game on the road.

6:51 Um our fourth quarter defense again was really good,

6:55 especially versus a a great team.

6:58 Um, I I would be not doing my job if I didn't point out, you know,

7:05 the continued work that Muel is doing

7:07 at the point of attack when it comes to Maxi.

7:10 Maxi is a great player.

7:11 You're not going to stop him.

7:13 Um, you hope he misses a few shots.

7:16 Uh, but you got to give multiple efforts while guarding

7:19 him and Muel's busting his behind trying to do that.

7:23 Um, trying to make it tough on him while, you know, giving it to us offensively.

7:27 So again, I applaud Male.

7:30 Uh I also applaud our defense behind Male, too.

7:34 Uh and then like I said,

7:36 you got to get a little lucky with great

7:37 players and you got to hope they miss some shots.

7:40 Uh I would also be wrong if I

7:44 didn't talk about our bench in particular, two players.

7:47 I thought Mitch Robinson was huge for us.

7:50 He was huge.

7:51 Um we ran him longer in stretches at times than what we normally do,

7:55 but he was great in both directions for us.

7:58 Um he he he was he was big for us throughout the course of the game.

8:02 And then Landry Shamut.

8:06 Um Landry hasn't played a drop all playoffs.

8:11 I think the first game he was in the rotation and then

8:14 second game a little bit and then he was out and you know

8:18 and that's six seven games whatever it is that he hasn't seen

8:22 any significant minutes on the court and Landry was huge for us tonight.

8:28 Um he was huge on both ends of the floor.

8:31 We needed us a spark from somebody when we were down and they

8:34 hit us in the mouth and and Landry gave it to us.

8:37 you know, uh, is a big game on the road, uh,

8:40 and it didn't phase him and that was that was a lot of fun to watch.

8:45 Mike, this is to speak to Landry again,

8:47 this is kind of the third instance this season where

8:49 a guy has been put on ice for a little bit.

8:52 Yeah,

8:51 Mike Brown crediting offensive rebounds in the transition

8:54 game and fourth quarter defense and that bench.

8:57 Three-time NBA champion Danny Green joins us now.

9:00 So Danny, a three nothing lead and those sparkling

9:03 performances from MueL Bridges and Landry Shamut.

9:07 How did they impact the game without OG Anobi?

9:12 They were great, man.

9:13 They did everything they asked of him even more.

9:15 Like nobody expected Shamut to come in and give them big minutes,

9:18 knock down shots when needed.

9:19 Muel Bridges, like coach Brown said,

9:21 he was defensively and Tyrese Maxi running around

9:24 and offensively he got in a nice little rhythm, too.

9:26 So, he's been spectacular this whole playoff series

9:28 and they both have picked up the slap with OG

9:31 Anobi being out and also with the fact

9:33 that Cat was in foul trouble most of the game.

9:35 Mitchell Robinson really stepped up also with rebounding play defense

9:38 on Joel and then giving him long stretches of minutes on offense.

9:41 So, those three guys were huge in this win

9:44 against the Philadelphia 76ers in game three

9:46 in very limited postseason play.

9:48 14 total points for Shamat.

9:50 He goes for 15 tonight.

9:52 And then Danny Joel Embiid returns for Philly,

9:54 but the Knicks defense kept him in check.

9:58 How were they able to limit MB's effectiveness?

10:03 Again, I got to give a lot of credit to Mitchell Robinson,

10:05 but they did it as a group.

10:06 They did it as a collective.

10:08 They showed doubles.

10:08 They showed crowds, but they stayed out of foul trouble.

10:11 Like Mitchell Robinson stayed down.

10:12 Didn't like buy into the foul baiting situation.

10:16 Didn't jump on pump fakes.

10:17 Cat got in some foul trouble, but they were physical with him.

10:20 You know, they made him get up and down.

10:21 They made him run, but Mitch Robinson boxed him out, contested shots,

10:24 they put him in action on offense to try to slow him down and wear him down.

10:28 So, you got to give a lot of credit to all those guys.

10:30 Even Hucky come in, stepped in and gave him some good minutes,

10:32 but Mitchell Robinson was amazing for them tonight.

10:34 And that's how they were able to keep him under wraps.

10:37 And then Danny, there are some mega stars still in the NBA playoffs,

10:41 but I don't know that anyone has a Jaylen Brunson like the Knicks do.

10:44 33 points, third straight game of 25 or more.

10:48 How would you assess his performance in three games in this series?

10:52 Just masterful, man.

10:53 He's been a master class since that that last game in Atlanta series.

10:56 He's really found his rhythm and been super efficient for this group.

10:59 I know we take it for granted because of how good he is night in night out.

11:02 It's like you we talk about the other players who's going to step up,

11:04 what role players going to step up,

11:06 but if you don't have your superstars playing like we've seen in other series,

11:09 you have no shot at winning games.

11:10 But because this guy steps in night in night out and can give you

11:13 that type of lift and on the scoring on the offensive side of the floor,

11:17 it allows your other guys to be able to make such a huge impact

11:21 and able to win you a game because

11:22 if the superstars don't show those other guys,

11:24 their impact aren't as strong and you can't win basketball games.

11:26 So him dropping 30 a night, especially again with OG and Obi being out

11:31 was magn magnificent for the New York Knicks

11:33 and distributing the ball and making free throws too.

11:35 Eight of nine from the free throw line in this game.

11:37 He's just so steady.

11:39 Great insight tonight from Danny Green here with us on Sports Center.

11:44 It was great.

11:44 We we went out there and um you know we

11:48 we would say was the the first punch and you

11:51 know that's a great team to do that and to find a way to get back in the game.

11:54 Um you know was a testament to the guys

11:57 in this locker room um our discipline and uh just

12:00 our our mental uh fortitude you know to get through

12:04 all the adversity and just find a way to win.

12:06 What does it say about this club that you didn't

12:08 have OG who's been on fire and you guys stepped forward?

12:11 I mean, that's I've been telling you in this locker room,

12:13 every we believe in everyone in this locker room stepping into the game

12:16 and uh producing at a high level and uh today showed that again.

12:20 You know, Landry uh Ariel, I think, you know,

12:23 we could keep going down the list about the guys

12:25 who went in there and made some really impactful plays.

12:27 Even for the seconds that he was out there, Mo was great.

12:30 He got us a great stop with energy at the in the first half and really

12:34 helped us at the uh the third foul that got reviewed and changed on you.

12:39 What did you think of that?

12:40 Were you surprised?

12:42 I'm not surprised at anything at all.

12:44 Cat, what did you think about the effort from Muel on both sides of the ball?

12:47 Obviously.

12:48 Oh, he was amazing.

12:48 He was fantastic.

12:50 Fantastic.

12:50 He's been fantastic all series.

12:51 I think what he's that physicality he's brought

12:53 to the point of attack has been great and it's

12:55 uh helped us you know really be effective

12:57 and uh making it difficult for the other team.

13:00 What's what's that battle with indebt been like for you?

13:02 Um you know pretty physical.

13:04 I mean it's been great.

13:05 It's been great to uh go against one of the best

13:07 and to uh go out there in this in this environment and play.

13:11 Um you know I got a lot of respect for his game

13:14 and um and the success he's had in his career.

13:17 Would you describe this team as a juggernaut right now?

13:22 Uh, I I just look at us as a team that's trying to every single day stay

13:25 in the present and find a way to win every single time we step on that court.

13:28 Are the fouls frustrating tonight?

13:32 What you think?

13:34 There you go.

13:35 In terms of clutch time, people usually reference that as an offensive thing,

13:38 but I feel like male under pressure

13:39 on the defensive end just takes it to another level.

13:41 Would you agree with that?

13:42 And what are you seeing from him?

13:43 I mean, it was fantastic.

13:44 It was fantastic.

13:45 And I think not only that, you know, just some timely buckets, too.

13:48 and one um you know uh I think it was the end of the first

13:52 half was was really special gave us some

13:54 momentum and then in the second half just

13:56 being in the right spot I think being in that um late it was late

14:00 in the fourth he got the ball we had a blitz on JB we got it

14:03 to the to the wing and we threw it to Muel in the mid post

14:07 and he he did something special at the free throw line shot that's a tough shot

14:11 you know that's a very tough shot that you have to to make

14:13 in a in a high pressure situation and he

14:15 was uh he was fantastic he was fantastic Great.

14:18 All right, couple more, guys.

14:19 I'm not making suggestions.

14:21 I'm not implying anything.

14:23 I'm just merely providing information.

14:25 The Knicks haven't swept a best of seven series since 1999,

14:28 but New York is a minus 115 favorite to get the win in game four.

14:32 Now, as for the Sixers, they're being offered at 22 to1 to become the first

14:36 team in NBA history to overcome a 3- 0 series deficit.

14:42 It's a testament to who he is and um how

14:44 he prepares himself and how he gets ready for the game.

14:46 and um regardless of what's going on, having

14:49 that next play mentality um having short-term memory,

14:53 just focusing on the next play, next play.

14:54 So regardless of what happens, positive or negative,

14:56 you know, he's locked in for the next one.

14:57 That's just who he is.

15:01 Muel, do you do you do you feel like defensive hot streaks exist?

15:05 Like I know everybody talks about it in terms of a jumper or whatever else.

15:09 Can you get hot as a defender?

15:13 Um sure.

15:16 But this maybe just our team defense just going up another notch as well.

15:23 Jaylen's laughing at my question.

15:26 Uh Jaylen, I also have a male defense question.

15:28 Just just wondering compared to when you guys were teammates in college,

15:32 just how good of a defender is he now compared to then?

15:35 Have you seen him grow?

15:36 Is he still the same highle defender now?

15:38 How have you seen him grow on that end of the floor?

15:41 Yeah.

15:41 Um, I think uh the best part that I've seen about Male

15:48 is um from the first time I met him to now his work

15:51 ethic and um his approach to the game and everything and how

15:56 he's grown as a worker and how he's grown as a professional.

15:59 Um obviously he's he's played in unlimited amount of games

16:04 in a row and that's just a testament to who he is.

16:07 Um, obviously defensively he he he creates havoc on and off the ball.

16:13 Um, it's just who he is.

16:17 He has an instinct that I don't think you can really teach and um,

16:21 but he's definitely grown as a player

16:22 every single every single every single year.

16:26 And um, we truly need that.

16:32 Jaylen, just without OG today,

16:34 just how much did everybody else have to to step up

16:37 and and raise their games almost to to make up for that absence?

16:40 Yeah.

16:40 Uh it was a definitely a team um effort.

16:45 Now, obviously, we want everyone back healthy and um but uh it's

16:50 important for everyone to step up and uh have the right mindset,

16:55 you know, do whatever we got to do to find a way to win.

16:58 Um, Muel, last game we asked Jaylen about like what he what has

17:03 he seen from you these last couple of games you've been on a heater.

17:06 Uh, just when did it start clicking for you again?

17:09 And then the second part of the question, you grew up what an hour from here?

17:13 Like did you have to deny anyone

17:14 for the tickets tonight because it's a playoff game?

17:17 Um, I mean, no, just just trying to do whatever it takes to win, you know,

17:23 just beginning the playoffs knowing that, you know, all 82, you know,

17:27 regular season means a lot, but it's just another another season after.

17:31 And, um, I don't know, just giving it all.

17:34 That's pretty much all I got to say.

17:36 And, um, yeah, tickets, you know, I got a lot of people here, so um,

17:42 I've been spending a lot of money, so Want to try to post what I look like.