NBA playoffs winners and losers: Knicks overwhelm 76ers, Spurs get back on track

The second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs continued on Wednesday with two Game 2s. The New York Knicks outlasted the Philadelphia 76ers, who were playing without Joel Embiid, in a 108-102 victory that extended their series lead to 2-0. Later that night, the San Antonio Spurs demolished the Minnesota Timberwolves 133-95 to even their series at 1-1.

While the Spurs have largely rebounded, the Sixers have their backs against the wall as the series returns to Philadelphia. Let’s take a look at the big winners and losers from Wednesday night’s action.

Loser: 76ers go ice cold in fourth place

The Sixers failed to close out Game 2 without Joel Embiid

For three quarters, the Sixers shot 50% (12-24) from 3-point range. Paul George alone made five, and that’s what put the Sixers up 90-89 against the Knicks early in the fourth. It helps that the Knicks are on the other end of the shooting spectrum, shooting just 26.3 percent from beyond the arc from three. Still, Philly shooting the ball so well was the ultimate band-aid in the wake of Joel Embiid being sidelined with hip and ankle injuries.

Then the fourth trimester began. It felt like a blizzard was blowing through Madison Square Garden with the coldness of the Sixers offense. They shot just 21.1 percent from the floor, including 1 of 10 from 3-point range. Their strength through three quarters eventually betrayed them, and it was never more evident than Wednesday night how much this team needed Embiid there. When the Sixers go cold like they did in the fourth, they can always go to Embiid to get them an easy bucket. When you take that away, it puts more on the shoulders of Tyrese Maxey, who had another poor shooting performance.

George looked like he was putting on a vintage performance, then he missed all five of his shots in the fourth quarter. George and VJ Edgecombe combined to go 0 of 9 from the field over the final 12 minutes, and the punchline in this situation was that the Sixers looked good. On several occasions, they bailed out Karl-Anthony Towns’ poor defense by slamming a 3-pointer almost wide open. They also didn’t take advantage of the five turnovers the Knicks committed in the final frame.

With the Knicks now leading 2-0 in the series, this could prove to be a game that the Sixers will blame themselves for not winning. They had several chances to win on the road. –Jasmyn Wimbish

Winner: the Knicks in critical times

New York still knows how to win a close game

Before Wednesday night, the Knicks had won their last four games by an average of 33.2 points. They completely dominated the Hawks in the first round, and did the same in the first game of this series against the Sixers. In all of those games, by the time the fourth quarter rolled around, several New York starters didn’t even need to check in the game.

This was not the case in the second game. Philadelphia, despite Embiid’s absence, led after the first three quarters and was still within striking distance until the final possessions. The Sixers are going to blame themselves for this loss, but New York should feel good about how they got the win. Jalen Brunson once again donned his Mr. Clutch cape throughout this game as the Knicks dominated the Sixers in a game that probably shouldn’t have been this close given Embiid’s absence.

However, a win is a win, and these are the types of wins a championship team should have under its belt. The Knicks attacked Maxey, who made an uncharacteristic six turnovers, and practically challenged everyone around him to beat them. It worked. The fourth quarter was the highlight of that effort, as Philly scored just 12 points and finished with 18 turnovers, a product of New York’s cumulative physicality on defense. And while it may not be as remarkable a victory as their previous four, the Knicks are now two wins away from returning to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second year in a row. –Jasmyn Wimbish

Winner: Spurs’ offensive balance

San Antonio blasted the Wolves with a spread attack

After Victor Wembanyama only scored 11 points in Game 1, it was understandable to think he needed to do more offensively if San Antonio wanted to win Game 2. Well, he did more. But nothing crazy. Wemby scored 19 points on 15 shots in 25 minutes – one of eight Spurs to score at least nine points in at least 15 minutes. That’s what you call a balanced offensive effort.

Overall, the Spurs had shooting splits of 50/41/82 and completely stifled Minnesota defensively. It was never a game, and that wasn’t surprising after the Wolves won the first game. The Spurs are the only team as deep as the Oklahoma City Thunder that can play this kind of defense and beat you with this much poise. The energy was off the charts from the first council.

The Spurs led by 49 points at one point, for crying out loud. Wembanyama did not have to play in the fourth quarter. No one had to play more than 26 minutes. This is how you react to a surprising loss in a series opener as a favorite. -Brad Botkin

Winner: Timberwolves get their share

Minnesota must feel good going home tied 1-1

Look, the Wolves can throw this game out the window and go home for Game 3 knowing they did their job by coughing up the first two on the road. They stole the field in this series despite Ayo Dosunmu missing Game 1, Donte DiVincenzo, of course, finishing the playoffs, and Anthony Edwards coming off the bench on a minutes restriction.

Personally, I think the Wolves were lucky to get out of San Antonio with a split. Champagnie had a wide-open vision to win the first game in a match where Wembanyama and Fox combined to go 10 for 31 overall and 0 for 12 from 3. That wasn’t going to happen in two straight games, and it’s unlikely to happen again in the series.

Again, if you’re the Wolves, you throw away game two and thank your lucky stars that you escaped with game one. You’re now in a five-game series with home-court advantage in your favor. Considering the injuries you’re dealing with and the monster that Spurs are, you can’t ask for anything more. -Brad Botkin