NEW YORK (Interstat) — The New York Knicks opened the playoffs with a dominant 137-98 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday at Madison Square Garden, taking a 1-0 lead in the series. The Knicks never trailed after the opening minutes, building a 23-point halftime lead and coasting to the win before a crowd of 19,812.

New York shot 53 percent from the floor and 42 percent from three-point range, while Philadelphia managed 41 percent overall and 33 percent from beyond the arc. The Knicks also held a 46-34 rebounding edge and forced 18 turnovers.

The decisive stretch came in the second quarter, when New York outscored Philadelphia 41-26. Jalen Brunson scored 14 of his game-high 35 points in the period, including a 25-foot three-pointer at the buzzer that gave the Knicks a 74-51 halftime lead. Brunson finished with 35 points, one rebound and three assists in 31 minutes, leading six Knicks in double figures.

Karl-Anthony Towns added 17 points, six rebounds, six assists and two blocks in 20 minutes. Mikal Bridges scored 17 points with two rebounds and five assists in 27 minutes. OG Anunoby had 18 points, three rebounds and one block in 30 minutes. Josh Hart contributed eight points, eight rebounds, six assists and one block in 26 minutes. Ariel Hukporti came off the bench for five points and nine rebounds with two blocks in 17 minutes.

Philadelphia was led by Paul George, who scored 17 points with three rebounds and three assists in 26 minutes. Kelly Oubre added 12 points, five rebounds and one steal in 27 minutes. Joel Embiid had 14 points, four rebounds and one assist in 25 minutes. Tyrese Maxey finished with 13 points, three rebounds and two assists in 27 minutes. VJ Edgecombe scored 10 points off the bench.

The game started with a brief flurry from Philadelphia. Joel Embiid won the opening tip against Towns, and Tyrese Maxey grabbed the loose ball. After a missed three-pointer by Embiid and a tip-in miss by Maxey, the 76ers forced a turnover, but Mikal Bridges opened the scoring with a running dunk assisted by Josh Hart. VJ Edgecombe answered with a pullup jumper to tie the game at 2-2. Brunson then hit a step-back jumper, and Towns drained a three-pointer to put New York ahead 7-2. Paul George and Edgecombe hit three-pointers to keep Philadelphia close, but Brunson scored eight points in a 14-4 run that pushed the Knicks’ lead to 24-12. New York led 33-25 after the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Knicks’ bench extended the lead. Jose Alvarado hit a layup, and Towns scored inside. Paul George hit a three, but Bridges threw down a dunk off a Hart steal, and Josh Hart’s three-pointer made it 44-35. Brunson re-entered and immediately scored a fadeaway jumper. Bridges added a three-pointer, and Towns converted a running dunk. By halftime, Brunson had 21 points. New York shot 65 percent in the quarter.

The third quarter saw the Knicks put the game away. Anunoby scored on a dunk and a three-pointer, and Towns added three baskets, including a three-pointer, to stretch the lead to 90-66. Bridges hit another three, and Brunson added free throws. New York led 109-78 after three quarters.

The fourth quarter featured reserves on both sides. Tyler Kolek, Landry Shamet, and Pacome Dadiet each scored for the Knicks. Ariel Hukporti recorded a dunk and a block in the final period. Justin Edwards scored 10 points for Philadelphia in the fourth, but the outcome was never in doubt.

Brunson’s performance continued a strong postseason run. In his previous four games, all against Atlanta, he averaged 25.3 points and 5.8 assists, including a 39-point effort in a 126-97 win on April 28. The Knicks improved to 59-32 on the season, while the 76ers dropped to 50-41.

The series continues Wednesday at Madison Square Garden. The series status is Detroit leads 4-3.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of New York 118, Philadelphia 106. Interstat’s ELO system had projected New York with a 72.80 percent probability to win. New York had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-7. The total score of 235 went under the over/under line of 210.5.