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Knicks set to test mettle vs. Joel Embiid, 76ers in Game 1

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The best New York Knicks team in a decade was built with a Philadelphia flavor.

Now the 76ers are the first hurdle to clear for the Knicks as they look to embark upon the franchise's longest playoff run this century.

New York will host Philadelphia on Saturday in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first-round series.

The Knicks earned the second seed in the Eastern Conference after going 50-32 -- their best seed and top record since the 2012-13 team also was seeded second after finishing 54-28.

The 76ers (47-35) clinched the seventh seed Wednesday night by coming back from a 12-point halftime deficit to edge the Miami Heat 105-104 in a play-in game.

Saturday's first-round matchup pits teams that were rarely at full strength during the regular season.

The Knicks haven't made the NBA Finals since 1999 and haven't advanced beyond the second round since 2000. They had only four players participate in at least 70 games. Three of those players -- Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart - were teammates on national championship-winning teams at Villanova.

Former All-Star Julius Randle is out for the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury suffered Jan. 27. Center Mitchell Robinson missed more than three months following ankle surgery. Backup center Isaiah Hartenstein managed to play 75 games despite battling an Achilles injury for most of the second half.

New York was 20-3 in games in which OG Anunoby played following his acquisition from the Toronto Raptors Dec. 30, but he missed 27 games due to an elbow injury.

"Every season you go in, you know there are a number of possibilities," Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said. "There are a number of things you have to navigate through. And that's what I love about this team. And it started right from the beginning."

Only three members of the 76ers played in at least 70 games. Reserve Paul Reed played in all 82 games while Tobias Harris and Tyrese Maxey played in 70 games apiece.

But while those three combined to average more than 50 points per game, the 76ers' hopes of winning their first title since 1983 rest on the shoulders -- and left knee -- of reigning NBA Most Valuable Player and two-time scoring champion Joel Embiid.

Embiid, 30, was limited to 39 games by a chronic left knee injury but averaged 34.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists per contest. The 76ers went 31-8 with him in the lineup but just 16-27 when he was in street clothes.

Embiid was listed as questionable for Tuesday's game but finished with 23 points, 15 rebounds and five assists Wednesday against Miami. He dished to Kelly Oubre Jr. for the tiebreaking 3-point play with 36 seconds left.

"Hopefully every day gets better," Embiid said about his knee. "But we'll just keep monitoring it."

The Knicks won three of the four games in the season series. Embiid had 30 points and 10 rebounds in his lone appearance against New York on Jan. 5, a 128-92 win by the Knicks.

The Knicks and 76ers haven't met in the playoffs since a first-round matchup in 1989, when New York swept the best-of-five series.

--Field Level Media

Peering behind the mystique of rock ’n’ roll has undeniable voyeuristic appeal. So there is an immediate thrill to seeing the mahogany-paneled control room and glassed-in sound booth that fill the Golden Theater stage, where “Stereophonic” opened on Friday. But David Adjmi’s astonishing new play, with songs by the former Arcade Fire member Will Butler, delivers far more than a dishy glimpse inside the recording studio during rock’s golden age.

A fly-on-the-wall study of how people both need and viciously destroy each other, “Stereophonic” is a fiery family drama, as electrifying as any since “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” Its real-time dissection of making music — a collaboration between flawed, gifted artists wrangled into unison — is ingeniously entertaining and an incisive meta commentary on the nature of art. The play is a staggering achievement, and already feels like a must-see American classic.

It’s 1976 in Sausalito, Calif., and a not-yet-famous band — at least not solely inspired by Fleetwood Mac — is laying down the record that will propel it to stardom and unravel the personal lives of its members (in much the same way that making “Rumours” did for Fleetwood Mac). The setting (a marvel by scenic designer David Zinn) is a pressure-cooker: The coffee machine is broken but there’s a gallon bag of cocaine, and tensions and affections — both creative and personal — are running hot.

Directed with a conductor’s precision by Daniel Aukin, “Stereophonic” is an epic canvas rendered in hyper-intimate detail: whispered confidences and technical adjustments, slouches and stares, lots of lying around and rolling joints. Stillness and silence are as expressive as Adjmi’s meticulously orchestrated dialogue, body language sometimes even more so. It’s possible to read the band’s ascension to fame beyond the confines of the studio, as its previous album creeps up the Billboard charts, in the swiveling hips of its lead singer alone (and in the progression of prints and flares in Enver Chakartash’s divine costumes).

When the poetic and insecure Diana, played with stunning vulnerability by Sarah Pidgeon, sits down at the piano some 45 minutes into the three-hour show, the actor’s radiant voice delivers the first significant composition the audience hears: “Bright,” a folk-tinged rock ballad with sterling, ethereal vocals. Until then, notes trickle out in brief bursts. Often interrupted or doled out in riffs, the expressions of character and discord generated by Butler’s music are abstract — their fragmentation designed to make you want more. (Savor the early sessions when everyone can stand to be in the same room.)

Diana’s toxic romance with Peter (Tom Pecinka) — guitarist, producer, unrelenting narcissist — is a searing and consistent source of emotional combustion. Peter’s willingness to shiv Diana’s soft spots makes the other feuding couple look downright sweet: Reg, the boozing, philosophical bassist (played by Will Brill, with the endearing agility of a Muppet) and the peace-seeking Holly (Juliana Canfield, making an excellent Broadway debut). The level head in the room usually belongs to Simon (a charming Chris Stack), except when an out-of-whack drum kit sends him into a fit.

When the bandmates are in formation behind the recording-booth glass — elevated on a higher plane, their faces enshrined by warm halos (the exquisite lighting is by Jiyoun Chang) — they’re like gods on Mount Olympus glowering down at the tech table. The upstairs-downstairs dynamic between the musicians and their sound engineers, the low-key ambitious Grover (Eli Gelb) and non sequitur-spouting Charlie (Andrew R. Butler), is a font of frequent comedy, including Grover’s crazed, sleep-deprived impression of Peter and Simon, who run him ragged with all-nighters.

But who has more power in a sound studio than the people operating the mics? Grover and Charlie not only hear it all, but control what everyone else (including the audience) hears as well. (Ryan Rumery’s sound design is a technical wonder.) Grover matures the most over the year that the story takes place, from faking it to becoming indispensable, an arc that Gelb traces with unassuming subtlety. Grover’s visibility in the room is another growth indicator; the band goes from treating him like furniture to trusting him implicitly. (Poor Charlie doesn’t rise to the same honor.)

Even now, it’s possible to imagine misty-eyed fans of this production, which premiered Off Broadway in October at Playwrights Horizons (where the New York Times critic Jesse Green called it “relentlessly compelling”), reflecting on the experience as if it were a once-in-a-lifetime stadium tour. And the Broadway transfer punches up the volume on the climactic moments of synchronicity, when the band nails a stellar take or the layers of a song are combined or fractured to shivering effect.

But the pleasures of “Stereophonic” are more granular and immediate; its close and sustained observation of artists, held captive by their desires to create, yields the most riveting insights. Like, what is the point of it all, anyway? “Life is for enjoyment,” Reg claims. “Life is pain,” Grover counters. If you ask Holly, needing others is the worst part. Still, there can be no harmony without all of the joys and miseries of other people.

Stereophonic Through July 7 at the Golden Theater, Manhattan; stereophonicplay.com. Running time: 3 hours 10 minutes.

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The New York Mets unveiled their City Connect uniforms Friday.

The look will debut April 27 against the St. Louis Cardinals and will then be worn for every Saturday home game except Darryl Strawberry's jersey retirement on June 1.

The inspiration of the uniform relates to the "concrete jungle, the strength and grit" that is the fabric of New York and a "city like no other," according to the team's news release. The color of the uniform is also a nod to the concrete jungle.

Andy Goldberg, Mets chief marketing officer, told ESPN that placing "NYC" across the chest was a deliberate move because the franchise hopes to connect to the whole city rather than just one area. The font of the NYC is the classic road jersey one. In Goldberg's mind, this wasn't another Mets uniform but one that was their own and brought life to what the city means to the franchise.

"We are out in Queens. We have a different history than everyone else compared to the other teams. So we just wanted to capture the city the best way we could," Goldberg said. "And we have this sort of like, really, really passionate fan base that, you know, they want to see this. They want to wear this with pride, and we want them to wear this with pride."

The jersey's typical pinstripes are instead the circles and diamonds that make up the subway system. The sleeve patch is inspired by the city's subway token. Included behind a "New York City" on the inside of the cap is New York City's train system, which connects the five boroughs. It's similar to how the Baltimore Orioles designed the inside of their uniforms to highlight the city's arts and culture.

However, one of the more anticipated aspects of the design leading up to the reveal was the Mets' use of purple. It serves as a nod to the 7 line, which is represented by a splash of the color throughout. According to the release, the Mets described the 7 line as the "one train that represents all New Yorkers equally and brings you to our home."

Goldberg said they took swatches of purple and went to different stations, holding it against the 7 line signage.

"We wanted to get the right one but also one that felt right for the jersey," Goldberg said. "There were a lot of different elements and challenges. But I think in the end, everyone here, it wasn't about convincing people it was right. When they see it, they're like, that is exactly what we should be wearing."

One of those aforementioned different elements is the silhouette of the Queensboro Bridge on the hat and the steel structure on the sleeve.

The process of designing began in December 2021. The Mets went through 20 to 30 looks, some of which were "fundamentally different designs."

Goldberg said that once the design was finalized last summer, those working on it sat down with Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Lindor and explained it. During spring training, more players saw the look and "absolutely loved it."

"Their eyes [popped] out of their head and going, Wow. Like, that was the biggest; they couldn't wait to wear it. ... I think they really like it," Goldberg said. "They feel comfortable in it. They love how it represents New York. They just, they love the look."

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- — Jalen Brunson and his New York teammates refused to let injuries knock them down. Joel Embiid of Philadelphia wouldn't let his keep him down.

It was just days apart in January when the Knicks and 76ers were rocked by what could have been season-swinging blows. The Knicks were rolling through teams during one of the best months in franchise history when starting forwards Julius Randle and OG Anunoby went out of the lineup on the same day. Both needed surgery, with the All-Star Randle unable to return.

Embiid then went down with a knee injury and soon his own surgery, sending the 76ers tumbling down the Eastern Conference standings without knowing when the reigning NBA MVP would be back.

Yet not only did both teams recover, they are surging into a first-round series that begins Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.

“I just think that for us to be able to bounce back and do things when people think you couldn’t, that’s the nature of our team,” Brunson said of the No. 2-seeded Knicks. “A lot of people had doubted us in the past but we always find a way to prevail.”

The Knicks won their final five games to finish 50-32, moving past Milwaukee on the final day of the regular season for their best finish since winning 54 games and earning the No. 2 seed in 2012-13. They learned their opponent three nights later, when the 76ers rallied to beat Miami 105-104 in a play-in game to earn the No. 7 seed.

Embiid didn't dominate like he can when healthy, but he finished strong and showed why the 76ers are more dangerous than the usual lower seed as long as he's on the floor. They won their final eight games of the regular season, five with Embiid in the lineup after he returned April 2 to finish 47-35.

The 7-footer played in just one of the 76ers' three losses to the Knicks in the regular season, but wasn't available when New York won by 14 in February and 27 on March 12. The Knicks won by 36 in Philadelphia on Jan. 5 in the one game Embiid did play,

That was right after the Knicks added Anunoby following a trade with Toronto, kicking off a 14-2 finish in January.

“They play hard and physical, they’re tough, and that’s their identity,” 76ers All-Star Tyrese Maxey said. “So for us to go in there and try to get Ws and try to win this series, we have to match that. And not just match, but we have to overcome that and be better than that, and be extremely physical as well. I think we know what we have to do. And they kicked our tail in the regular season, so it’s time to go in there and fight.”

IT'S BEEN A WHILE

The Atlantic Division rivals haven't met in the postseason since 1989, when the Knicks swept the 76ers in what was then a best-of-five first round. Then again, there haven't been many opportunities, unless they came early. The 76ers haven't been past the second round since reaching the NBA Finals in 2001. The Knicks were last in the conference finals a year earlier.

But the current players know what to expect when the series starts at Madison Square Garden, just a short train ride from Philadelphia.

“The lights are super bright, they’re going to give those celebrities $100,000 free tickets just to be there and not care about the game, but that’s what they do and it’s going to be super fun and I look forward to it,” Philadelphia's Kelly Oubre Jr. said.

POINTS FROM THE POINT

Brunson and Maxey were both first-time All-Stars this season and both point guards had plenty of big nights during the regular season. Maxey scored at least 50 points three times. Brunson had 11 40-point performances, tying Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing for second-most by a Knicks player in a single season, and was fourth in the league with 28.7 points per game.

PHILADELPHIA'S FINEST

Brunson and fellow Knicks Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo were NCAA championship-winning teammates at Villanova, so will be playing in a familiar environment for the games in Philadelphia.

“Philly, that’s always home,” Hart said. “For me and I know JB and Te feel the same way.”

The 76ers added their own former Wildcat, Philadelphia product Kyle Lowry, during the regular season.

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AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston in Philadelphia contributed to this report.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs features 16 teams in eight best-of-7 series, which start Saturday. Today, NHL.com previews the Eastern Conference First Round between the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals.

(1M) New York Rangers vs. (WC2) Washington Capitals

Rangers: 55-23-4, 114 points

Capitals: 40-31-11, 91 points

Season series: NYR 2-2-0; WSH 2-2-0

Game 1: Sunday, at New York (3 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN, TVAS, MSG, MNMT).

The New York Rangers will try to parlay the success of their regular season into a long run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, beginning with the Eastern Conference First Round against the Washington Capitals.

"Best team in the NHL, so we know we have our hands full," Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said.

The Rangers set team records for wins (55) and points (114), winning the Presidents' Trophy as the team with the most points in the regular season for the fourth time in their history.

"We've just proven to ourselves over and over again the kind of character we have in the room, the resilience," defenseman Jacob Trouba said. "When we want to play good hockey, we're capable of playing pretty good hockey."

The Rangers reached the Eastern Conference Final the last time they won the Presidents' Trophy (2014-15). In fact, they got to the conference final that year by defeating the Capitals in Game 7 of the second round, the third seven-game series they won against Washington in a span of four years.

New York went 26-7-1 in its final 34 games this season to outlast the Carolina Hurricanes, who finished second in the Metropolitan Division with 111 points.

"The boxes are checked," said Rangers coach Peter Laviolette, who coached the Capitals the previous three seasons. "It's good. A good regular season. You've got to do well in this part of the process in order to get a chance to play for the Cup. We were able to do that, and I think the guys are really excited to move forward and we're looking forward to that, getting on to the playoffs."

Washington clinched a playoff berth Tuesday, Game 82, defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 at Wells Fargo Center.

The Capitals won four of their last five games to come from behind and earn the second wild card from the Eastern Conference. They did it after being sellers before the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline, trading forward Anthony Mantha to the Vegas Golden Knights, forward Evgeny Kuznetsov to the Hurricanes and defenseman Joel Edmundson to Toronto Maple Leafs, getting a total of five draft picks in return.

"Obviously, we know their coach pretty well," Capitals forward T.J. Oshie said of the Rangers and Laviolette. "They're a great team. They've got some pretty high-octane offensive weapons over there and they create a lot of offense. So, it's going to be an interesting matchup for us, and we try to pride ourselves on limiting other team's chances and keeping teams to low-scoring games."

Game breakers

Rangers: Artemi Panarin had the best regular season of his eight-year NHL career, setting personal bests with 49 goals, 120 points and 302 shots on goal. He ended the season with 26 points (15 goals, 11 assists) on a 13-game point streak. Panarin had at least one point in 67 of 82 games.

Capitals: It's Alex Ovechkin in Washington until it's not. Nothing has changed. He is still the Capitals' most dangerous goal scorer. Ovechkin had 31 this season, an NHL-record 18th time he's scored at least 30 in a season. He had eight goals in 43 games through Jan. 24, but picked it up and scored 23 in his last 36 games. Ovechkin has 13 goals in 33 playoff games against the Rangers.

Goaltending

Rangers: Igor Shesterkin found his game in the second half of the season and returned to being one of the best goalies in the world. He went 17-5-1 with a 2.20 GAA, .930 save percentage and four shutouts in 23 games from Feb. 9 through the end of the season. It was a world of difference from his first 32 games, when he was 19-12-1 with a 2.86 GAA, .899 save percentage and no shutouts. In 28 playoff games, all starts, Shesterkin is 13-14 with a 2.45 GAA and .929 save percentage and helped the Rangers to the conference final two years ago. Jonathan Quick, a three-time Stanley Cup champion, had a resurgent season as Shesterkin's backup, going 18-6-2 with a 2.62 GAA, .911 save percentage and two shutouts in 27 games (26 starts).

Capitals: Lindgren began wrestling the No. 1 role away from Darcy Kuemper in January and did not relinquish it. He started 34 of Washington's last 43 games, going 18-13-4 with a 2.84 GAA, .904 save percentage and four shutouts. He was arguably Washington's biggest asset down the stretch and the reason it came back to reach the playoffs. Lindgren started the last six games and went 4-1-1 with a 1.68 GAA, .937 save percentage and one shutout. He started Monday against the Boston Bruins and Tuesday against the Flyers, allowing one goal on 44 shots. Lindgren finished 25-16-7 with a 2.67 GAA, .911 save percentage and six shutouts in 50 games (48 starts). Kuemper went 13-14-3 with a 3.31 GAA, .890 save percentage and one shutout in 33 games (30 starts).

Numbers to know

Rangers: The Rangers also tied a team record for most wins at home in a regular season with 30 (first set in 1970-71) and set a record for most comeback wins in a season with 28, which also led the NHL. They scored 106 goals in the third period; the Capitals scored 68. The Rangers finished in the top five of the NHL in both power play (26.4 percent) and penalty kill (84.5 percent).

Capitals: They made the playoffs despite a minus-36 goal differential. The Capitals were outscored in every period this season; 79-64 in the first, 85-80 in the second, 82-68 in the third and 6-4 in overtime. They got in because of their ability to play well in close games, going 20-2-11 in games decided by one goal. Their two regulation losses in one-goal games were the fewest in the League. Washington was 12-24-0 in games decided by at least three goals.