The 76ers beat the Knicks 98-93 on Friday night in the opening game of NBA Cup group play. It was their second win over the defending champions this season and lifted Philadelphia to 5-1. ESPN reported that LeBron James hit the go-ahead fadeaway late. Deadspin added that he converted a key putback. He finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, a line Sportsnet also carried.
Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 27 points on 10-of-19 shooting, which is what the box score shows. Liberty Ballers has him at 25 points on the same 10-of-19, but the box score has 27, which matches ESPN and Sportsnet. Anfernee Simons scored 21 off the bench, going 5-of-8 from three. Joel Embiid struggled, as Liberty Ballers noted. He shot 3-of-12 for 10 points, with seven rebounds, seven assists and four turnovers.
Yahoo's Jack Baer framed the win around Jaylen Brown, writing that it was "no Jaylen Brown, no problem" for the Sixers. Brown is listed on Philadelphia's roster and has started all five of its games this season, but he does not appear in the box score. None of the reporting we have explains his absence.
The Sixers took control early. They led 29-21 after the first quarter and by as many as 14. The Knicks won the final period 25-21 but never led by more than one point. Yahoo wrote that New York was unable to overcome a rough first half. Posting and Toasting quoted a Knicks voice saying, "Unfortunately it took us too long to show up tonight." The feed gives no name for the speaker. Liberty Ballers said the Sixers held off a second-half comeback.
New York did not lose on the glass. It out-rebounded Philadelphia 45-39, including 14 offensive rebounds to the Sixers' five. It shot 41 percent from the field to the Sixers' 49 percent. Jalen Brunson scored 24 but needed 22 shots, and Karl-Anthony Towns had 22 points and 12 rebounds.
The Knicks' record is 2-3 in our tables, though Posting and Toasting lists them at 2-4. They have lost two to Philadelphia this season, including a 106-100 loss on Oct. 20 at Madison Square Garden. Over their last seven games they are 3-4, scoring 108.4 and allowing 115.3 per game. They host Brooklyn on Monday. Posting and Toasting called their Cup group the toughest, so this loss matters beyond the standings.
Philadelphia leads the Atlantic and has won two straight after a 106-93 loss to Detroit on Oct. 25. It plays again Saturday, going to Charlotte.
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