The Knicks got their championship rings, raised their title banner and then lost to LeBron James’ new team. The Philadelphia 76ers beat New York 106-100 at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night to open the NBA season, spoiling the Knicks’ celebration, NBC Sports reported.
Tyrese Maxey led everyone with 28 points. James had 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in his first game for Philadelphia, and Jaylen Brown, also new to the Sixers, added 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
How did the Knicks lose on banner night?
They had it early. New York led by as many as 10 in the first half. Then Philadelphia closed the third quarter on an 11-0 run, capped by a Maxey 3-pointer, and never gave the lead back. The Knicks cut it to one point twice in the last three minutes but couldn’t finish the comeback.
Jalen Brunson scored 21 but shot 6 of 19, a rough night after a 30-minute pregame ceremony and gold sneakers to match the team’s gold-trimmed uniforms. Karl-Anthony Towns had 19 points in only 24 minutes after first-half foul trouble, and Andre Drummond added 12 points and 14 rebounds off the bench. Neither team shot well: the Sixers hit 41.9% of their shots, the Knicks 37.2%.
How did LeBron James look for the 76ers?
Like a guy figuring out a new team, which is what he is. He didn’t dominate the scoring, but he ran the offense and crashed the boards. “I liked the way we played,” James said. “Didn’t shoot the ball well, but we have capable shooters.” With Maxey, Brown and James, Philadelphia looks like it’s built to win now.
The BeezLoop Take
One loss in an 82-game season doesn’t mean much, and the Knicks’ banner isn’t going anywhere. New York played a long, emotional night and still nearly came back. Defending champs often start slow.
But Brunson going 6 for 19 and the team shooting 37% at home is worth watching. The Knicks won it all last year by being the tougher team late in games. On their big night, a brand-new Philadelphia lineup was the one that closed.
The open question: is Philadelphia’s new big three the real threat to the Knicks’ repeat, or just an opening-night story?
Also on BeezLoop: our NBA preseason look at Haliburton, Lillard and the new-look Lakers, and our NFL Week 6 roundup.
Sources: NBC Sports · ESPN · NBA (video)
