Madison Square Garden was set up for a celebration, with a championship banner on show and rings waiting for the home players. Instead, the Philadelphia 76ers crashed the party. The 76ers beat Knicks 106-100 on opening night behind a strong second half, spoiling the champions’ big evening.
A Third Quarter That Flipped the Night
New York led 58-54 at halftime in a sloppy first half full of fouls and missed shots. Philadelphia then outscored the Knicks 29-18 in the third quarter. Jaylen Brown capped the run with a buzzer-beating three off an inbounds pass from LeBron James, and the visitors led 83-76 going into the fourth.
Tyrese Maxey led all scorers with 28 points. Brown added 19 points and 8 rebounds in his Philadelphia debut. James finished with 14 points and 9 rebounds in his 24th NBA season, after waiting through a delayed preseason debut before finally playing for his new team.
Knicks Rally Falls Short
New York never gave in. The Knicks stayed within reach deep into the fourth quarter, even though star guard Jalen Brunson struggled with his shooting. A Maxey steal and layup then pushed the lead to 104-98 with 1:52 left, and James sealed it at the free-throw line.
Brunson told the Garden crowd he wants to recreate the joy of the championship summer. That message will matter, because the Knicks now face a long climb back toward the top of the East. The ring ceremony was perfect, but the result was not.
For Philadelphia, the win is an early statement for a star-heavy lineup that also features Joel Embiid and Maxey. One win does not decide a long regular season, but it does calm some nerves around how the new pieces fit together. The 76ers beat Knicks on the biggest stage of the night, and the league will notice.
