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LeBron James and Tyrese Maxey Lead 76ers to Victory Over Knicks
· Confirmed
In Short: LeBron James and Tyrese Maxey helped the Philadelphia 76ers secure a 98-93 victory over the New York Knicks in the NBA Cup opener.
LeBron James and Tyrese Maxey led the Philadelphia 76ers to a 98-93 victory over the New York Knicks in the NBA Cup opener on Friday.
James, the NBA's all-time leading scorer, contributed 20 points, including a crucial tip-in with 11.9 seconds left that sealed the win.
Tyrese Maxey scored 27 points, leading the Sixers early against the Knicks, who struggled with sloppiness throughout the game.
The 76ers took control early and maintained a 14-point lead in the third quarter, despite a late surge from the Knicks.
James added nine rebounds, eight assists, one steal, and a vintage chase-down block, earning praise from coach Nick Nurse for his best game since joining the team.
"He's been good, but that was his best game for sure," Nurse said of James.
The Knicks, led by Jalen Brunson's 24 points, fell to 2-4 with the loss.
The 76ers picked up their second win against the Knicks this season, following their opening-night victory that spoiled New York's championship banner-raising.
What this adds
James and his agent, Rich Paul, had previously stated that the Knicks would have been James' first choice in free agency had New York not won its first NBA championship since 1973 last season.
Jaylen Brown missed the game due to left knee soreness, leaving Maxey as the lone player to start every game this season.
Three players—Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Jaylen Brown—are averaging over 20 points per game, with Maxey leading at 28.4 points per game.
Brunson, who helped the Knicks win their first title in 53 years, is set to make his hosting debut on a show.
Background
LeBron James scored 20 points, including a late tip-in, to help the Philadelphia 76ers win 98-93 over the New York Knicks in the NBA Cup opener.
President Donald Trump called on NBA star LeBron James to apologize for his actions during the national anthem at a recent game.
What's confirmed
- The win had a double edge as Friday's games marked the start of the fourth edition of the NBA Cup, the NBA in-season tournament won by the Knicks before they went on to beat the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals for their first championship since 1973.
- James, the NBA's all-time leading scorer, answered with a basket that put Philadelphia back in front and pushed the lead to 96-91 with a tip-in off a Maxey miss with 11.9 seconds left.
- "He's been good, but that was his best game, for sure." Brunson led New York with 24 points and Karl-Anthony Towns added 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks, who fell to 2-4.
- Detroit shook off a slow start to hand the winless Nets a fifth straight defeat in Brooklyn, where Cade Cunningham scored 20 points and Ron Holland added 18 off the bench in a 110-94 Pistons victory.
- They led by 14 in the third quarter and weathered a late Knicks surge.
- Tyrese Maxey scored 27 points to lead the Sixers, who took control early against the sloppy Knicks.
- James, 41, added nine rebounds, eight assists, one steal and a vintage chase-down block in what 76ers coach Nick Nurse called his best game since joining as a free agent in June.
- LeBron James scored 20 points including a late tip-in to help seal the Philadelphia 76ers' 98-93 victory over the NBA champion New York Knicks on Friday.
- "We didn't bring it in the first half, but the second half we definitely brought it."
- The 76ers notched their second win of the young season over the Knicks after spoiling their championship banner-raising with a victory at Madison Square Garden on opening night.
- Jalen Brunson's step-back three-pointer put New York up 90-89 with 1:32 remaining.
- The Dallas Mavericks, fueled by 35 points from Kyrie Irving and 33 from Cooper Flagg, rallied to hand the Houston Rockets their first defeat of the season 116-111.
What's still developing
- Jaylen Brown’s injury simplified the chain of command, with the Sixers opting to play through LeBron James and Joel Embiid heavily to start the night, to the benefit of the entire group.
- For anyone concerned about how LeBron has looked to start the year on offense, a performance like this appears to support the belief that he’s easing into the year.
- According to one longtime Cavaliers insider, however, Philadelphia can offer James something even more compelling: another defining chapter for his legacy.
- Jaylen Brown missed a game for the first time this season with left knee soreness, leaving Maxey the lone player to start every game.
- Three players (Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Brown) are averaging north of 20 points per night so far, with Maxey leading the pack at 28.4.
- Brunson, who helped the Knicks capture their first title in 53 years this summer, will make his hosting debut on Sept.
- Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM ET on FOX, with Green Bay entering Week 4 at 1-2 and Tampa Bay still searching for its first victory at 0-3.
- After the story about Joel Embiid being late to practice that was told by Mike Breen during the Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks preseason game broadcast, went viral, LeBron James denied the story, which lead Breen to address the situation.
- "I do. It's pretty special," James told NBC Sports' Zora Stephenson (0:42 mark).
- With the Eagles at 2-5 and the Commanders 1-4-1, the Washington coach is expecting "two angry teams willing to fight to the last snap" for an NFC Easr win.
- James, who joined Philadelphia after seven seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, became the first player in NBA history to reach 24 seasons in the league.
- Yet, all that said, everyone is chasing the New York Knicks, who went on a historic postseason run in June to snap a 53-year championship drought.