Landry Shamet’s Shock Comeback: 5 Clutch Plays That Saved the Knicks in Game 3 vs. 76ers

Landry Shamet Steps Into the Spotlight as Knicks Visit 76ers for Pivotal Game 3 NEW YORK — With OG Anunoby sidelined by a mild hamstring strain, the New York Knicks will lean even harder on veteran marksman Landry Shamet when their Eastern Conference semifinal shifts to Philadelphia tonight. Head coach Mike Brown’s rotation shrank in the final minutes of Game 2, but the staff insists Shamet’s two-way punch will be vital as the series tightens. A roller-coaster postseason so far • Round 1 vs. Atlanta: Shamet averaged just 3.2 points in 11.0 minutes, shooting 24 percent from the field as Brown searched for perimeter defense elsewhere. • Game 2 vs. Philadelphia: Despite limited touches, he posted a +6 plus/minus in a 98-92 win that gave New York a 2-0 cushion, flashing the catch-and-shoot confidence that made him a 39.2 percent three-point threat during the regular season. Why Game 3 could be a breakout 1. Embiid’s status. If Joel Embiid (knee) remains out, the 76ers are expected to trap Jalen Brunson and press Karl-Anthony Towns on the perimeter. That leaves the weak-side corner—a Shamet specialty—wide open. 2. Depth vs. fatigue. Philadelphia’s rotation has been running on fumes; Brown’s ability to roll out a nine-man unit featuring Shamet, Deuce McBride and Jordan Clarkson gives New York a fresh-leg advantage. 3. Contract year urgency. The 29-year-old becomes an unrestricted free agent in July. League executives consider him a mid-level target if he proves he can defend playoff wings and knock down volume threes under pressure. Scouting the matchup • Versus Philadelphia this season (4 games), Shamet shot 43.5 percent from deep and averaged 10.3 points, his best split against any remaining playoff team. • Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe both score north of 20 points per game in transition; Shamet’s ability to sprint back and wall off the arc ranked in the 82nd percentile among NBA wings, per Second Spectrum tracking. Health watch Shamet’s right shoulder—sprained in November—has been cleared by Knicks medical staff for full contact, and his minutes cap (previously 20) has been lifted. Conditioning remains the final checkpoint; he logged 17:12 in Game 2 without a medical timeout. What the Knicks need from him tonight • Early spacing: knock down one of his first two triples to force Philadelphia’s low-man to stay glued in the corner. • Discipline on switches: fight over Maxey hand-offs, then recover to get a rear contest rather than conceding straight-line drives. • Bench ignition: target 8-12 shot attempts; New York is 15-3 this season when Shamet takes at least eight. Quote to note “He’s a pro—he stays ready, stays vocal, and he’s due for that game where he swings a series,” assistant coach Chris DeMarco said after Thursday’s practice. “With OG out, we need his gravity more than ever.” Bottom line If Landry Shamet delivers even league-average shooting, Philadelphia’s defense will have to pick its poison—load up on Brunson and Towns or chase Shamet off the line. Either scenario favors New York’s depth and could push the Knicks to a commanding 3-0 series lead. Tonight’s contest is more than a playoff tilt; it’s a platform for Shamet to rewrite his postseason narrative and, possibly, his summer market value.