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NBA GAME CENTER | OCTOBER 20, 2026
FINAL: PHILADELPHIA 106, NEW YORK 100
The New York Knicks waited 53 years for another NBA championship. They deserved every minute of Tuesday night's celebration at Madison Square Garden. The rings, the banner, the documentaries and the introductions were a fitting tribute to a franchise and city that had waited generations for this moment.
Sarah Stier, Getty Images
Philadelphia, nevertheless, had a basketball game to win.
And after watching New York celebrate its championship, the new-look 76ers delivered an opening-night statement of their own.
Led by Tyrese Maxey's 28 points, Philadelphia overcame a four-point halftime deficit, outscored New York 29–18 in the third quarter and held on for a 106–100 victory.
For LeBron James, his first regular-season game wearing a Sixers uniform ended with 14 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and a win.
Welcome to Philadelphia, King James.
Maxey Has Only Two Speeds
Tyrese Maxey opened Philadelphia's season with consecutive three-pointers, immediately putting New York's defense under pressure.
His speed remained a problem throughout the night.
Whether attacking downhill, turning the corner off screens or beating defenders in transition, Maxey forced the Knicks to defend at a pace they struggled to control.
He finished with 28 points, four rebounds and five assists.
His performance demonstrated why LeBron's arrival doesn't necessarily mean Maxey must take a secondary offensive role.
In fact, it might make him even more dangerous.
James can identify openings before they develop, and Maxey has the acceleration to turn those opportunities into baskets.
That combination could become one of Philadelphia's most effective offensive weapons.
LeBron Doesn't Have to Score 30 Anymore
James finished with 14 points on 5-of-13 shooting, including an 0-of-3 performance from beyond the arc.
There were moments when he appeared too willing to pass, particularly when Philadelphia needed an aggressive offensive possession.
But his fingerprints were everywhere.
Nine rebounds. Seven assists. Several important defensive possessions, including a late block that helped preserve Philadelphia's lead.
At times, James looked more interested in making his teammates comfortable than establishing himself offensively.
That's understandable for a player joining a team with Maxey, Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown.
Still, Philadelphia will need him to recognize when facilitating isn't enough. There will be nights when the Sixers need LeBron the scorer.
Tuesday wasn't one of them.
His experience, passing and defensive awareness helped Philadelphia beat the defending champions without requiring a vintage scoring performance.
Asked afterward whether he enjoyed winning on somebody else's ring night, James had a simple response:
"Yeah, I do. It's pretty special."
Philadelphia's Third Quarter Changed Everything
New York took a 58–54 advantage into halftime behind an outstanding performance from former Sixer Andre Drummond.
Drummond had already recorded a double-double, collecting 10 points and 12 rebounds before the break.
The Knicks held a significant rebounding advantage, and Philadelphia struggled to contain New York's second-chance opportunities.
But the third quarter belonged to the Sixers.
Philadelphia held New York to just 18 points, with the Knicks shooting 5-of-21 from the field.
Maxey continued attacking, Anfernee Simons supplied timely perimeter scoring, and Brown helped Philadelphia close the quarter with an 11–0 run.
Brown's three-pointer at the buzzer gave the Sixers an 83–76 advantage entering the fourth.
Suddenly, the championship celebration felt a long way away.
Jaylen Brown Fits Right In
Brown's Philadelphia debut deserves considerable attention.
The former Celtic finished with 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists, shooting 7-of-14 from the floor.
His contribution went beyond scoring.
Brown moved effectively without the basketball, attacked favorable matchups and provided another dependable option whenever the Sixers needed to create offense.
His presence gives Nick Nurse considerable flexibility.
When Maxey rests, Brown can score. When James facilitates, Brown can attack. When Embiid draws attention inside, Brown becomes another player opponents cannot afford to leave open.
For a team facing questions about how its stars would coexist, Brown delivered an encouraging first performance.
Embiid's Defense Made a Difference
Joel Embiid struggled offensively, finishing with 13 points on 4-of-15 shooting.
His shot selection wasn't always ideal, particularly during a critical late possession when he attempted a difficult three-pointer with Philadelphia protecting a narrow lead.
Nevertheless, Embiid contributed 11 rebounds and six assists while providing important rim protection.
His defensive activity became increasingly valuable as the game progressed.
Philadelphia finished with 10 blocked shots and limited New York to 37% shooting.
The Sixers don't need Embiid attempting to manufacture every offensive opportunity. With this supporting cast, he can choose his spots more carefully while continuing to influence games defensively.
His health and conditioning will remain central to Philadelphia's championship ambitions.
New York's Bench Almost Stole the Show
The Knicks' biggest advantage came from Andre Drummond.
The veteran center finished with 12 points, 14 rebounds and four assists, giving New York valuable minutes while Karl-Anthony Towns dealt with early foul trouble.
Towns eventually contributed 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson led New York with 21 points.
But the Knicks struggled to generate consistent offense from their perimeter starters.
OG Anunoby finished 3-of-12 from the field, while Mikal Bridges managed just four points on 2-of-8 shooting.
New York shot 35-of-94 overall.
Even with a 53–45 rebounding advantage and 14 offensive boards, the defending champions couldn't overcome Philadelphia's third-quarter surge.
The Knicks remain a dangerous team. Their championship experience was evident in the fourth quarter as they repeatedly fought their way back into contention.
Tuesday simply wasn't their night.
The Most Encouraging Number: 28
Philadelphia finished with 28 assists on 37 made field goals.
That's approximately 76% of its baskets coming from assisted opportunities.
For a roster with this much individual scoring talent, that number matters.
Six Philadelphia players reached double figures:
- Maxey: 28
- Brown: 19
- James: 14
- Embiid: 13
- Simons: 13
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: 10
The Sixers also generated 24 fast-break points compared with New York's 16.
There are still areas requiring improvement. Philadelphia shot just 28% from three, struggled with offensive rebounding and occasionally looked uncomfortable executing late-game possessions.
But the overall distribution of offensive responsibility was encouraging.
Everyone doesn't need to get 25 points.
They need to win.
S³ FINAL VERDICT
One game doesn't make Philadelphia the best team in the Eastern Conference, nor does one opening-night loss diminish New York's championship.
Nevertheless, the Sixers demonstrated that their collection of established stars can function together.
Maxey supplied the offense. Brown contributed across the board. Embiid provided defensive presence. LeBron controlled portions of the game without dominating the basketball.
Most importantly, Philadelphia won in a difficult environment against a team that knows how to win.
New York deserved its celebration. After 53 years, its fans earned that moment.
But once the rings were handed out and the championship banner was raised, the basketball season belonged to everybody again.
Philadelphia made sure New York understood that immediately.
S³ PLAYER OF THE GAME: TYRESE MAXEY
28 PTS | 4 REB | 5 AST
Performance Over Potential. Production Over Reputation.
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