NBA Playoffs Roundup: Knicks make history, Sixers force Game 7 push, Wolves close out Nuggets in West thriller

The NBA playoffs delivered two very different kinds of blowouts on Thursday night—one that made history, and another that kept a season alive.

In Atlanta, the New York Knicks turned Game 6 into a record-setting showcase, overwhelming the Atlanta Hawks from the opening tip. New York raced to an astonishing 83-36 halftime lead, the largest ever recorded in an NBA playoff game, according to ESPN.

The dominance didn’t stop there. The Knicks pushed the margin to as much as 61 points at one stage—another playoff-era record—before cruising to a 117-64 win after three quarters of total control. While the Hawks avoided the biggest playoff blowout in history, the game was effectively decided long before the final buzzer.

OG Anunoby led the charge for New York with 29 points, seven rebounds, and four steals, setting the tone on both ends of the floor.

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Shaq trying to revive the Hawks.

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On the other side of the bracket, the Philadelphia 76ers delivered a completely different kind of statement—one of survival and resilience.

Just days after suffering a 32-point blowout loss to the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia flipped the script in Game 6 with a commanding 106-93 victory at home to keep their season alive.

The turning point came in the middle quarters, where the Sixers took full control. Trailing after the first quarter, they exploded for a 62-40 run across the second and third periods, completely shifting momentum and putting Boston on the back foot.

Tyrese Maxey led the way with 30 points, sparking the offensive surge, while Joel Embiid added a near triple-double of 19 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists in just his third game back from an emergency appendectomy. Paul George also provided key support as Philadelphia’s starting unit delivered across the board.

Boston’s Jayson Tatum finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds, but the Celtics couldn’t recover from Philadelphia’s second-half surge.

Two games. Two blowouts. Two very different messages.

The Knicks sent a warning with historic dominance, while the Sixers proved they still have life when it matters most.

In Minneapolis, the Minnesota Timberwolves sealed their Western Conference first-round series against the Denver Nuggets with a 110-98 Game 6 victory, winning the series 4-2 at Target Center.

Unlike the earlier blowouts of the night, this matchup stayed close throughout. Denver led early, and the game remained within reach deep into the fourth quarter. But Minnesota found separation late, pulling away with a decisive run in the final minutes. With under two minutes remaining, the Timberwolves had stretched the lead to double digits, finally breaking open a tightly contested battle.

Jaden McDaniels delivered a standout performance with 32 points and 10 rebounds, providing the scoring punch Minnesota needed in the closing stretch. Nikola Jokic nearly carried Denver with 28 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists, but it wasn’t enough to extend the series.

Reports from multiple outlets highlighted Minnesota’s late defensive execution as the turning point, with key stops fueling their closing surge to secure the series-clinching win.

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