The 76ers defeated the Knicks again. After LeBron James opened with a victory at Madison Square Garden on opening night, this matchup in the NBA Cup group stage was decided in Philadelphia in the final minute. Nick Nurse's team improves to 5-1, while the defending champions, coming off two straight wins, fall to 2-4.
https://youtu.be/GJ3T4VIaCHs?si=AKDXVjQvMW4PQUhE
76ers in Control, Knicks in Pursuit
The home team took control early, with a first quarter score of 29-21, and throughout most of the game the Knicks trailed: the 76ers led by as much as 14 and the champion was ahead for only a brief moment. It came at the decisive moment. A three-pointer by Brunson with 1:32 remaining put New York ahead (89-90), capping a comeback that had been building in the second half.
Read also:
- Brunson scores 38 as Knicks rally from 19 down in Chicago (133-127)
- NBA Roundup: Boozer stops Blazers, Pelicans debut
- NBA Roundup: 44 from Curry, 200 triple-doubles for Jokić, Thunder's first loss
LeBron Seals the Game
The response came immediately. LeBron scored the basket that restored the 76ers' lead with 1:10 remaining, VJ Edgecombe extended the lead to four with a three-pointer, and LeBron himself sealed it with a putback. He fell one assist short of a triple-double, finishing with 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists, plus a block on OG Anunoby in the third quarter.
Tyrese Maxey led all scorers with 27 points, and Anfernee Simons was decisive off the bench again with 21 points and five three-pointers. Joel Embiid finished with 10 points on 3-of-12 shooting but distributed 7 assists.
For the Knicks, Brunson scored 24 and left the game with an ankle injury, while Karl-Anthony Towns posted a double-double of 22 points and 12 rebounds. The 76ers played without Jaylen Brown, who missed his first game of the season due to left knee soreness.