Joel Embiid set a playoff career high with 50 points to lift host Philadelphia past the New York Knicks 125-114 on Thursday, cutting the 76ers' deficit in the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series to 2-1.

Embiid shot 13 of 19 from the field and 19 of 21 from the free-throw line.

Tyrese Maxey added 25 points, Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 15 and Cameron Payne had 11 for the Sixers, who dropped two close games in New York to start the series.

"We've gotta trust the Process, no pun intended," Oubre told NBC Sports Philadelphia, referring to Embiid's nickname. "We've got to take that energy that he gives us and go get it done."

Game 4 in the best-of-seven series will be Sunday in Philadelphia.

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 39 points and 13 assists. Josh Hart added 20 points and OG Anunoby had 17. Isaiah Hartenstein chipped in with 14.

Hart's basket cut New York's deficit to 120-113 with 1:17 left. However, the Sixers responded with some clutch free throws by Embiid to seal the win.

The Knicks closed within 102-92 with 9:32 remaining in the fourth quarter on a 3-pointer from Miles McBride.

Embiid was fouled by Hartenstein while attempting a 3-pointer with 7:33 left, and he knocked down all three shots for a 106-94 lead.

Anunoby made consecutive treys and the Knicks trailed 113-105 with 4:48 remaining.

The game was quite physical from the opening tip and bubbled over when Embiid was whistled for a flagrant-1 foul against Mitchell Robinson with 4:34 left in the first quarter.

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said of the flagrant-foul ruling, "Which one? The one they called, or the one they didn't call? Just want to make sure we have clarity on that."

The Knicks went ahead 47-45 with 4:53 remaining in the second after a short jumper by Anunoby.

Embiid soon scored a pair of baskets in the lane to tie the game at 49.

Donte DiVincenzo drove to the basket and threw down a one-handed dunk with 1:24 to go for a 56-53 advantage.

The Knicks led 58-55 at halftime thanks in large part to 17 points from Brunson.

Embiid picked up his third foul with 6:27 left in the second but stayed in and finished the half with 17 points.

Maxey hit a deep 3-pointer with 6:58 left in the third and the Sixers led 71-66.

Soon after, the Knicks announced that Robinson would miss the remainder of the game with a sprained left ankle.

Embiid made three straight 3-pointers and the Sixers pulled ahead 82-72 with 4:35 remaining in the third.

Embiid scored 18 in the third and the Sixers led 98-85 at the end of the quarter.

--Field Level Media