Knicks vs. 76ers: Philadelphia Holds Off New York 98-93 in Its NBA Cup Opener as Tyrese Maxey Scores 27 and LeBron James Closes It
Jalen Brunson's 3-pointer gave the Knicks the lead with 1:32 left - and James answered with the go-ahead fadeaway, a shot-clock-beating Edgecombe 3 and a late putback sealed Philadelphia's second win over the defending Cup champions this season.
The Philadelphia 76ers opened their NBA Cup run the way they opened the season: by beating the New York Knicks. Philadelphia held off New York 98-93 on Friday night in Philadelphia, with Tyrese Maxey scoring a game-high 27 points and LeBron James scoring 20 with nine rebounds and eight assists - including the baskets that decided the final two minutes, Reuters reported.
Philadelphia, playing without Jaylen Brown (knee), built the night's cushion early: 55 percent shooting in each of the first two quarters and a 53-44 halftime lead. Anfernee Simons supplied the third-quarter surge off the bench - 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting, with three 3-pointers, two free throws and a fadeaway in the final five and a half minutes of the third - as the Sixers carried a 77-68 lead into the fourth and pushed it to 11.
New York's comeback ran through Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored on a three-point play, a 3-pointer and a driving layup in two minutes to cut it to 83-76, hit another 3 with 4:46 left to make it 87-85, and finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Jalen Brunson, who scored 24 on 8-of-22 shooting, hit a 3-pointer with 1:32 remaining to give the Knicks a one-point lead - their first real grip on the game all night.
It lasted one possession. James answered with a tough fadeaway over OG Anunoby to put Philadelphia back in front, VJ Edgecombe beat the shot clock with a 3-pointer that made it 94-90 after a Brunson miss, and James put back a Maxey airball with 11.9 seconds left to seal it. Edgecombe finished with 13. The win lifts Philadelphia to 5-1 - 2-0 against the defending NBA Cup champion Knicks, whom they also beat on opening night - while New York falls to 2-4 and, as the Cup's defending champion, likely needs to win its remaining three group games to advance. The 76ers play Saturday at Charlotte; the Knicks host Brooklyn on Monday.
